Baal

Baal-berith, also known as El-berith, was a Canaanite god whose name means "Lord of the Covenant" or "God of the Covenant." This deity is mentioned in the book of Judges in connection with the Israelites' idolatry and the rule of Abimelech, a son of Gideon. <BR>After Gideon's death, the Israelites turned away from the Lord and began worshipping Baal-berith (Judges 8:33). Abimelech, seeking to establish his rule over Shechem, received silver from the temple of Baal-berith to hire worthless and reckless men to support him (Judges 9:4). Later, when the people of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech, they put their trust in the temple of El-berith (Judges 9:46). <BR>The worship of Baal-berith/El-berith by the Israelites demonstrates their recurring tendency to stray from the Lord and embrace the idolatrous practices of the surrounding Canaanite culture. This unfaithfulness to the covenant with the Lord led to various conflicts and consequences throughout the period of the judges. <BR>The name Baal-berith/El-berith suggests that this deity was associated with the concept of a covenant or agreement, possibly related to treaties or alliances between cities or nations. However, the biblical account emphasizes that the true covenant relationship is between the Lord and His people, and any devotion to other gods is a violation of this covenant.