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The idol Bel
1. The idol Bel
One popular idol in
OT (Old Testament) times was "
Bel" in "
Babylon" which is related to "
Baal" and "
Babel".
Other common idols in Babylon included "
Nebo".
2. Idol
In English, the words "
idle" and "
idol" are pronounced the same.
The English word
"idol" means something representing a god that is worshiped - which could be a physical entity or something abstract in the mind (or both).
One idol in the Bible is in the apocryphal book of Daniel called "
Bel and the dragon" where "
Bel" is an idol that is worshiped.
The English word
"idle" means "
not working" in some way as in "
idle words".
3. Bel
The name "Bel" is from the Akkadian and means "lord" or "master" as a title.
The Latin and Greek name for "Bel" is "Belus".
In Babylon, Bel became associated with the Babylonian god "Marduk" (unrelated to Marmaduke the cartoon dog).
The Akkadian "Belit" usually refers to the spouse of "Bel" called "Sarpanit".
4. Diphthongs
The Akkadian form "
Belit" appears in Greek as the ancient Greek word
"βελτις" ≈ "Bel" where the "
lt" diphthong is changed to "
tl". This comes through from Hebrew to English with Greek and Latin influence.
As with many ancient gods, the names and meanings and relationships are often somewhat unclear and debated by scholars.
5. Baal
The Israelites often worshiped the idol "Baal" which is a word cognate with "Bel".
6. Romans 11:4
KJV: But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Greek: αλλα τι λεγει αυτω ο χρηματισμος κατελιπον εμαυτω επτακισχιλιους ανδρας οιτινες ουκ εκαμψαν γονυ τη βααλ
Latin: sed quid dicit illi responsum divinum reliqui mihi septem milia virorum qui non curvaverunt genu Baal
7. Strongs - Baal
- *G896 *1 Βάαλ (bah'-al) : of Hebrew origin (1168); Baal, a Phoenician deity (used as a symbol of idolatry):--Baal.
- βααλ
- Romans 11:4 ... bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
8. Matthew 12:24
KJV: But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Greek: οι δε φαρισαιοι ακουσαντες ειπον ουτος ουκ εκβαλλει τα δαιμονια ει μη εν τω βεελζεβουλ βεεζεβουλ αρχοντι των δαιμονιων
Latin: Pharisaei autem audientes dixerunt hic non eicit daemones nisi in Beelzebub principe daemoniorum
9. Strongs - Beelzebub
- *G954 *7 Βεελζεβούλ (beh-el-zeb-ool') : of Chaldee origin (by parody on 1176); dung-god; Beelzebul, a name of Satan:--Beelzebub.
- βεελζεβουλ *7
- Matthew 10:25 ... If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of ...
- Matthew 12:24 ... devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
- Matthew 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by ...
- Mark 3:22 ... Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince ...
- Luke 11:15 ... He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
- Luke 11:18 ... cast out devils through Beelzebub.
- Luke 11:19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by ...
10. Nabu
The Babylonian god "
Nabu" on "
Nebo", with Mesopotamian roots, was associated with literacy and wisdom.
The word is from the Akkadian and means to "
announce" or "
prophesy".
This god Nabu is not related to the idyllic Naboo colony in the Star Wars episodes.
11. Nabu and Mercury and Hermes
The god "
Nabu" is associated with the Latin god "
Mercury", the Greek god "
Hermes" and the Egyptian god "
Thoth".
In terms of "
prophecy", the god "
Nabu" is sometimes associated with the Greek god "
Apollo" as the "
giver of prophecies".
12. European traditions
Northern European legends and myths associated some of the same activities with
Odin (who was old and had a white beard). In Holland, shoes were left out with food for Odin's horse, and the next morning they had been replaced with candy and gifts.
The Norse god Odin is similar to the Roman god Mercury or the Greek god Hermes or the Babylonian god Nabu. Odin, or Wodin, is the source of the English word
"Wednesday" as Odin's day or Wodin's day.
13. Hermes and the caduceus
The double snake and the caduceus is a symbol of travel (from the wings) and commerce and is associated with and carried by the Greek god Hermes.
Doctors have adopted this symbol of commerce as a symbol of their profession.
14. Isaiah
Isaiah talks of "Bel " and "Nebo".
15. Isaiah 46:1
KJV: Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
Hebrew: כרע בל קרס נבו היו עצביהם לחיה ולבהמה נשאתיכם עמוסות משא לעיפה׃
Greek: επεσε βηλ συνετριβη δαγων εγενετο τα γλυπτα αυτων εις θηρια και κτηνη αιρετε αυτα καταδεδεμενα ως φορτιον κοπιωντι
Brenton: Bel has fallen, Nabo is broken to pieces, their graven images are gone to the wild beasts and the cattle: you° take them packed up as a burden to the weary, exhausted, hungry, and at the same time helpless man;
Latin: conflatus est Bel contritus est Nabo facta sunt simulacra eorum bestiis et iumentis onera vestra gravi pondere usque ad lassitudinem
16. Jeremiah
Jeremiah mentions both "Bel" and "Nebu" or "Nebo".
17. Jeremiah 48:1
KJV: Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.
Hebrew: למואב כה אמר יהוה צבאות אלהי ישראל הוי אל נבו כי שדדה הבישה נלכדה קריתים הבישה המשגב וחתה׃
Greek: τη μωαβ ουτως ειπεν κυριος ουαι επι ναβαυ οτι ωλετο ελημφθη καριαθαιμ ησχυνθη αμαθ και ηττηθη
Latin: ad Moab haec dicit Dominus exercituum Deus Israhel vae super Nabo quoniam vastata est et confusa capta est Cariathaim confusa est fortis et tremuit
18. Jeremiah
Jeremiah associates "Bel" with "Babylon".
The god "Merodach" is another name for "Marduke".
19. Jeremiah 50:2
KJV: Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
Hebrew: הגידו בגוים והשמיעו ושאו נס השמיעו אל תכחדו אמרו נלכדה בבל הביש בל חת מרדך הבישו עצביה חתו גלוליה׃
Greek: αναγγειλατε εν τοις εθνεσιν και ακουστα ποιησατε και μη κρυψητε ειπατε εαλωκεν βαβυλων κατησχυνθη βηλος η απτοητος η τρυφερα παρεδοθη μαρωδαχ
20. North
Babylon will be taken from a peoples from the "north".
21. Jeremiah 50:3
KJV: For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.
Hebrew: כי עלה עליה גוי מצפון הוא ישית את ארצה לשמה ולא יהיה יושב בה מאדם ועד בהמה נדו הלכו׃
Greek: οτι ανεβη επ αυτην εθνος απο βορρα ουτος θησει την γην αυτης εις αφανισμον και ουκ εσται ο κατοικων εν αυτη απο ανθρωπου και εως κτηνους
22. Jeremiah
Later in Jeremiah prophesies that "Bel" will be punished in "Babylon".
23. Jeremiah 51:44
KJV: And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
Hebrew: ופקדתי על בל בבבל והצאתי את בלעו מפיו ולא ינהרו אליו עוד גוים גם חומת בבל נפלה׃
Greek: και εκδικησω επι βαβυλωνα και εξοισω α κατεπιεν εκ του στοματος αυτης και ου μη συναχθωσιν προς αυτην ετι τα εθνη
24. Judges
The Israeli tribe of Dan were the judges, which is what Dan means.
25. God
One word for God in Hebrew is "
El", as in "
El Shaddai".
26. Daniel
Thus, the name "
Daniel" means "
God be my judge" or "
God the judge" (or something similar).
27. Name changes
Many people change their names when moving to a new country and language.
Daniel is exiled to Babylon his name is changed to help in the adapt to the culture.
Later, his friends have their names changed.
28. Daniel 1:7
KJV: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
Hebrew: וישם להם שר הסריסים שמות וישם לדניאל בלטשאצר ולחנניה שדרך ולמישאל מישך ולעזריה עבד נגו׃
Greek: και επεθηκεν αυτοις ο αρχιευνουχος ονοματα τω δανιηλ βαλτασαρ και τω ανανια σεδραχ και τω μισαηλ μισαχ και τω αζαρια αβδεναγω
29. Hebrew names
Their Hebrew and Babylonian (Akkadian) names were the following.
Hananiah: "Yah is gracious"
Shadrach: "Command of Aku"
Mishael: "Who is what God is"
Meshach: "Who is what Aku is".
Azariah: "Yah has helped"
Abednego: "Servant of Nabu".
30. Aku
The Babylonian god "Aku" was the god of the moon.
31. Deuteronomy 5: Teach your children
Before entering the "
promised land" about
600 years earlier, God had many instructions for the Israelites. Some of those involved "
teaching your children".
Part of this teaching resulted in the Hebrew "
mezuzah" that verses put on paper or parchment and put on a door post.
Deuteronomy 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. [kjv]
The prayer is usually the "
Shema". In particular, Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21.
32. Nebopolassar
Nebopolassar was the father of Nebuchadnezzar.
Nebopolassar means "Nabu protect the son". He ruled from 626 BC until his death in 605 BC.
His accomplishments include the destruction of the Assyrian empire to whom Jonah had preached about 150 years earlier.
33. Nebuchadnezzar
The Babylonian name "
Nebuchadnezzar" means, in Akkadian, "
Nabu watch over my heir".
Nebuchadnezzar ruled the Chaldean empire from 605 BC until his death in 562 BC.
He is officially "
Nebuchadnezzar II" but no one appears to remembers the first one,, so the "
II" is often dropped. He is known as "
Nebuchadnezzar the Great".
34. Carchemish
At the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians and the remnants of the Assyrian Empire.
Shortly afterwards, his father Nabopolassar died and Nebuchadnezzar became king, and had to quickly return to Babylon.
35. Projects
Most of Nebuchadnezzar's projects were building projects rather than military accomplishments.
This is based, in part, on the inscriptions that have been discovered.
36. Nebonitis
After Nebuchadnezzar died, a power struggle ensued. In a few years, the king was "Nebonitis" which means "Nabu is praised". It appears that he may have been related through marriage as he kept much of the previous infrastructure, including Daniel and others, in place.
He ruled from 556 BC until the fall of Babylon in 539 BC and described in Daniel 5 and the "handwriting on the wall".
37. Belshazzar
There is speculation that "Nebonitis" was put in place by a plot against "Labashi-Marduk" by "Belshazzar". Nebonitis may have been a figurehead or had some other role.
That appears to be why Belshazzar offered Daniel third in the kingdom rather than second since Nebonitis, away at the time, was officially first in the kingdom and he was second. It was customary to offer second in the kingdom.
38. Names
Daniel has the Babylonian name "Belteshazzar" which means "Bel protects his life".
The last king of Babylon, at the "handwriting on the wall" episode, has the name "Belshazzar" which means "Bel protect the king".
In a strange way, Daniel's life was protected, not by Bel, but by God, and the king's life was forfeited as Bel had no way to protect him.
39. Herodotus
Herodotus reports some 200 years later that Cyrus had his general divert the Euphrates River so that the water in the moats protecting Babylon were lowered to knee deep and the soldiers walked into Babylon and took over without much of a fight.
40. End of page
