# 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](https://git.door43.org/Door43/en-ta-translate-vol1/src/master/content/translate_names.md)) 

(See also: [ahab](../other/ahab.md) **·** [asherah](../other/asherah.md) **·** [elijah](../other/elijah.md) **·** [falsegod](../kt/falsegod.md) **·** [prostitute](../other/prostitute.md) **·** [yahweh](../kt/yahweh.md))

## Bible References: ##

* [1 Kings 16:31-33](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/1ki/16/31)
* [1 Samuel 07:3-4](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/1sa/07/03)
* [Jeremiah 02:7-8](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/jer/02/07)
* [Judges 02:11-13](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/jdg/02/11)
* [Numbers 22:41](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/num/22/41)

## Examples from the Bible stories: ##

* __[19-02](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/19-02)__ Ahab was an evil man who encouraged people to worship a false god named __Baal__.
* __[19-06](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/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](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/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](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/19-08)__ Then the prophets of __Baal__  prayed to __Baal__, "Hear us, O __Baal__!"
* __[19-12](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/19-12)__ So the people captured the prophets of __Baal__. Then Elijah took them away from there and killed them.