Editing Baal (section)

===Yahweh===
{{main|Yahweh|Names of God in Judaism}}
The title ''baʿal'' was a synonym in some contexts of the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ''[[adon]]'' ("Lord") and ''[[adonai]]'' ("My Lord") still used as aliases of the Lord of Israel [[Yahweh]]. According to some scholars, the [[Hebrew people|early Hebrews]] did use the names Baʿal ("Lord") and Baʿali ("My Lord") in reference to the Lord of Israel, just as Baʿal farther north designated the Lord of [[Ugarit]] or Lebanon.{{sfnp|''BEWR''|2006|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dbibAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA102 "Baal"]}}{{sfnp|Smith|1878|pp=175–176}} This occurred both directly and as the divine element of some Hebrew [[theophoric name]]s. However, according to others it is not certain that the name Baal was definitely applied to Yahweh in early Israelite history. The component Baal in proper names is mostly applied to worshippers of Baal, or descendants of the worshippers of Baal.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999a|p=136}} Names including the element Baʿal presumably in reference to Yahweh{{sfnp|Ayles|1904|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=nwQ9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA103 103]}}{{sfnp|Smith|1878|pp=175–176}} include the [[judge (Judaism)|judge]] [[Gideon]] (also known as Jerubaʿal, {{abbr|lit.|literally}}&nbsp;"The Lord Strives"), [[Saul the King|Saul]]'s son [[Ish-bosheth|Eshbaʿal]] ("The Lord is Great"), and [[David]]'s son Beeliada ("The Lord Knows"). The name [[Bealiah]] ("The Lord is [[Jah]]"; "Yahweh is Baʿal"){{sfnp|''AYBD''|1992|loc="Baal (Deity)"}} combined the two.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Chron.|12:5|HE}}.</ref>{{sfnp|Easton|1893|loc="[https://archive.org/stream/illustratedbible00east#page/86/mode/2up Beali′ah]"}} However John Day states that as far as the names Eshba’al, Meriba’al, and Beeliada (that is Baaliada), are concerned it is not certain whether they simply allude to the Canaanite god Ba’al, or are intended to equate Yahweh with Ba’al, or have no connection to Ba’al.{{sfnp|Day|2000|p=72}}

It was the program of [[Jezebel]], in the 9th century&nbsp;BCE, to introduce into Israel's capital city of Samaria her Phoenician worship of Baal as opposed to the worship of [[Yahweh]] that made the name anathema to the Israelites.{{sfnp|''BEWR''|2006|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dbibAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA102 "Baal"]}}
{{blockquote|At first the name Baal<!--sic--> was used by the [[Jews]] for their God without discrimination, but as the struggle between the two religions developed, the name Baal was given up by the Israelites as a thing of shame, and even names like Jerubbaal<!--sic--> were changed to Jerubbosheth: Hebrew ''bosheth'' means "shame".{{sfnp|''ZPBD''|1963}}}} Eshbaʿal became [[Ish-bosheth]]{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} and Meribaʿal became [[Mephibosheth]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Chron.|9:40|HE}}.</ref>{{original research inline|date=March 2022}} but other possibilities also occurred. Gideon's name Jerubaʿal was mentioned intact but glossed as a mockery of the Canaanite god, implying that he strove in vain.<ref>{{bibleverse|Judges|6:32|HE}}.</ref>{{original research inline|date=March 2022}} Direct use of Baʿali continued at least as late as the time of the [[prophet (Judaism)|prophet]] [[Hosea]], who reproached the Israelites for doing so.<ref>{{bibleverse|Hosea|2:16|HE}}</ref>

Brad E. Kelle has suggested that references to cultic sexual practices in the worship of Baal, in Hosea 2, are evidence of an historical situation in which Israelites were either giving up Yahweh worship for Baal, or blending the two.  Hosea's references to sexual acts being metaphors for Israelite "apostasy".{{sfnp|Kelle|2005|p=137}}

Brian P. Irwin argues that "Baal" in northern Israelite traditions is a form of Yahweh that was rejected as foreign by the prophets. In southern Israelite traditions, "Baal" was a god that was worshipped in Jerusalem. His worshippers saw him as compatible or identical with Yahweh and honored him with human sacrifices and fragrant meal offerings. Eventually, the [[The Chronicler|Chronicler(s)]] disapproved of both "Baals" whilst the [[Deuteronomist]]s used "Baals" for any god they disapproved of.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Irwin |first=Brian P. |date=1999 |title=Baal and Yahweh in the Old Testament: A Fresh Examination of the Biblical and Extra-Biblical Data |url=https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/73647 |journal=University of St. Michael's College|type=Thesis }}</ref>

Likewise, Mark S. Smith believes Yahweh was more likely to be inspired by Baal rather than El, since both are stormy divine warriors and lack the pacifistic traits of El according to the Ugaritic texts and Hebrew Bible.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=van Oorschot |first1=Jürgen |title=The Origins of Yahwism |last2=Witte |first2=Markus |date=2019 |publisher=De Gruyter |isbn=978-3110656701 |pages=23–43}}</ref>

{{anchor|Baal Berith|Ba'al Berith}}