Baal-Gad
Baal-gad
(Heb. id., , lord of fortune: Sept. v. r. , once [Jos 13:5] ), a city of the Canaanites, perhaps in the valley of Lebanon, at the source of the Jordan and foot of Mount Hermon, whose kings were taken and put to death by Joshua, but the city itself remained unsubdued in his day (Jos 11:17; Jos 12:7; Jos 13:5). It was a place evidently well known at the time of the conquest of Palestine, and, as such, used to denote the most northern (Jos 11:17; Jos 12:7), or perhaps northwestern (Jos 13:5, Hamath being to the extreme northeast) point to which Joshua’s victories extended. It was in all probability a Phoenician or Canaanite sanctuary of Baal under the aspect of Gad or Fortune, SEE GAD, from whose worship it appears to have derived its name. SEE BAALIM. The words the plain () of Lebanon would lead to the supposition that it lay between the two ranges of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon which is still known by the same name el-Buka’a, and it has accordingly been identified by Iken and others (including Thomson, Land and Book, 1:353) with Baalbek (Ritter, Erdkunde, 17:230). SEE BAALBEK. But against this are the too great distance of Baalbek to the north, and the precise expression of the text under Mount Hermon. The conjecture of Schwarz (Palest. p. 60), supported by Robinson (Researches, new ed. 3, 519), is, that the modern representative of Baal-gad is Banias, a place which long maintained a great reputation as the sanctuary of Pan. SEE CAESAREA PHILIPPI. From its association with Mount Hermon, it would seem to be the same with BAAL-HERMON (Jdg 3:3; 1Ch 5:23). Smith.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Baal-gad
lord of fortune, or troop of Baal, a Canaanite city in the valley of Lebanon at the foot of Hermon, hence called Baal-hermon (Judge. 3:3; 1 Chr. 5:23), near the source of the Jordan (Josh. 13:5; 11:17; 12:7). It was the most northern point to which Joshua’s conquests extended. It probably derived its name from the worship of Baal. Its modern representative is Banias. Some have supposed it to be the same as Baalbec.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Baal Gad
A Canaanite sanctuary of Baal, as “the lord of fortune.” The N.W. limit of Joshua’s victories, as Hamath was the N.E. limit (Jos 11:17; Jos 12:7; Jos 13:5). “Under mount Hermon, in the valley of Lebanon,” still retaining the Hebrew name for “the valley,” ‘el buka, between Lebanon and Antilebanon. Probably now Banias, at the fountain which is one of the Jordan’s sources, formerly a sanctuary of Pan. Baalbek (“the city of the sun”) is situated too far N. at the lowest declivity of Antilibanus to be identified with Baal.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Baal-Gad
(“Baal, the fortune-bringer”.) The planet Jupiter (Isa 65:11 margin); “Gad” is the Babylonian god of fortune, Bel. The Arabs called it the “greater good fortune”; and “Meni,” the planet Venus, corresponds to “the lesser good fortune.” The city (Jos 11:17) bears the same name.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Baal-Gad
BAAL-GAD (? Baal of fortune).A place under Hermon, in the valley of Lebanon, referred to only as the northern limit of the country conquered by Joshua (Jos 11:17; Jos 12:7; Jos 13:5). Various identifications have been suggested, all uncertain. Perhaps Banias is the most probable. See Csarea Philippi.
R. A. S. Macalister.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Baal-Gad
This was another of the heathen idols, and as we learn from the book of Joshua, (Jos 11:17) was set up in the valley of Lebanon.. Gad means fortune; so that Baal-gad means a lord of fortune.
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Baal-Gad
baal-gad , baal gadh; , Balagada, , Balgad: Joshua in his conquest reached as far north as ‘Baal-gad in the valley’ of Lebanon, under Mount Hermon (Jos 11:17). This definitely locates it in the valley between the Lebanons, to the West or Northwest of Hermon. It must not be confused with Baal-hermon. Conder thinks it may be represented by Ain Jedeideh.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Baal-Gad
Baal-Gad, a city ‘in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon’ (Jos 11:17; Jos 12:7). We are also informed that among those parts of Palestine which were unsubdued by the Hebrews at the death of Joshua, was ‘all Lebanon towards the sun-rising, from Baal-gad, under Mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath’ (Jos 13:5). This position of Baal-Gad is not unfavorable to the conclusion which some have reached, that it is no other than the place which, from a temple consecrated to the sun, that stood there, was called by the Greeks Heliopolis, i.e. city of the sun; and which the natives called and still call Baalbek, a word apparently of the same meaning.
Baalbek is pleasantly situated on the lowest declivity of Anti-Libanus, at the opening of a small valley into the plain El-Bekaa. Through this valley runs a small stream, divided into numberless rills for irrigation. The place is in N. lat. 34 1 30, and E. 36 11, distant 109 geog. miles from Palmyra, and 38 from Tripoli.
Its origin appears to be lost in the most remote antiquity, and the historical notices of it are very scanty. In the absence of more positive information we can only conjecture that its situation on the high-road of commerce between Tyre, Palmyra, and the farther East, must have contributed largely to the wealth and magnificence which it manifestly attained. It is mentioned under the name of Heliopolis by Josephus, and also by Pliny. From the reverses of Roman coins we learn that Heliopolis was constituted a colony by Julius Caesar; that it was the seat of a Roman garrison in the time of Augustus. Some of the coins of later date contain curious representations of the temple.
Fig. 78Heliopolis
After the age of Constantine the splendid temples of Baalbek were probably consigned to neglect and decay, unless indeed, as some appearances indicate, they were then consecrated to Christian worship. From the accounts of Oriental writers Baalbek seems to have continued a place of importance down to the time of the Muslim invasion of Syria. They describe it as one of the most splendid of Syrian cities, enriched with stately palaces, adorned with monuments of ancient times, and abounding with trees, fountains, and whatever contributes to luxurious enjoyment. On the advance of the Muslims, it was reported to the emperor Heraclius as protected by a citadel of great strength, and well able to sustain a siege. After the capture of Damascus it was regularly invested by the Muslims, andcontaining an overflowing population, amply supplied with provisions and military storesit made a courageous defense, but at length capitulated. Its importance at that period is attested by the ransom exacted by the conquerors, consisting of 2000 ounces of gold, 4000 ounces of silver, 2000 silk vests, and 1000 swords, together with the arms of the garrison. It afterwards became the mart for the rich pillage of Syria: but its prosperity soon received a fatal blow from the caliph of Damascus, by whom it was sacked and dismantled, and the principal inhabitants put to the sword (A.D. 748). During the Crusades, being incapable of making any resistance, it seems to have quietly submitted to the strongest. In the year 1400 it was pillaged by Timour Beg, in his progress to Damascus, after he had taken Aleppo. Afterwards it fell into the hands of the Metawelia barbarous predatory tribe, who were nearly exterminated when Djezzar Pasha permanently subjected the whole district to Turkish supremacy.
The ruins of Heliopolis lie on an eastern branch of the mountain, and are called, by way of eminence, the Castle. The most prominent objects visible from the plain are a lofty portico of six columns, part of the great temple, and the walls and columns of another smaller temple a little below, surrounded by green trees. There is also a singular and unique circular temple, if it may be so called, of which we give a figure. These, with a curious column on the highest point within the walls, form the only erect portions of the ruins. The ruins at Baalbek in the mass are apparently of three successive eras: first, the gigantic hewn stones, in the face of the platform or basement on which the temple stands, and which appear to be remains of older buildings, perhaps of the more ancient temple which occupied the site. These celebrated blocks, which in fact form the great wonder of the place, vary from 30 to 40 feet in length; but there are three, forming an upper course 20 feet from the ground, which together measure 190 feet, being severally of the enormous dimensions of 63 and 64 feet in length, by 12 in breadth and thickness. ‘They are,’ says Richter, ‘the largest stones I have ever seen, and might of themselves have easily given rise to the popular opinion that Baalbek was built by angels at the command of Solomon. The whole wall, indeed, is composed of immense stones, and its resemblance to the remains of the Temple of Solomon, which are still shown in the foundations of the mosque Es-Sakkara on Mount Moriah, cannot fail to be observed.’ In the neighboring quarries, from which they were cut, one stone, hewn out but not carried away, is of much larger dimensions than any of those which have been mentioned. To the second and third eras belong the Roman temples, which, being of and about the time of Antoninus Pius, present some of the finest specimens of Corinthian architecture in existence, and possess a wonderful grandeur and majesty from their lofty and imposing situation (Addison, ii. 57).
The present Baalbek is a small village to the east of the ruins, in a sad state of wretchedness and decay. It is little more than a heap of rubbish, the houses being built of mud and sun-dried bricks. The population of 5000, which the place is said to have contained in 1751, is now reduced to barely 2000 persons; the two handsome mosques and fine serai of the Emir, mentioned by Burckhardt, are no longer distinguishable; and travelers may now inquire in vain for the grapes, the pomegranates, and the fruits which were formerly so abundant.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Baal-Gad
H1171
A city of the Canaanites
Jos 11:17; Jos 12:7; Jos 13:5
Probably identical with Baal-Hermon
Jdg 3:3; 1Ch 5:23