baal worship practices in the bible

Omissions? All 450 prophets of Baal do not escape the slaughter that takes place after that. This describes to a T what Israel did then and their descendants are continuing to do today. The Bible is full of colorful characters, from Noah to Moses to Jesus. Baal persuaded Asherah to intercede with her husband El, the head of the pantheon, to authorize the construction of a palace. And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods. This is exactly what God warns us to flee, and the only way to come out of it is by developing and maturing in our relationship with God. Another idea is that it pictures a person shifting his weight from one foot to the other, indicating a degree of lameness. Baal worship was rooted in sensuality and involved ritualistic prostitution in the temples. Baal was the god of agriculture and fertility in Canaan, becoming a fallen angel and a demon. As such, Baal designated the universal god of fertility, and in that capacity his title was Prince, Lord of the Earth. And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. The rains were fully controlled by YHWH who called them from the sea and poured them out on the surface of the earth (Amos 5:8b; 9:6b). Yet, he was in trouble his whole life, from his teenage years on. Baal was the title of the "god" worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. Anath then dismembered Mot, scattered and burned the pieces, and gave them to the birds. Albright, Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan (1968); Albright, Arch Rel; S.M. * Jesus is a transliteration of the Latin; it is NOT a translation! The Semitic original of this name has been recognized in one of Baal's names in Ugaritic: (The name is to be connected with the root dmr, "be strong, brave," and is probably the same as that of Abraham's son Zimrn (damarn), the -n afformative being preserved in the genitive case of the Greek form Demarountos). ( The first is the Assyrian crisis, discussed here.) Asherah, mother of the gods, was prevailed upon to intercede with El to gain permission for the building. However, God still holds them responsible because the truth is available. Immorality lies in the desire of men to live self-centered lives independent of God, as when Adam and Eve took of the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:1-19). Child sacrifice was a fundamental aspect of Baal worship. (The suggestion that Jer. This is typical Israeliltish syncretism, but it will not work. One was 260 days and was used for . Archaeologists at Sidon have uncovered a 12th-11th-century B.C.E. Israel "walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel." No doubt, we cant cover the breadth of verses on Baal here, but we should note that Baal becomes a big player in the book of Judges and during the time of the kings when Israel appears to succumb most to the foreign pantheons. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Jer 32:29. In some cases, they attempted to attach this practice to worship of the Lord (Ezek 23:39). Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update. In the El-Amarna letters the logogram for the weather-god is conventionally read Addu, but that it is sometimes to be read Baluis indicated by the addition of the phonetic complement-lu, as well as by the names like Mut dIm written syllabically as mu-ut-ba-a-lum. BIBLIOGRAPHY: W. Hermann, in: DDD, 13238; M.S. 27:1, 30:7, 51:910; Ezek. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Given Sidons position on the coast, it is not surprising that the storm god is Sidons most important god. The violence and injustice in Israelite society ultimately stemmed from the false teaching proclaimed from the pulpits. In those God calls outthose who, by faith, will voluntarily yield to HimHe is building character based on outgoing love. The Sovereign Creator is not a God who allows His favor to be bought with crumbs. The word bal, common Semitic for "owner, master, husband," became the usual designation of the great weather-god of the Western Semites. At one point in A Stillness at Appomattox by Bruce Catton, he deals with soldiers who left the service of their armyeither the Confederate army or the Union army. He describes Israel as a luxuriant grape vine sending runners in every direction, indicating a bountiful crop. As a Semitic common noun baal (Hebrew baal) meant owner or lord, although it could be used more generally; for example, a baal of wings was a winged creature, and, in the plural, baalim of arrows indicated archers. For one to keep on coming to services and leaving, like a theatergoer, without his options, opinions, or decisions resolved but deferred, is an erosion of character. II Kings 17:5-6 relates the ultimate consequence. The lesson for us becomes clear, because Jesus says the same thing (Matthew 6:24; 12:25). In the Ugaritic mythological texts Balu (bl) is the name of the god which is used more than twice as often as his next most frequent name, Haddu (hd). They were Canaanites and shared numerous similarities, including many of the same gods, with their close neighbors in the southern Levantwho were also predominantly Canaanite. Consequently, during this tumultuous time, most Jews kept their faith and identity outwardly but bowed to Baal when necessary to appease Jezebel as well as mainstream culture. We need to be reminded of it because it can have a detrimental effect on us. Human-Ram Deity from Sidon. Their spiritual lethargy for the true God made them uncommitted. The Tetragrammaton should be rendered as Yahoah, with the vav being pronounced as the o in Torah, menorah, Eloah (singular form of Elohim), and Yehoshua (=Joshua, Christs REAL name). Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E. A solution has been supplied by a tradition ascribed to the ancient Phoenician priest Sakkunyaton (Greek Sanchuniathn) that when El-Kronos defeated Ouranos, he captured in the battle Ouranos' pregnant concubine and gave her to Dagn. The summer drought did not mean that YHWH had died (like Baal), nor did the return of the rains signal the resurrection. Many of the practices mentioned were most probable common to the worship of all the Baals; a few others are certainly specific. In mythological texts from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1200 B.C.E) city-state of Ugarit, she is called "the creatress of the gods"; her consort at Ugarit, the god El, is . 10:1113; 14:22). Who were the Sidonians of the Bronze Age (c. 30001200 B.C.E.)? In the Bible, Jezebel is notorious for persecuting the worship of Yahweh and for demanding that the Israelites worship Baal. In Hosea 10:2, God charges Israel with having a divided heart. 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. Elijah prepared the way for Elisha, who had a double portion of Elijah's spirit and did many more miracles. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baal-ancient-deity, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Baal, Baal - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Study the god Baal, Baal worship, and the presentation of Baal in the Bible. The ancient Tamils had connections with the Syrians and Sidon. The name Baal in the Bible is most commonly associated with the Canaanite and Phoenician god of fertility, the rain, the sun, and the storm. Worshipers of Baal Killed. . One idea is that he means, "How long are you going to hop from branch to branch? ), from an original Baal-Zebul, which is preserved in this form in the New Testament (Matt. Baal was a god of prosperity, god of harvest, sex and fertility. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Dated to c. 1750 B.C.E., the handle pictures the storm god as a leonine dragon. He was the god that provided - food - for the people. Indeed, religion flourished, as Amos, Hosea's contemporary, clearly reports (see Amos 5:21-27). 6:30; II Kings 16:3233) are associated with him. Despite having the power and support of the king of Israel and his . Besides the names Baal and Haddu, the Ugaritic texts furnish a variety of other titles, such as "Mighty Baal" (aliyn bl) and "Prince, Lord of Earth" (zbl bl ars). The variant form Hadad (hdd) is attested to only once in Ugaritic. (II Kings 17:35-38). A third is that he is describing somebody teetering on a tightrope and trying to maintain his balance. He replaced the Levitical priesthood with men of his own choosing. One interpretation is that it is a localized occurrence, in the sense of it happening just within the little flockthe church. Elijah was dealing with the same thing here, albeit spiritually. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? With the help of wonder weapons supplied and blessed by the versatile Koshar (the craftsman god), Baal was able to defeat and rout the sea-god. Because Canaan depended on rain to grow crops and survive, he was numero uno. Baal & Asherah. They believed by their actions they could control and manipulate the Gods. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. Mot refused and boasted how he had mangled Baal. Even as the Canaanite religion waned, Baal took on a new role as Zeus in the Ancient Greek pantheon. Molech was an ancient god worshiped by the people neighboring Israel during Old Testament times. The biblical allusions to YHWH's victory over the sea preserve echoes of the older exploit of Baal (cf. He is a loving Master who only is to be obeyed and servedand only on His terms. Baal was a false god the feckless Jewish King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel, attempted to force upon the nation of Israel during the time of Elijah the prophet (see 1 Kings 18). There are several ideas as to exactly what Elijah meant by "How long will you falter between two opinions?" These people, who became known as the Samaritans, feared the Lord but worshipped their own gods. Baal's objection to the window somehow concerned his three daughters and the sea-god (Yamm), but the text is broken at this point. Yet if you asked most people who believe and follow this new morality, I suspect few would have ever heard of Baal. Apostasy is a defection from trutha forsaking of one spiritual approach in favor of another. If you will not be committed to Him, you are going to die.". So the word Jezebel finally means one who is a good musician. The Assyrians deported the population en masse from its homeland in Canaan, transplanting it virtually in toto to the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. In this article, well discuss what Scripture has to say about Baal, what we know from history about Baal, and why this ultimately matters to us today. Whoever is missing shall not live.". The word is used as the name of a town in ancient Israel in Deuteronomy 1:4, Joshua . After we accept His calling, He commands us to become moral as He is. l /), or Baal (Hebrew: baal), was a title and honorific meaning 'owner', 'lord' in the Northwest Semitic languages spoken in the Levant during antiquity.From its use among people, it came to be applied to gods. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. God sends a prophet to people who are cold in their relationship with Godspiritually freezing to deaththough they want to stay that way. Baal's house was constructed in an extraordinary fashion. BAAL-WORSHIP AMONG THE GENTILES.The evidence is hardly of such weight as to justify us in speaking of a worship of Baal. The handle displays an impression of a ship with the leonine dragon Uumgal, the storm god Adads attendant, next to it. When Elijah preached his message, it put the people in a bind because they knew their conscience was telling them that they had to commit themselves to God or to Baal. He began to prophesy in a time of immediate crisis, one that would become far worse before it ever improved. Isa. If anyone could get an award for Having the Worst Neighbors, it would most likely go to the ancient Israelites. He replaced the Levitical priesthood with men of his own choosing. The longest of the texts deals with the construction of Baal's house on top of Mount apn. John W. Ritenbaugh Learn about the Canaanite-Phoenician deities who were called Baal, which means Lord. Does that way of life conform to the God of the Bible, or does it spring from the mind of men? Updated: 12/07/2022 was furnished by Harvard University excavations in the form of personal names containing Baal as the theophorous element, such as bybl, "Baal is my father," bl zmr, "Baal sings" or "Baalis strong," bl zkr, "Baal remembers," bl mny, "Baal is my answer," etc. The conflict of Yahwism and Baalism reached a crisis with Elijah's challenge to Baal's prophets to settle the question whether it was Baal or YHWH who really supplied the rain (I Kings 18). . As such, Baal designated the universal god of fertility, and in that capacity his title was Prince, Lord of the Earth. The basis of all immorality is selfishness, the exact opposite of what God is. They see themselves as following the way of God, but their religion has deceived them by failing to teach them His truth. He was considered superior to his father, El, the chief of the deities. In Psalms 89:13 afon and yamin, in parellelism with Tabor and Hermon, hardly designate the directions north and south; yamin is almost certainly a corruption of Amana, the southern portion of the Taurus mountains, the alteration of amanah to yamin being occasioned by the misunderstanding of afon as the direction rather than the name of the holy mountain. Asherah was a fertility goddess. There is no doubt that prosperity is good, but unless one is properly focused and disciplined, it can also be a demanding master because of its power to distract one into idolatry. This time, Baal puts up a fight and holds Mot off in battle. The eschatological traits were taken over with the Canaanite myths. Jews nowadays say Ha-Shem [i.e. Apparently in anticipation of developments the artisan god Koshar had cast furnishings of gold and silver. Baal was considered the supreme. 55:613; Jer. Historical Background of HoseaBaal and Idolatry. Baal is said to be one of the first of Solomon's 72 demons. Despite Gods efforts to dissuade them, the Israelites engaged with the Canaanite culture a little too much and adopted their practices, including Baal worship. They were straddling the fence in a precarious state of imbalance, attempting to combine the worship of God with the more popular worship of Baal and Asherah. Baal and Asherah were two giant stumbling blocks for the people of Israel. Baal is said to be one of the first of Solomon's 72 spirits. Asherah, another popular deity in Canaan, was the goddess of motherhood and fertility . Christ's purpose is to cure, not merely to comfort, so pain will be often involved when dealing with a prophet. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Scott Broberg Fig Tree Ministries. For this reason, God shows that the preacher, not the civil authority, is the most vital part of the community. All this was part of his fertility role, which, when fulfilled, meant an abundance of crops and fertility for animals and mankind. What the Bible says about We are seeing the same thing today, but at times, it is harder to recognize because we are accustomed to it, and it is not happening overnight. In the Bible, Jezebel is notorious for persecuting the worship of Yahweh and for demanding that the Israelites worship Baal. They were primarily devoted to the worship of Baal and Asherah (or Asherim, Asheroth). He was also king of the gods, and, to achieve that position, he was portrayed as seizing the divine kingship from Yamm, the sea god. Isaiah 14:13 alludes to this divine abode as "the Mount of Assembly in the recesses of afon" (har moed be-yarkete afon), the latter phrase being the equivalent of Ugaritic mrym pn or rrt pn, the height or fastness of apn. Or about Yahweh? In the mythology of Canaan, Baal, the god of life and fertility, locked in mortal combat with Mot, the god of death and sterility. For Constantine, the acceptance of Christianity was done solely TO UNIFY TERRITORY, RELIGIONS, AND POLITICAL MOVEMENTS. The king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. It has been suggested that this clash was indirectly a conflict between Baal and El, with Yamm serving as champion for the venerable El, as the Titans fought on behalf of Kronos in the Greek version of the myth and the stone colossus Ulikummi for Kumarbi in the Hurrian-Hittite version which is roughly contemporary with the Ugaritic texts. Now that He has announced Israel's imminent calamity, God begins to show how His punishment would alter the lives of the people. His overall conduct may not be too bad, but his poor self-analysis persuades him that he has no urgent need to seek God any further. This is no different from what Israel was doing when Amos wrote back in 760 BC. Further, in biblical usage when applied to the great weather-god, the singular regularly has the article, "the Baal," which suggests that the word was not regarded as a proper name. 114) or with eschatological victory (Isa. The spectacular victory for Yahwism did not have a lasting effect. This full-body immersion was required for converts (giyur) to the sect called The Way (HaDerech) in Acts whether a Pharisaic/Saddusaic Jew or a Gentile proselyte (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism). The continued worship of Baal was given as one of the causes for the destruction of Judah (Jer. The Sidonians were the inhabitants of ancient Sidon, a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea in modern Lebanon. 14:2, 9; Num. Because such people are drunk through riches' deceptive promise, their judgment is in danger of being radically altered. Meaning of Jezebel: This word can be also pronounced as Isabel. 410; reconstructed text) which after the great "Weather-god, Lord of Mount azi" presents six other "weather-gods," numbered two through seven. The cosmic character of afon leads to its use as a synonym for "sky" in Job 26:7: "who stretched out afon on emptiness who suspended earth on naught." l, b . The latest archaeological discoveries shed light on Biblical Sidon and provide a window into the Sidonians polytheistic religion and worship practices during the Bronze and Iron Ages. When the rain failed, it was inevitable that some would question YHWH's power and resort to Baal. What is so interesting is that, by verse 36, God is no longer reporting on the Samaritans but is addressing Israel. Baal's abode was Mount apn, identified as Jebel el-Aqra ("Mount Baldy") some 30 mi. Elijah is quite instructive here. Ugaritic texts tell of other fertility aspects of Baal, such as his relations with Anath, his consort and sister, and also his siring a divine bull calf from a heifer. This Bible History Daily Article was first published in 2017, British Museum Excavations at Sidon Expose Millennia of History, The Phoenician Alphabet in Archaeology by Josephine Quinn. The Jews of Christ's day clearly recognized this putrid blend and despised the Samaritans for it. A frequent epithet is "Cloud Rider" (rkb rpt) which has an almost identical parallel in Psalms 68:5. The worship of Baal penetrated Jewish religious life during the period of the Judges (Judges 3:7), became common in Israel during the rule of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31-33), and also influenced Judah (2 Chronicles 28:1-2). Check out her books at hopebolinger.comfor clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. In the mysterious tablets of Ugarit, discovered by Claude Schaeffer, Baal is the God of rain, thunder, and extraordinary bolts of lightning. Elijah says disturbing things. He could, and did, withhold the rain from one city and lavish it on another (Amos 4:7). Commentaries are at odds over what the Hebrew word translated divided means. However, God shows there is a possible harmful, secondary effect: As people become financially secure, their attention is diverted from His purpose to vain and unimportant things. Portions of ancient Baal liturgy were adapted to the praise of Israel's God, as the Ugaritic poems have shown. When we see that our thoughts and ways are not His, we should reform and repent. The Israelites displayed a pandemic failure to love their fellow man. linked to Molech (also called Milcom in the Bible). They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead. Sidons Storm God. Jesus says, "They are blind leaders of the blind. While it is acceptable to say that it was in what is now Jordan, to point to a particular cave and say, This is it. is ridiculous. For those early Hebrews, Baal designated the Lord of Israel, just as Baal farther north designated the Lord of Lebanon or of Ugarit. Depending on the tradition, she was either Baal's mother, lover, or both. But not all years are good, and in a bad year, or a series of bad years, when the rains fail, the skies become like iron, the land like brass, and man's toil is futile for the earth will not yield its increase (Lev. Recall the mention in Hosea 10:1 of increasing and embellishing altars just before Israel fell to Assyria. To accommodate Baal ideology to Yahwism required some radical transformations. They believed in a Creator God, but they worshipped Him at the shrines they erected to the Baals. No doubt, we cant cover the breadth of verses on Baal here, but we should make a note that Baal becomes a big player in the book of Judges and during the time of the kings when Israel appears to succumb most to the foreign pantheons. "Christian" religions of this world have mixed the traditions of paganism with some of the truth of God's Word. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Doumet-Serhal explains the significance of the handles iconography: The dragon epitomizes the most fundamental ancient mythical perception of the Mesopotamian storm god. Though it hurts, the pain is indicative of rescue and cure. But God has a different perspective; He says they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17). . It is not known to what extent the Canaanites considered those various Baalim identical, but the Baal of Ugarit does not seem to have confined his activities to one city, and doubtless other communities agreed in giving him cosmic scope. The Devil is behind a. ; Job 3:8, 7:12, 9:13, 26:1213, 38:811, 40:25). Figs and grapes ripen during the dry season and the grain harvest also takes place before the rains resume. Hope Bolingeris an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, and the author 21+ books. Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. The latter title has a biblical echo in the corrupted form Baal-Zebub (II Kings 1:2ff. BAAL WORSHIP AND SEMITIC RACISM This term was used as a title and name of various local deities worshipped as guardians, heroes, and kings. In the books of Kings and Chronicles, we can read the record of a given king who turned away from God and served the Baals, and the foolishness sounds quick and casual because we are reading a summary. Since the Ugaritic verified the antiquity and authenticity of this divine name, additional instances have been alleged in the Psalter and in Job. . Theoretically, the Israelites did not believe in idols, but in reality, they did. She gives life to 70 other gods in the Canaanite pantheon. There are indications that Baal and other gods and goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon were associated in the minds of their worshipers with certain heavenly bodies. I would also challenge the suggestion in the text of the article that the location of Lots cave is known. They become "settled on their lees," as it says in Zephaniah 1:12. But church is where we come to have our minds stretched and measured against Christ's standard. In the Judeo-Christian tradition Asherah is considered a false Canaanite deity and a major source of temptation to the Israelites. 14:13). Ashtoreth is mentioned three times in scripture, in 1 Kings 11:5 & 33, 2 Kings 23:13. Alan, how said anything about John baptizing Jesus? Scholars previously associated the theonym with solar cults and with a variety of unrelated patron deities, but inscriptions have . A DSS fragment has it spelled Iaw in Greek (iota-alpha-omega), which is consistent with Yahoah; see ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/lxxjewpap/4QLevB.jpg. None of the foolish practices of the heathen could bring the rains; only YHWH could and did (Jer. What was the rationale behind this perverse, immoral act? 25:111; Ps. It may be, however, that these extra Baalim are Baal's attendants, mentioned as the seven or eight lads whom Baal is ordered to take with him in his descent into the netherworld. He takes something loathsome and vile, something that is a direct affront to almighty God, a pagan idol, and turns it into a cute little children's fairy tale, so that you can buy the book, see the movies, get the cuddly toy, and bingo! The worship of Moloch, which was practiced at a special site (outside the walls of Jerusalem in the valley of Ben-Hinnom) called Topheth, became firmly established in the time of King Manasseh, his son Amon, and at the beginning of Josiah's reign. This shows that the Egyptian Cleopatra had maritime connections with the ancient Kerala Tamils. 1:21), would be catastrophic. He may have replaced the Sabbath with Sunday worship. In Tamil Nadu, the following words payachi paarai, Peyazhwar, payans, pai (meaning devil) are currently in use. With the help of the sun-goddess Shapsh, Anath locates the dead Baal, carries him to the height of apn, and weeping buries him with funerary sacrifices. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Matthew 15:14). He did not like the position God put him in. But when heat is applied, and the blood begins rushing into the affected areas, pain immediately occurs. They were not committed to the side that they were supposed to be on. The Semitic word "baal" (meaning '"Lord") was also used to refer to various deities of the Levant. The association of the name Baal-Zephon with Israel's exit from Egypt (Ex. All rights reserved. Now the word isai, simply means music in Tamil. Photo: Courtesy of Claude Doumet-Serhal. The Jordan River (Nahar ha-Yarden) qualified as a mikveh as its flowing living waters originated from a natural spring (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River). Baal in Smith's Bible Dictionary Baal (2) the supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations, as Ashtoreth was their supreme female divinity. 1:4; Hab. 7:1416). The word bel can be transformed into vel or val. This article is about Baal worship in the Bible. (Iron Age) temple. In the Hebrew Bible, Moloch is presented as a foreign deity who was at times illegitimately given a place in Israel's worship as a result of the syncretistic policies of certain apostate kings. You have a cuddly little Baal idol in your child's bedroom without even suspecting it. Because Baal was neither alive nor a moral force, his worshippers felt they could communicate with him only by ritual actions that portrayed what they were asking him to do. That made God so angry that a plague spread through their ranks; Phinehas stood up and pled their case and the . 2:11; 3:7; 8:33), while the singular of the word in combination with other terms apparently designated minor or local gods, such as Baal-Berith, Baal-Gad, Baal-Hamon, Baal-Hazor, Baal-Hermon, or, in the feminine form, a goddess, Baalat-Beer, Baalat-Gebal. Ahaz fostered Baal worship (II Chron. In exchange, they would offer information about their unit. Searching for Israel (Part Six): Israel Is Fallen, Is Fallen. The Israelites fell into the worship of this idol(Numbers 25:3,5,18; Deuteronomy 4:3; Psalm 106:28; Hosea 9:10). The right remedy, according to Israel's prophets, was to repudiate Baal completely and to seek and return to Israel's true God (Isa. FREE ebook: Israel: An Archaeological Journey. Remember, this falling away sets the stage for the man of sin, who will have tremendous influence over humanity. The Canaanites often worshipped her via trees (Asherah poles) because of her association with the tree of life. Today Baal churches preach and teach Baal doctrines; prosperity, harvest, sex and fertility. 22:816). Looking at these two definitions we can say . What happens if a person, trying to establish a religion, mixes falsehood with the truth of God? Payment of the full tithe to the food stores of the Temple, some thought, would guarantee that YHWH would open the windows of heaven and pour down overflowing blessings (Mal.

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baal worship practices in the bible