Bible Word of the Day

Baal-Peor (Baal of Peor)

Meaning
Baal-Peor was another false god of the same family of false gods as Baal. However, this is the false god followed by the Moabites. Sometimes the name is translated, “Baal of Peor” which brings up an important point. Many times these false gods, who were manifested by demons behind the scenes, were regional to specific areas. That is to say they were localized to a specific city, group of cities or geographical region. This particular false god was associated with a mountain in the area of Moab called Peor. Moab borders on the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Today Moab is part of modern day Jordan. Like many of the pagan false gods of the day the worship of this deity involved sexual immorality.

And while the Israelites were encamped in the area of Mount Peor in Moab they allowed themselves to become seduced by false worship, rebelled against God despite His warnings and as a result suffered God’s punishment. We have to remember when God’s people stray away into idolatry and rebel against Him, God looks at the rebellion in the same way as He would view adultery. Because we are turning away from God and toward Satan and this dark world. The Bible tells us of this encounter, “So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel’. So Moses said to Israel’s judges, ‘Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor.'” Through this form of idolatry, the men of Israel were joining themselves with demon possessed women in the worship of a false god.