A Quick Look at Baal

I don't want to go into too much detail here, but just enough to get an idea of what the Israelites were doing with reference to their worshipping of Baal. The name Baal basically means lord, which explains the importance they placed upon Baal. Baal was seen as a god of weather and fertility, both of which were very important at the time (and are still both important). Hosea 2:5 indicates that the people considered important things such as food, water, wool and linen as coming from Baal. Israel was tempted by the rites and rituals, the titles of those conducting the rituals, the shrines, the focus on earthly idols and treasures, etc... In addition to the sins of idolatry, they were also involved with rituals that included cultic tattoos, self-laceration and forms of ritualistic prostitution. The worst part is that the Israelites didn't see the differences between Jehovah and Baal. In fact, many considered themselves worshippers of both and didn't understand (or perhaps some did) that it was impossible to truly follow both at the same time. Often people would actually carry small idols, such as the one pictured, with them everywhere they went.