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<li><b>Definition:</b> <i>Cognates include Standard Hebrew (Bet-Ayin-Lamed); בַּעַל / בָּעַל, Baʿal, Akkadian Bēl and Arabic بعل. In Hebrew, the word ba`al means ~husband~ or ~owner~, and is related to a verb meaning to take possession of, for a man, to consummate a marriage. The word ~ba`al~ is also used in many Hebrew phrases, denoting both concrete ownership as well as possession of different qualities in one`s personality.</i>
<li><b>First reference:</b> Numbers 22:41 <br><i>
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.</i>
<li> Numbers 25:1-5 <br><i>
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1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.<br>
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.<br>
3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.<br>
4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel.<br>
5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.</i>
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<li> Jug 2:10-14 <br><i>
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10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
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11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:
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12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.
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13 And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
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14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
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<li> 1 Kings 18:17-40 <br><i>
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17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?<br>

18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father`s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.<br>

19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel`s table.<br>

20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.<br>

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.<br>

22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal`s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.<br>

23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:<br>

24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.<br>

25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
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26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
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27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
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28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
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29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
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30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.
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31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
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32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
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33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
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34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
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35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
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36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
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37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
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38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
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39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.
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40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
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