The children of Israel made Baalberith their god. Judges 9: 33
Near the Terebinth
groves of Morah
where wandering Abram pitched his tents,
where Yahweh confirmed and cut
a covenant with his servant
Rises the tower of Baalberith,
the Master of the Mark
god of contracts,
and Lord of the Knife.
There he is worshipped
by stiff men – strong and undeterred.
The men of Shechem stand erect,
ready to do as their lord commands.
They stroke the idol
as they pass
before his altar;
they stroke the idol for a blessing.
From the rabbinic writings in the Mishnah:
where wandering Abram pitched his tents,
where Yahweh confirmed and cut
a covenant with his servant
Rises the tower of Baalberith,
the Master of the Mark
god of contracts,
and Lord of the Knife.
There he is worshipped
by stiff men – strong and undeterred.
The men of Shechem stand erect,
ready to do as their lord commands.
They stroke the idol
as they pass
before his altar;
they stroke the idol for a blessing.
From the rabbinic writings in the Mishnah:
``[There was an idol] in
the shape of the head of a penis, and there was one in the shape of a bean.`` Now what is the
scriptural basis [for this statement about the kind of idol just now described
in the shape of a penis]? ``And they made as their god the master of the mark
of circumcision [Baal berith]`` (Judg.8.33). [This indicates that there can be an
idol in the stated shape.]
'Ab. Zarah iii.43a
For more of the Anomalies A - Z click here.
'Ab. Zarah iii.43a
For more of the Anomalies A - Z click here.
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