# Baal #

## Facts: ##

"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.

(Translation suggestions: [How to Translate Names](en/ta-vol1/translate/man/translate-names)) 

(See also: [[../other/ahab.md]], [[../other/asherim.md]], [[../other/elijah.md]], [[../kt/falsegod.md]], [[../other/prostitute.md]], [[../kt/yahweh.md]])

## Bible References: ##

* [1 Kings 16:31-33](en/tn/1ki/help/16/31)
* [1 Samuel 07:3-4](en/tn/1sa/help/07/03)
* [Jeremiah 02:7-8](en/tn/jer/help/02/07)
* [Judges 02:11-13](en/tn/jdg/help/02/11)
* [Numbers 22:41](en/tn/num/help/22/41)

## Examples from the Bible stories: ##

* __[19:02](en/tn/obs/help/19/02)__ Ahab was an evil man who encouraged people to worship a false god named __Baal__.
* __[19:06](en/tn/obs/help/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](en/tn/obs/help/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](en/tn/obs/help/19/08)__ Then the prophets of __Baal__  prayed to __Baal__, "Hear us, O __Baal__!"
* __[19:12](en/tn/obs/help/19/12)__ So the people captured the prophets of __Baal__. Then Elijah took them away from there and killed them.