Who Was Baal?, Summary

The provided text, "Who Was Baal?", offers a comprehensive analysis of Baal worship in ancient Israel and Judah, contrasting it with the rise of Yahwism. The speaker begins by explaining theophoric names, demonstrating how names like Daniel and Michael contain references to El (God) and Yahweh. They then highlight biblical characters with Baal-related names, suggesting a widespread practice of Baal worship even among early Israelite heroes.

The core of the discussion revolves around the historical context of the Hebrew Bible, arguing that many narratives, like Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal, are later polemic texts reflecting the henotheistic and monotheistic reforms of the Deuteronomists, rather than literal historical accounts. The speaker emphasizes that for most of their history, Israelites were polytheists, and the shift towards Yahweh-only worship was a reform movement championed by kings and priests, particularly during the late Judahite kingdom.

The text points out that Baal worship continued to be prevalent in Judah even during Jeremiah's time, highlighting the prophet's complaints about the people's continued adherence to other gods. The reforms of King Hezekiah, who attempted to centralize Yahweh worship and destroy other cultic objects, are mentioned, along with their reversal by his son Manasseh, who reintroduced a broader pantheon, including Baal and Asherah, into the Jerusalem temple. The unexpected death of Josiah, a devout Yahwist king, is presented as a challenge to the Deuteronomistic theology that promised prosperity for adherence to Yahweh.

Finally, the discussion delves into the identity of Baal, explaining that "Baal" is a title meaning "Lord" and that the primary Baal worshipped in Ugarit was Hadad, a storm god. The speaker summarizes the Baal cycle of stories from Ugaritic texts, illustrating Baal's dominion over the sea, rain, and fertility, and his conflicts with other gods like Mot (death). The lecture concludes by outlining the absorption of other deities' roles and attributes by Yahweh as Yahwism evolved from polytheism to henotheism and eventually monotheism in the first temple period. The speaker also answers audience questions about the nature of the Ten Commandments, the "dying and rising god" motif, child sacrifice, and the meaning of "Elohim."