(See further HEBREW RELIGION; PROPHET.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY.--W. Robertson Smith, _Relig. Semites_, 2nd ed. pp. 93-113
(against his theory of the introduction of Baal among the Arabs see M. J.
Lagrange, _Etudes d. relig. sem._ pp. 83-98). For the reading "Baal" in the
Amarna tablets (Palestine, about 1400 B.C.) see Knudtzon, _Beitr. z.
Assyriol._ (1901), pp. 320 seq., 415; other cuneiform evidence in E.
Schrader's _Keilinsch. u. Alte Test._ 3rd ed. p. 357 (by H. Zimmern; see
also his _Index_, sub voce). On _Baal-Shamem_ (B. of the heavens) M.
Lidzbarski's monograph (_Ephemeris_, i. 243-260, ii. 120) is invaluable,
and this work, with his _Handbuch d. nordsemit. Epigraphik_, contains full
account of the epigraphical material. See Baethgen, _Beitr. z. semit.
Religionsgesch._ pp. 17-32; also the articles on Baal by E. Meyer in
Roscher's _Lexikon_, and G. F. Moore in _Ency. Bib._ (On _Beltane_ fires
and other apparent points of connexion with Baal it may suffice to refer to
Aug. Fick, _Vergleich. Worterbuch_, who derives the element _bel_ from an
old Celtic root meaning shining, &c.)

(W. R. S.; S. A. C.)

[1] Cf. its use as a noun of relation _e.g._ a _ba'al_ of hair, "a hairy
man" (2 Kings i. 8), _b._ of wings, "a winged creature," and in the plural,
_b._ of arrows, "archers" (Gen. xlix. 23), _b._ of oath, "conspirators"
(Neh. vi. 18).

[2] Compounds with geographical terms (towns, mountains), _e.g._ Baal of
Tyre, of Lebanon, &c., are frequent; see G. B. Gray, _Heb. Proper Names,_
pp. 124-126. Baal-berith or El-berith of Shechem (Judg. ix. 4, 46) is
usually interpreted to be the Baal or God of the covenant, but whether of
covenants in general or of a particular covenant concluded at Shechem is
disputed. The [Greek: Balmarkos] (near Beirut) apparently presided over
dancing; another compound (in Cyprus) seems to represent a Baal of healing.
On the "Baal of flies" see BEELZEBUB.

[3] The general analogy shows itself further in the idea of the deity as
the husband (_ba'al_) of his worshippers or of the land in which they
dwell. The Astarte of Gabal (Byblus) was regularly known as the _ba'alath_
(fem. of _baal_), her real name not being pronounced (perhaps out of
reverence).

[4] See further Clermont-Ganneau, _Pal. Explor. Fund Quart. Stat._, 1901,
pp. 239, 369 sqq.; Buechler, _Rev. d'etudes juives_, 1901, pp. 125 seq.

[5] The extent to which elements of heathen cult entered into purer types
of religion is illustrated in t