Editing Baal (section)

===Beelzebub===
{{Main|Beelzebub}}
Baʿal Zebub ({{langx|he|{{linktext|בעל זבוב}}}}, <small>{{abbr|lit.|literally}}</small>&nbsp;"[[Fly]] Lord"){{sfnp|Arndt & al.|2000|p=173}}{{sfnp|Balz & al.|2004|p=211}}{{efn|"The etymology of Beelzebul has proceeded in several directions. The variant reading Beelzebub (Syriac translators and Jerome) reflects a long-standing tradition of equating Beelzebul with the Philistine deity of the city of Ekron mentioned in 2 Kgs 1:2, 3, 6, 16. Baalzebub (Heb ba˓al zĕbûb) seems to mean “lord of flies” (HALAT, 250, but cf. LXXB baal muian theon akkarōn, “Baal-Fly, god of Akkaron”; Ant 9:2, 1 theon muian)."{{sfnp|''AYBD''|1992|loc="Beelzebul"}}}} occurs in the first chapter of the [[Second Book of Kings]] as the name of the [[Philistines|Philistine]] god of [[Ekron]]. In it, [[Ahaziah of Israel|Ahaziah]], [[kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|king of Israel]], is said to have consulted the priests of Baʿal Zebub as to whether he would survive the injuries from his recent fall. The [[prophet (Judaism)|prophet]] [[Elijah]], incensed at this impiety, then foretold that he would die quickly, raining heavenly fire on the soldiers sent to punish him for doing so.<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Kings|1:1–18|HE}}.</ref> [[Jewish]] scholars have interpreted the title of "Lord of the Flies" as the Hebrew way of calling Baʿal a [[feces|pile of dung]] and his followers [[vermin]],{{sfnp|Kohler|1902}}{{sfnp|Lurker|1987|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Vtj0wSsw1JcC&pg=PA31 31]}} although others argue for a link to power over causing and curing [[infection|pestilence]] and thus suitable for Ahaziah's question.{{sfnp|Herrmann|1999b}} The [[Septuagint]] renders the name as ''Baälzeboúb'' ({{lang|grc|βααλζεβούβ}}) and as "Baʿal of Flies" ({{lang|grc|βααλ μυιαν}}, ''Baäl muian''). [[Symmachus the Ebionite]] rendered it as ''Beëlzeboúl'' ({{lang|grc|Βεελζεβούλ}}), possibly reflecting its original sense.{{sfnp|Souvay|1907}}{{efn|Arndt & al. reverse this, saying Symmachus transcribed ''Baälzeboúb'' for a more common ''Beëlzeboúl''.{{sfnp|Arndt & al.|2000|p=173}}}} This has been proposed to have been ''B‘l Zbl'', [[Ugaritic language|Ugaritic]] for "Prince Baal".{{sfnp|Wex|2005}}{{efn|"It is more probable that b‘l zbl, which can mean “lord of the (heavenly) dwelling” in Ugaritic, was changed to b‘l zbb to make the divine name an opprobrius epithet. The reading Beelzebul in Mt. 10:25 would then reflect the right form of the name, a wordplay on “master of the house” (Gk oikodespótēs)."{{sfnp|McIntosh|1989}}}}{{efn|"An alternative suggested by many is to connect zĕbûl with a noun meaning '(exalted) abode.'"{{sfnp|''AYBD''|1992|loc="Beelzebul"}}}}{{efn|"In contemporary Semitic speech it may have been understood as ‘the master of the house’; if so, this phrase could be used in a double sense in Mt. 10:25b."{{sfnp|Bruce|1996}}}}