קִרְיַת בַּעַל

Kirjath-Baal, a place in Palestine

Definition

Qiryath Baʻal (קִרְיַת בַּעַל) is a proper noun referring to a Canaanite city whose name means 'city of Baal.' It appears in the Old Testament as a location within the territory of Judah (Joshua 15:60) and as a landmark on the southern boundary of the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:14). The name directly associates the city with the worship of the Canaanite deity Baal, highlighting its pre-Israelite religious character. This place is likely identical to Kirjath-jearim (Joshua 15:9, 1 Chronicles 13:5-6), a city that later became an Israelite settlement where the Ark of the Covenant resided for a time, indicating a transformation from a pagan center to a significant Israelite site.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively as a proper noun for a geographic location in the book of Joshua. It appears only twice in the Old Testament: once in a list of towns allotted to Judah (Joshua 15:60) and once as a boundary point for Benjamin (Joshua 18:14). Its usage is strictly topographical, serving to define tribal territories during the conquest and settlement period. The pattern indicates it was a known landmark in the central hill country of Canaan.

Etymology

The name is a compound of two Hebrew words: 'qiryāh' (H7151), meaning 'city' or 'town,' and 'baʻal' (H1168), meaning 'lord,' 'master,' or specifically the Canaanite storm god Baal. Thus, the name literally translates to 'City of Baal.' This etymology reflects common ancient Near Eastern practice of naming settlements after patron deities. The word 'baʻal' itself could also denote a human owner or husband, but in this toponymic context, it explicitly references the pagan god.

Semantic Range

The name Qiryath Baʻal serves as a potent reminder of the idolatrous cultural context the Israelites entered in Canaan. Its later association with Kirjath-jearim ('city of forests') and the Ark's residence there (1 Chronicles 13:5-6) symbolizes God's redemption and claim over places once dedicated to false gods. Understanding this name enriches the reading of Joshua and the historical books by highlighting the spiritual conquest inherent in the physical settlement—the replacement of Baal worship with the worship of Yahweh.

In its original setting, this name identified a city under the patronage or ownership (a concept embedded in 'baʻal') of the Canaanite deity Baal. Naming a city after a god was a common practice, asserting the deity's protection and the community's allegiance. For the Israelites recording this name, it preserved a memory of the land's pagan history, even as they sought to establish their own identity and worship of Yahweh in the same geographical space. The potential name change to Kirjath-jearim reflects an Israelite cultural practice of renaming sites to remove pagan associations.

Kirjath-jearim (Qiryath Yeʻarim, H7157) — The later or alternate name for the same city, meaning 'city of forests,' possibly adopted to remove the association with Baal.

Word Details

Scripture References