Page 73 - Advanced OT Survey Revised

The second level of deities was an especially rowdy group. These gods were the powers behind the
forces of nature, the political fates of cities and empires, and even behind abstractions, such as justice.
Very powerful, they ordered the universe, promoted the welfare of their worshipers, and advanced
themselves against other deities. Most popular of these gods was Baal. He was considered a fertility
deity as well as the god who controlled the rain for watering crops and well as enabling people to bear
children. The word Baal means “lord.”

Many Canaanites considered Baal as the most powerful of gods, even more, powerful than El who was
seen as rather weak and ineffective (past his prime). In various battles, Baal defeated Yamm, the god of
the sea, and Mot, the god of death and the underworld. Baal’s sisters were Ashtoreth, a fertility
goddess associated with stars, and Anath, a goddess of love and war. The Canaanites worshiped Baal as
the sun god and as the storm god. He is usually depicted holding a lightning bold who defeated enemies
and produced crops. The worship of Baal was rooted in sensuality and involved ritualistic prostitution in
temples created in his honor. At times, Baal required human sacrifice, usually the firstborn of the one
making the sacrifice (Jeremiah 19:5). The priests of Baal appealed to their god in rites of wild abandon
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which included loud, ecstatic cries and self-inflicted injury (I Kings 18:28) In Matthew 12:27 Jesus calls
Satan “Beelzebub”, linking the devil to Baal-Zebub, a Philistine deity similar to the Canaanite Baal. The
Baalim of the Old Testament were nothing more than demons masquerading as gods. Worshipping
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them was nothing more than devil worship (I Corinthians 10:20). When Israel turned from God to
worshipping Baal, they were actually turning from God to worship Satan.

The third level of gods served as craftsmen and artisans for the higher deities. As specialists in the
professions, their expertise was unsurpassed. They might contradict and even argue with high-level
gods when ordered to do things they themselves knew were folly. While they obeyed ordered, they
were not averse to mocking their superiors for the inferior knowledge those gods had of the work at
hand.

At the bottom level of the divine hierarchy were the messenger deities – the angels. They were the
slave labor of the Canaanite heaven. The position of any of the higher deities in the four-level
bureaucracy was determined by El and Asherah and could be changed at any time, particularly for
misuse of authority.

Israel’s temptation to “try out” some of these deities sometimes was too great. Besides Asherah (3;70,
they knew of second-level gods and goddesses such as Baal (3:7) and Anath (3:31). The idol that
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Hezekiah called Nehushtan (2 Kings 18:4) represents a healing deity of the third level.

Brief Summary

Chapters 1:1-3:6 While Israel begins with some success, they fail to drive out the Canaanites people.
Israel refuses to obey; YHWH refuses to fight for them (1:1-2:5). Nations were initially left to test
obedience, teach holy war. Israel fails to worship the Lord. They sin by worshipping Baal, so YHWH gives
them over to suffer among the enemy. With supplication, they cry out, YHWH saves them- judge (2:6-
3:6). This cycle is repeated throughout the book.

Chapters 3:7-21 focuses on the two Judges Othniel and Ehud. After infidelity, YHWH uses Cushan- king of
Mesopotamia to oppress Israel. They cry out, and He empowers Othniel to save them (3:7-11). With
further rebellion, YHWH brings Eglon of Moab to oppress Israel. When they cry out, He raises up left-

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