Baal and Asherah

Baal was the Canaanite god of rain and storm who eventually became king of gods (by defeating a god called ‘Sea’).

In Hebrew ba'al means "lord", "master" or "husband".

Unfortunately, over time, the Israelites turned away from worshipping the true (unseen) God, YHWH – and turned to the worship of Baal and Asherah.

In fact, their allegiance became so widespread that Baal worship became the dominant religion by far – those who worshipped the true God were a small minority.

Baal’s sister/wife was Anat. Mot was the god of death (loved droughts too!) who killed Baal. Anat brought Baal back to life. In doing so she slashed herself with knives to display her mourning (1 Kings 18?)

Asherah was the Canaanite mother of all the gods representing life giving and the primeval sea ('the deep'). She is sometimes mentioned as Ba'al's mother, sometimes his wife - often symbolised by a pole (erected on high places).

(HSC Studies of Religion students will find this helpful - Religions of Ancient Origin).

SPECIFIC WEBSITES TO RESEARCH (All links tested mid July 2010)

International Bible Standard Encyclopedia BAAL

International Bible Standard Encyclopedia ASHERAH

Various Bible Dictionaries BAAL

Various Bible Dictionaries ASHERAH

http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/ARN_AUD/ASTARTE.html (ASHERAH)

http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2171

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02175a.htm (BAAL. BAALIM)

http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=2053

http://history-world.org/canaanite_culture_and_religion.htm

http://www.jesuswalk.com/joshua/canaanite-religion.htm