Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 151:603 (Jul 1994)
Article: The Polemic against Baalism in Israel’s Early History and Literature
Author: Robert B. Chisholm, Jr.

BSac 151:603 (Jul 94) p. 267

The Polemic against Baalism in Israel’s Early History and Literature

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

[Robert B. Chisholm, Jr., is Professor of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas.]

Over the past 25 years several scholars have pointed to the polemical character of 1 Kings 17—18, which tells of Elijah’s encounter with the prophets of Baal and the incidents leading up to that event.1 Following King Ahab’s decision to promote Baal worship in the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 16:31–33), Yahweh sent a drought on Israel and Phoenicia (the homeland of Ahab’s queen, Jezebel). This form of judgment was appropriate because the fertility god Baal promised his worshipers agricultural prosperity. Through the Prophet Elijah, Yahweh supernaturally provided the staples of life for a Phoenician widow (17:14) and raised her son from the dead (v. 17), thereby demonstrating His superiority to Baal, who was thought to be subject to Mot, the god of death, during times of prolonged drought. The story culminates with Elijah’s challenge to the prophets of Baal at Carmel. Before the eyes of all Israel, Yahweh proved that He, not Baal, controls the elements of the storm. After Baal’s prophets unsuccessfully went through their frantic mourning rites in an effort to rouse their god to action (18:26–29), Yahweh, in response to Elijah’s prayer, sent fire to consume the sacrifice and then caused it to rain (vv. 36–38, 45). By

BSac 151:603 (Jul 94) p. 268

exhibiting His sovereignty over Baal’s traditional spheres of authority, Yahweh established His right to Israel’s undivided loyalty. Israel must look to Yahweh, the one true God (18:24, 37, 39), for the necessities of life. Baalism was not an option.

This dramatic confrontation, precipitated by Ahab’s blatant Baalism, was inevitable. In fact the conflict had been brewing for centuries, during which Yahweh had utilized the same polemical strategy as in Elijah’s day. Throughout Israel’s early history the nation was vulnerable to the allurements of Baalism, a fertility cult offering its devotees agricultural prosperity (cf. Judg 2:11, <...