"Baal" means "lord" or "master" and was the name of the primary false god that was worshiped by the Canaanites.
* There were also local false gods that had "Baal" as part of their names, such as "Baal of Peor." Sometimes all these gods together are referred to as "the Baals."
* Some people had names that included the word "Baal" in them.
* The worship of Baal included evil practices such as sacrificing children and using prostitutes.
* At different time periods throughout their history, the Israelites also became deeply involved in Baal worship, following the example of the pagan nations around them.
* During the reign of King Ahab, God's prophet Elijah set up a test to prove to the people that Baal does not exist and that Yahweh is the only true God. As a result, the prophets of Baal were destroyed and the people started worshiping Yahweh again.
* __[19:02](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/02)__ Ahab was an evil man who encouraged people to worship a false god named __Baal__.
* __[19:06](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/06)__ All the people of the entire kingdom of Israel, including the 450 prophets of __Baal__, came to Mount Carmel. Elijah said to the people, "How long will you keep changing your mind? If Yahweh is God, serve him! If __Baal__ is God, serve him!"
* __[19:07](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/07)__ Then Elijah said to the prophets of __Baal__, "Kill a bull and prepare it as a sacrifice, but do not light the fire.
* __[19:08](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/08)__ Then the prophets of __Baal__ prayed to __Baal__, "Hear us, O __Baal__!"
* __[19:12](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/12)__ So the people captured the prophets of __Baal__. Then Elijah took them away from there and killed them.
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