Each Canaanite city built its BAAL SANCTUARY in HONOR of its local patron BAAL. Priests we-
re appointed to conduct the WORSHIP at these SANCTUARIES and the many SHRINES on neigh-
boring HILLTOPS known as "HIGH PLACES."
2 Kings 17 1) Hoshea's wicked reign. 3) Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspired against him
with So king of Egypt. 5) Samaria for their sins is captivated. 24) The strange nations (heathens), which were transplanted in Samaria, being plagued with lions, make a mixture of religions
24 : Then the king of ASSYRIA BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM BABYLON, CUTHAH, AVVA,
HAMATH, and SEPHARVAIM in place of the Israelites; so THEY OCCUPIED SAMARIA
AND LIVED IN ITS TOWNS.
25 : In the early years of their settlement THEY DID NOT PAY HOMAGE TO THE LORD, so
THE LORD SENT LIONS AMONG THEM TO PREY ON THEM.
26 : The king of ASSYRIA WAS TOLD that the DEPORTED peoples WHOM HE HAD SET-
TLED IN THE TOWNS OF SAMARIA DID NOT KNOW THE ESTABLISHED USAGE
of the GOD OF THE COUNTRY, and that HE HAD SENT LIONS AMONG THEM WHICH
WERE PREYING ON THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW THIS.
27: The king, therefore, gave orders that ONE OF THE PRIESTS TAKEN CAPTIVE FROM
SAMARIA SHOULD BE SENT BACK TO LIVE THERE and TEACH THE PEOPLE THE
USAGE OF THE GOD OF THE COUNTRY.
28: So ONE OF THE DEPORTED PRIESTS CAME AND LIVED AT BETHEL, and TAUGHT
them HOW TO WORSHIP the LORD.
29 : But EACH of the nations (heathen) WENT ON MAKING ITS OWN god. They set them up in
niches at the shrines which the Samaritans had made, EACH NATION (heathen) IN ITS OWN
SETTLEMENTS.
30 : SUCCOTH-BENOTH was worshipped BY THE MEN OF CUTH, ASHIMA BY THE MEN
OF HAMATH,
31 : NIBHAZ and TARTAK BY THE AVVITES; and the SEPHARVITES BURNT THEIR
CHILDREN as offerings TO ADRAMMELECH and ANAMMELECH, the gods of
SEPHARVAIM.
32 : While STILL PAYING HOMAGE TO THE LORD, they APPOINTED ALL SORTS OF
PEOPLE TO ACT AS PRIESTS of the shrines and they resorted to them there.
33 : THEY PAID HOMAGE TO THE LORD, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THEY SERVED
THEIR OWN GODS, according to the custom of the nations (heathens) from which they had
been carried into exile.
34 : THEY KEEP UP THESE OLD PRACTICES TO THIS DAY; THEY DO NOT PAY
HOMAGE TO THE LORD, FOR THEY DO NOT KEEP HIS STATUTES and HIS
JUDGMENTS, THE LAW and COMMANDMENT, WHICH HE ENJOINED ON THE
DESCENDANTS OF JACOB WHOM HE NAMED ISRAEL.
35 : When THE LORD MADE A COVENANT WITH THEM, HE GAVE THEM THIS
COMMANDMENT : 'DO NOT PAY HOMAGE TO OTHER GODS OR BOW DOWN
TO THEM OR SERVE THEM OR SACRIFICE TO THEM,
36 : BUT PAY HOMAGE TO THE LORD WHO BROUGHT YOU UP FROM EGYPT WITH
GREAT POWER AND WITH OUTSTRETCHED ARM; TO HIM ALONE YOU ARE TO
BOW DOWN, TO HIM ALONE YOU ARE TO OFFER SACRIFICE.
37 : YOU MUST FAITHFULLY KEEP THE STATUTES, THE JUDGMENTS, THE LAW,
AND THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH HE WROTE FOR YOU; YOU MUST NOT PAY
HOMAGE TO OTHER GODS.
38 : BUT TO THE LORD YOUR GOD YOU ARE TO PAY HOMAGE; IT IS HE WHO WILL
PRESERVE YOU FROM ALL YOUR ENEMIES.
40 : However, THEY would NOT LISTEN but CONTINUED THEIR FORMER PRACTICES.
41 : WHILE these nations PAID HOMAGE TO THE LORD THEY CONTINUED TO SERVE
THEIR IMAGES, and THEIR CHILDREN and THEIR CHILDREN's CHILDREN HAVE
MAINTAINED THE PRACTICE OF THEIR FOREFATHERS TO THIS DAY.
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
THE MORNING OF JOY
Ezekiel 39 1) God's judgment upon Gog. 8) Israel's victory. 11) Gog's burial in Hamon-gog.
17) The feast of the fowls. 23) Israel, having been plagued for their sins, shall be gathered
again with eternal favour.
7 : "SO WILL I MAKE MY HOLY NAME KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE
ISRAEL; and IWILL NOT LET THEM POLLUTE MY HOLY NAME ANY MORE;
and THE HEATHEN (the nations) SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, THE HOLY
ONE IN ISRAEL."
8 : "BEHOLD, IT IS COME, and IT IS DONE," said THE LORD GOD; "THIS IS THE DAY
WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN."
9 : "THOSE WHO LIVE IN ISRAEL's TOWNS WILL GO OUT AND GATHER WEAPONS
FOR FUEL, BUCKLERS and SHIELDS, BOWS and ARROWS, THROWING-STICKS
and LANCES; FOR SEVEN YEARS THEY WILL KINDLE FIRES WITH THEM."
10 : "THEY WILL TAKE NO WOOD FROM THE FIELDS, NOR CUT IT FROM THE FOREST,
BUT WILL USE THE WEAPONS TO LIGHT THEIR FIRES. THUS THEY WILL
PLUNDER THOSE WHO PLUNDERED THEM AND SPOIL THEIR DESPOILERS."
This is the WORD of THE LORD GOD.
11 : "ON THAT DAY, INSTEAD OF A BURIAL GROUND IN ISRAEL, I SHALL ASSIGN
TO GOG THE VALLEY OF ABARIM EAST OF THE DEAD SEA. THERE GOG WITH
ALL HIS HORDE WILL BE BURIED, AND ABARIM WILL BE ENTIRELY BLOCKED.
IT WILL BE CALLED THE VALLEY OF GOG's HORDE."
12 : "IT WILL TAKE THE ISRAELITES SEVEN MONTHS TO BURY THEM AND TO
PURIFY THE LAND,
13 : AND ALL THE PEOPLE WILL SHARE IN THE TASK. THE DAY THAT I WIN MYSELF
HONOUR WILL BE A MEMORABLE DAY FOR THEM." This is THE WORD OF THE
LORD GOD.
Ezekiel 39 1) God's judgment upon Gog. 8) Israel's victory. 11) Gog's burial in Hamon-gog.
17) The feast of the fowls. 23) Israel, having been plagued for their sins, shall be gathered
again with eternal favour.
7 : "SO WILL I MAKE MY HOLY NAME KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE
ISRAEL; and IWILL NOT LET THEM POLLUTE MY HOLY NAME ANY MORE;
and THE HEATHEN (the nations) SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, THE HOLY
ONE IN ISRAEL."
8 : "BEHOLD, IT IS COME, and IT IS DONE," said THE LORD GOD; "THIS IS THE DAY
WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN."
9 : "THOSE WHO LIVE IN ISRAEL's TOWNS WILL GO OUT AND GATHER WEAPONS
FOR FUEL, BUCKLERS and SHIELDS, BOWS and ARROWS, THROWING-STICKS
and LANCES; FOR SEVEN YEARS THEY WILL KINDLE FIRES WITH THEM."
10 : "THEY WILL TAKE NO WOOD FROM THE FIELDS, NOR CUT IT FROM THE FOREST,
BUT WILL USE THE WEAPONS TO LIGHT THEIR FIRES. THUS THEY WILL
PLUNDER THOSE WHO PLUNDERED THEM AND SPOIL THEIR DESPOILERS."
This is the WORD of THE LORD GOD.
11 : "ON THAT DAY, INSTEAD OF A BURIAL GROUND IN ISRAEL, I SHALL ASSIGN
TO GOG THE VALLEY OF ABARIM EAST OF THE DEAD SEA. THERE GOG WITH
ALL HIS HORDE WILL BE BURIED, AND ABARIM WILL BE ENTIRELY BLOCKED.
IT WILL BE CALLED THE VALLEY OF GOG's HORDE."
12 : "IT WILL TAKE THE ISRAELITES SEVEN MONTHS TO BURY THEM AND TO
PURIFY THE LAND,
13 : AND ALL THE PEOPLE WILL SHARE IN THE TASK. THE DAY THAT I WIN MYSELF
HONOUR WILL BE A MEMORABLE DAY FOR THEM." This is THE WORD OF THE
LORD GOD.
EARTH's NIGHT OF SIN.
Ezekiel 38
18 : "ON THAT DAY, WHEN AT LENGHT GOG INVADES ISRAEL," says the LORD
GOD, "MY WRATH WILL BOIL OVER."
19 : "IN MY JEALOUSY and IN THE HEAT OF MY ANGER I SWEAR THAT THERE WILL
BE A GREAT EARTHQUAKE THROUGHOUT THE LAND OF ISRAEL ON THAT
DAY."
20 : "SO THAT THE FISHES OF THE SEA, and THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN, and THE
BEASTS OF THE FIELD, and ALL CREEPING THINGS THAT CREEP UPON THE
EARTH, and ALL THE MEN THAT ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, SHALL
SHAKE AT MY PRESENCE, and THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BE THROWN DOWN, and
EVERY WALL SHALL FALL TO THE GROUND."
21 : "I SHALL SUMMON UNIVERSAL TERROR AGAINST GOG," says the LORD GOD,
" and HIS MEN WILL TURN THEIR SWORDS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER."
22 : "I SHALL BRING HIM TO JUDGEMENT WITH PESTILENCE AND BLOODSHED;
I SHALL POUR TORRENTIAL RAIN AND HAILSTONES AS WELL AS FIRE AND
BRIMSTONE ON HIM AND HIS SQUADRONS AND THE WHOLE CONCOURSE OF
PEOPLES WITH HIM."
23 : "I SHALL SHOW MYSELF GREAT AND HOLY AND MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO
MANY NATIONS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD."
Ezekiel 39
1 : "O man, prophesy against Gog and say : 'The LORD GOD says : I AM AGAINST YOU, GOG,
prince of ROSH, MESHECH, and TUBAL."
2 : " I SHALL TURN YOU ROUND AND DRIVE YOU ON. I SHALL LEAD YOU FROM
THE FAR RECESSES OF THE NORTH AND BRING YOU TO THE MOUNTAINS OF
ISRAEL."
3 : "I SHALL STRIKE THE BOW FROM YOUR LEFT HAND AND DASH THE ARROWS
FROM YOUR RIGHT HAND."
4 : "ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL YOU WILL FALL, you and all your squadrons and
allies. I SHALL GIVE YOU AS FOOD TO EVERY KIND OF BIRD OF PREY AND TO
THE WILD BEASTS."
5 : "YOU WILL FALL ON THE GROUND, FOR IT IS I WHO HAVE SPOKEN." This is the
WORD of THE LORD GOD.
6 : "I SHALL SEND FIRE ON MAGOG AND ON THOSE WHO LIVE UNDISTURBED IN
THE COASTS AND ISLANDS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD."
7 : "MY HOLY NAME I SHALL MAKE KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE
ISRAEL AND NO LONGER LET IT BE PROFANED; THE NATIONS WILL KNOW
THAT I, THE LORD, AM HOLY IN ISRAEL.
Ezekiel 38
18 : "ON THAT DAY, WHEN AT LENGHT GOG INVADES ISRAEL," says the LORD
GOD, "MY WRATH WILL BOIL OVER."
19 : "IN MY JEALOUSY and IN THE HEAT OF MY ANGER I SWEAR THAT THERE WILL
BE A GREAT EARTHQUAKE THROUGHOUT THE LAND OF ISRAEL ON THAT
DAY."
20 : "SO THAT THE FISHES OF THE SEA, and THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN, and THE
BEASTS OF THE FIELD, and ALL CREEPING THINGS THAT CREEP UPON THE
EARTH, and ALL THE MEN THAT ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, SHALL
SHAKE AT MY PRESENCE, and THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BE THROWN DOWN, and
EVERY WALL SHALL FALL TO THE GROUND."
21 : "I SHALL SUMMON UNIVERSAL TERROR AGAINST GOG," says the LORD GOD,
" and HIS MEN WILL TURN THEIR SWORDS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER."
22 : "I SHALL BRING HIM TO JUDGEMENT WITH PESTILENCE AND BLOODSHED;
I SHALL POUR TORRENTIAL RAIN AND HAILSTONES AS WELL AS FIRE AND
BRIMSTONE ON HIM AND HIS SQUADRONS AND THE WHOLE CONCOURSE OF
PEOPLES WITH HIM."
23 : "I SHALL SHOW MYSELF GREAT AND HOLY AND MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO
MANY NATIONS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD."
Ezekiel 39
1 : "O man, prophesy against Gog and say : 'The LORD GOD says : I AM AGAINST YOU, GOG,
prince of ROSH, MESHECH, and TUBAL."
2 : " I SHALL TURN YOU ROUND AND DRIVE YOU ON. I SHALL LEAD YOU FROM
THE FAR RECESSES OF THE NORTH AND BRING YOU TO THE MOUNTAINS OF
ISRAEL."
3 : "I SHALL STRIKE THE BOW FROM YOUR LEFT HAND AND DASH THE ARROWS
FROM YOUR RIGHT HAND."
4 : "ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL YOU WILL FALL, you and all your squadrons and
allies. I SHALL GIVE YOU AS FOOD TO EVERY KIND OF BIRD OF PREY AND TO
THE WILD BEASTS."
5 : "YOU WILL FALL ON THE GROUND, FOR IT IS I WHO HAVE SPOKEN." This is the
WORD of THE LORD GOD.
6 : "I SHALL SEND FIRE ON MAGOG AND ON THOSE WHO LIVE UNDISTURBED IN
THE COASTS AND ISLANDS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD."
7 : "MY HOLY NAME I SHALL MAKE KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE
ISRAEL AND NO LONGER LET IT BE PROFANED; THE NATIONS WILL KNOW
THAT I, THE LORD, AM HOLY IN ISRAEL.
BAAL, THE OWNER.
Ezekiel 38 1: The army. 8: The malice of Gog. 14: GOD's judgment against him.
10 : The LORD GOD says : "AT THAT TIME A THOUGHT WILL ENTER YOUR HEAD and
YOU WILL HATCH an EVIL PLAN."
11 : "You will say : 'I shall attack a land of open villages and fall upon a people living quiet and
undisturbed, undefended by walls or barred gates.' "
12 : "YOU WILL EXPECT TO COME PLUNDERING, SPOILING, and STRIPPING BARE
the settlements WHICH ONCE LAY IN RUINS, BUT ARE NOW INHABITED BY A
PEOPLE GATHERED OUT OF THE NATIONS, A PEOPLE ACQUIRING LIVESTOCK
AND GOODS, AND MAKING THEIR HOME AT THE VERY CENTRE OF THE
WORLD."
13 : "SHEBA and DEDAN, the TRADERS of TARSHISH and HER LEADING MERCHANTS,
will say to you, 'IS IT FOR PLUNDER THAT YOU HAVE COME? HAVE YOU MUSTE-
RED YOUR HOST TO GET SPOIL, TO CARRY OFF SILVER AND GOLD, TO TAKE
LIVESTOCK AND GOODS, TO SEIZE MUCH BOOTY?"
14 : "Therefore, O man, prophesy and say to GOG : ' The LORD GOD says : ON THAT DAY
WHEN MY PEOPLE ISRAEL ARE LIVING UNDISTURBED, WILL YOU NOT KNOW
IT? "
15 : "And YOU SHALL COME FROM YOUR PLACE OUT OF THE NORTH PARTS, YOU,
and MANY PEOPLE WITH YOU, all of them RIDING UPON HORSES, a great company,
and A MIGHTY ARMY."
16 : "YOU WILL ADVANCE AGAINST MY PEOPLE ISRAEL LIKE A CLOUD THAT
COVERS THE EARTH. IN THE LAST DAYS I SHALL BRING YOU AGAINST MY
LAND, THAT THE NATIONS MAY KNOW ME, WHEN THEY SEE ME PROVE MY
HOLINESS AT GOG's EXPENSE."
17 : Thus said the LORD GOD : " IT WAS YOU WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN IN OLD TIME BY
MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL, WHICH PROPHESIED IN THOSE
DAYS UNCEASINGLY THAT I WOULD BRING YOU AGAINST THEM."
Ezekiel 38 1: The army. 8: The malice of Gog. 14: GOD's judgment against him.
10 : The LORD GOD says : "AT THAT TIME A THOUGHT WILL ENTER YOUR HEAD and
YOU WILL HATCH an EVIL PLAN."
11 : "You will say : 'I shall attack a land of open villages and fall upon a people living quiet and
undisturbed, undefended by walls or barred gates.' "
12 : "YOU WILL EXPECT TO COME PLUNDERING, SPOILING, and STRIPPING BARE
the settlements WHICH ONCE LAY IN RUINS, BUT ARE NOW INHABITED BY A
PEOPLE GATHERED OUT OF THE NATIONS, A PEOPLE ACQUIRING LIVESTOCK
AND GOODS, AND MAKING THEIR HOME AT THE VERY CENTRE OF THE
WORLD."
13 : "SHEBA and DEDAN, the TRADERS of TARSHISH and HER LEADING MERCHANTS,
will say to you, 'IS IT FOR PLUNDER THAT YOU HAVE COME? HAVE YOU MUSTE-
RED YOUR HOST TO GET SPOIL, TO CARRY OFF SILVER AND GOLD, TO TAKE
LIVESTOCK AND GOODS, TO SEIZE MUCH BOOTY?"
14 : "Therefore, O man, prophesy and say to GOG : ' The LORD GOD says : ON THAT DAY
WHEN MY PEOPLE ISRAEL ARE LIVING UNDISTURBED, WILL YOU NOT KNOW
IT? "
15 : "And YOU SHALL COME FROM YOUR PLACE OUT OF THE NORTH PARTS, YOU,
and MANY PEOPLE WITH YOU, all of them RIDING UPON HORSES, a great company,
and A MIGHTY ARMY."
16 : "YOU WILL ADVANCE AGAINST MY PEOPLE ISRAEL LIKE A CLOUD THAT
COVERS THE EARTH. IN THE LAST DAYS I SHALL BRING YOU AGAINST MY
LAND, THAT THE NATIONS MAY KNOW ME, WHEN THEY SEE ME PROVE MY
HOLINESS AT GOG's EXPENSE."
17 : Thus said the LORD GOD : " IT WAS YOU WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN IN OLD TIME BY
MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL, WHICH PROPHESIED IN THOSE
DAYS UNCEASINGLY THAT I WOULD BRING YOU AGAINST THEM."
BAAL, THE MASTER.
The farming and cattle-raising CANAANITES thought that engaging in a prescribed RITUAL helped to stimulates their gods to action according to the pattern enacted at their festivals and was necessary to ensure productive crops and herds in the coming season and to avert droughts, locust plagues, and so forth. Hence BAAL's coming to life again to be enthroned and mated with his consort was celebrated with licentious fertility rites, marked by sexual orgies of unrestrained debauchery.
EZEKIEL 38
1 This WORD of the LORD came to me :
2 "O man, face towards Gog in the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and
prophesy against him."
3 Say : "These are the WORDS of the LORD GOD : 'I AM AGAINST YOU, GOG, prince of
Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal."
4 "I SHALL PUT HOOKS IN YOUR JAWS AND TURN YOU ROUND. I SHALL LEAD
YOU OUT, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE ARMY, HORSES and HORSEMEN, all fully
equipped, a great host with bucklers and shields, every man wielding a sword."
5 "With them will march THE MEN OF PERSIA, CUSH, and PUT, all with shields and helmets,
6 GOMER and all its squadrons, BETHTOGARMAH with all its squadrons from the far recesses of
the NORTH - a great concourse of PEOPLE WITH YOU."
7 "BE PREPARED; MAKE READY, YOU AND ALL THE HOST WHICH HAS RALLIED
TO YOU, AND HOLD YOURSELVES AT MY DISPOSAL."
8 "After a LONG TIME HAS PASSED YOU WILL BE SUMMONED; in YEARS TO COME
YOU WILL INVADE A LAND RESTORED FROM RUIN, whose people are gathered from
many nations ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL THAT HAVE BEEN SO LONG
DESOLATE. The ISRAELITES BROUGHT OUT FROM THE NATIONS, WILL ALL BE
LIVING UNDISTURBED;
9 and YOU WILL COME UP, ADVANCING LIKE A HURRICANE; YOU WILL BE LIKE A
CLOUD COVERING THE LAND, YOU AND ALL YOUR SQUADRONS, a great
concourse of peoples."
The farming and cattle-raising CANAANITES thought that engaging in a prescribed RITUAL helped to stimulates their gods to action according to the pattern enacted at their festivals and was necessary to ensure productive crops and herds in the coming season and to avert droughts, locust plagues, and so forth. Hence BAAL's coming to life again to be enthroned and mated with his consort was celebrated with licentious fertility rites, marked by sexual orgies of unrestrained debauchery.
EZEKIEL 38
1 This WORD of the LORD came to me :
2 "O man, face towards Gog in the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and
prophesy against him."
3 Say : "These are the WORDS of the LORD GOD : 'I AM AGAINST YOU, GOG, prince of
Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal."
4 "I SHALL PUT HOOKS IN YOUR JAWS AND TURN YOU ROUND. I SHALL LEAD
YOU OUT, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE ARMY, HORSES and HORSEMEN, all fully
equipped, a great host with bucklers and shields, every man wielding a sword."
5 "With them will march THE MEN OF PERSIA, CUSH, and PUT, all with shields and helmets,
6 GOMER and all its squadrons, BETHTOGARMAH with all its squadrons from the far recesses of
the NORTH - a great concourse of PEOPLE WITH YOU."
7 "BE PREPARED; MAKE READY, YOU AND ALL THE HOST WHICH HAS RALLIED
TO YOU, AND HOLD YOURSELVES AT MY DISPOSAL."
8 "After a LONG TIME HAS PASSED YOU WILL BE SUMMONED; in YEARS TO COME
YOU WILL INVADE A LAND RESTORED FROM RUIN, whose people are gathered from
many nations ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL THAT HAVE BEEN SO LONG
DESOLATE. The ISRAELITES BROUGHT OUT FROM THE NATIONS, WILL ALL BE
LIVING UNDISTURBED;
9 and YOU WILL COME UP, ADVANCING LIKE A HURRICANE; YOU WILL BE LIKE A
CLOUD COVERING THE LAND, YOU AND ALL YOUR SQUADRONS, a great
concourse of peoples."
BAAL (Ba' al) (master, owner).
BAAl worship is known from the many SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES and for the ones who believe only in what their eyes can see, excavations at UGARIT (the modern Ras Shamra on the Syrian coast opposite the northeastern tip of the island of Cyprus) brought to light many religious artifacts.
Many of these ancient documents, now known as the RAS SHAMRA TEXTS, are liturgies of or words spoken by those participating in the rituals at the festivals.
In the RAS SHAMRA texts BAAL (also called Aliyan - the one who prevails -) is referred to as "ZABUL" (Prince), "LORD OF THE EARTH" and "THE RIDER OF THE CLOUDS." This harmonizes with a representation of BAAL, showing him as holding a club or mace in his right hand and a stylized lightning flash with a spearhead in his left. He is also depicted as wearing a helmet with horns, suggesting an intimate connection with the BULL (in other myths it is named RAM), as a symbol of fertility.
Normally from late April to September there is hardly any rain in Palestine. In October the rains start and continue throughout winter and into April, resulting in abundant vegetation.
The changes of the seasons and the resulting effects were thought to come in cycles because of the never-ending conflicts between the gods.
The cessation of the rains and the dying of vegetation were attributed to the triumph of the god MOT (death and aridity) over BAAL (rain and fertility), compelling BAAL to withdraw into the depths of the earth. The beginning of the rainy season was believed to indicate that BAAL was awakened to life. This, it was thought, was made possible by the triumph of BAAL's sister Anath over Mot, allowing her brother BAAL to return to his throne. The mating of BAAL with his wife, ASHTORETH, was believed to ensure fertility for the coming year.
The BULL ( RAM) is not shown in the earliest Babylonian Zodiacs. It appears in the charts of Ancient Egyptian astronomers. It can be seen on the walls of the temple of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramses the Great, near the Valley of the Kings in Thebes.
(RAM is a male sheep. BULL is an uncastrated male of the bovine or OX family. It is represented as the first sign of the Zodiac.).
BAAl worship is known from the many SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES and for the ones who believe only in what their eyes can see, excavations at UGARIT (the modern Ras Shamra on the Syrian coast opposite the northeastern tip of the island of Cyprus) brought to light many religious artifacts.
Many of these ancient documents, now known as the RAS SHAMRA TEXTS, are liturgies of or words spoken by those participating in the rituals at the festivals.
In the RAS SHAMRA texts BAAL (also called Aliyan - the one who prevails -) is referred to as "ZABUL" (Prince), "LORD OF THE EARTH" and "THE RIDER OF THE CLOUDS." This harmonizes with a representation of BAAL, showing him as holding a club or mace in his right hand and a stylized lightning flash with a spearhead in his left. He is also depicted as wearing a helmet with horns, suggesting an intimate connection with the BULL (in other myths it is named RAM), as a symbol of fertility.
Normally from late April to September there is hardly any rain in Palestine. In October the rains start and continue throughout winter and into April, resulting in abundant vegetation.
The changes of the seasons and the resulting effects were thought to come in cycles because of the never-ending conflicts between the gods.
The cessation of the rains and the dying of vegetation were attributed to the triumph of the god MOT (death and aridity) over BAAL (rain and fertility), compelling BAAL to withdraw into the depths of the earth. The beginning of the rainy season was believed to indicate that BAAL was awakened to life. This, it was thought, was made possible by the triumph of BAAL's sister Anath over Mot, allowing her brother BAAL to return to his throne. The mating of BAAL with his wife, ASHTORETH, was believed to ensure fertility for the coming year.
The BULL ( RAM) is not shown in the earliest Babylonian Zodiacs. It appears in the charts of Ancient Egyptian astronomers. It can be seen on the walls of the temple of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramses the Great, near the Valley of the Kings in Thebes.
(RAM is a male sheep. BULL is an uncastrated male of the bovine or OX family. It is represented as the first sign of the Zodiac.).
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
EARTH's NIGHT OF SIN TO TERMINATE IN A MORNING OF JOY.
Genesis 15 :
12 As the sun was going down ( man's fall because of sin), Abram fell into a trance (deep sleep) and great and fearful darkness came over him.
Luke 22 :
39 Then he (Jesus) went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, accompanied by the disciples.
40 When he (Jesus) reached the PLACE he (Jesus) said to them, "PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE SPARED THE TEST."
41 He (Jesus) himself withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and began to pray:
42 "FATHER, IF IT BE YOUR WILL, TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME. YET NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE."
43 And now there appeared to him an angel from heaven bringing him STRENGTH,
44 and IN ANGUISH OF SPIRIT HE PRAYED THE MORE URGENTLY; and his sweat was like
drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and came to the disciples he found them asleep, WORN OUT BY GRIEF.
46 "WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING?" he said. "RISE AND PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE SPARED THE TEST."
Genesis 15 :
13 The LORD said to Abram, "KNOW THIS FOR CERTAIN : YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL
BE ALIENS LIVING IN A LAND THAT IS NOT THEIR OWN; THEY WILL BE
ENSLAVED AND HELD IN OPPRESSION FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS.
14 BUT I SHALL PUNISH THE NATION WHOSE SLAVES THEY ARE, AND
AFTERWARDS THEY WILL DEPART WITH GREAT POSSESSIONS.
15 YOU YOURSELF WILL JOIN YOUR FOREFATHERS IN PEACE AND BE BURIED
AT A RIPE OLD AGE.
16 BUT IT WILL BE THE FOURTH GENERATION WHO WILL RETURN HERE, FOR TILL
THEN THE AMORITES WILL NOT BE RIPE FOR PUNISHMENT."
17 The sun went down and it was dusk, and there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch
which passed between the divided pieces.
18 That DAY the LORD made a COVENANT with Abram, and said, " I GIVE TO YOUR
DESCENDANTS THIS LAND FROM THE RIVER OF EGYPT TO THE GREAT RIVER,
THE RIVER EUPHRATES, THE TERRITORY OF THE KENITES, KENIZZITES,
KADMONITES, HITTITES, PERIZZITES, REPHAIM, AMORITES, CANAANITES,
GIRGASHITES, and JEBUSITES. "
Genesis 15 :
12 As the sun was going down ( man's fall because of sin), Abram fell into a trance (deep sleep) and great and fearful darkness came over him.
Luke 22 :
39 Then he (Jesus) went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, accompanied by the disciples.
40 When he (Jesus) reached the PLACE he (Jesus) said to them, "PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE SPARED THE TEST."
41 He (Jesus) himself withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and began to pray:
42 "FATHER, IF IT BE YOUR WILL, TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME. YET NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE."
43 And now there appeared to him an angel from heaven bringing him STRENGTH,
44 and IN ANGUISH OF SPIRIT HE PRAYED THE MORE URGENTLY; and his sweat was like
drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and came to the disciples he found them asleep, WORN OUT BY GRIEF.
46 "WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING?" he said. "RISE AND PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE SPARED THE TEST."
Genesis 15 :
13 The LORD said to Abram, "KNOW THIS FOR CERTAIN : YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL
BE ALIENS LIVING IN A LAND THAT IS NOT THEIR OWN; THEY WILL BE
ENSLAVED AND HELD IN OPPRESSION FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS.
14 BUT I SHALL PUNISH THE NATION WHOSE SLAVES THEY ARE, AND
AFTERWARDS THEY WILL DEPART WITH GREAT POSSESSIONS.
15 YOU YOURSELF WILL JOIN YOUR FOREFATHERS IN PEACE AND BE BURIED
AT A RIPE OLD AGE.
16 BUT IT WILL BE THE FOURTH GENERATION WHO WILL RETURN HERE, FOR TILL
THEN THE AMORITES WILL NOT BE RIPE FOR PUNISHMENT."
17 The sun went down and it was dusk, and there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch
which passed between the divided pieces.
18 That DAY the LORD made a COVENANT with Abram, and said, " I GIVE TO YOUR
DESCENDANTS THIS LAND FROM THE RIVER OF EGYPT TO THE GREAT RIVER,
THE RIVER EUPHRATES, THE TERRITORY OF THE KENITES, KENIZZITES,
KADMONITES, HITTITES, PERIZZITES, REPHAIM, AMORITES, CANAANITES,
GIRGASHITES, and JEBUSITES. "
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