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378 Ba'al Ba'al- Worship

THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

378

B BA'AL

(Sjn; plural construct, Ba'ale, ^JD): for possessor or owner of an object. In connection with many nouns, it expresses some relation between the person and an object. Many of these combinations are found in Bible phraseology, and are still used, especially among the Polish-German Jews; e.g., "Ba'al ha-Bayit" (master of the house), corruptly pronounced " Baalboos. " In the idiom of the Talmud the words compounded with Ba'al that are especially used to designate the different classes among scholars are: "Ba'ale Gemara," or "Ba'ale Talmud," those versed in the Talmud; "Ba'ale Mikra," those versed in the Bible; and "Ba'ale Mishnah," those versed in the Mishnah. Other compounds with Ba'al adopted from the Talmud, and still frequently used, are: "Ba'ale av " yim," animals; "Ba'al Din," opponent, the plural being " Ba'ale Din [in] " those engaged in a lawsuit "Ba'al Teshubah," the repentant sinner; "Ba'al Yesurin," one afflicted with pain " Ba'al Mum," one having a bodily defect " Ba'al 'Ezah, " counselor. curious use of Ba'al is found in the rabbinic, especially the halakic, writings of the Middle Ages. It consists in citing an author by the title of his bestknown work, with which Ba'al is combined; e.g., "Ba'al Halakot," meaning Isaac Alfasi "Ba'al Hassagot," meaning Abraham b. David. Jacob b. Asher is commonly cited as " Ba'al ha-Turim " another codifler, Mordecai b. Abraham Yafe, as "Ba'al ha-Lebushim," being the authors of those works respectively. The critic Zerachiah ben Isaac is called after his work " Ba'al ha-Maor " and Moses Isserles is known as " Ba'al ha-Mappah." The great preacher Isaac Arama is very seldom cited under his own name, but as "Ba'al 'Akedah"; and the lexicographer Nathan b. Jehiel is cited as "Ba'al he-'Aruk." The Tosafists are called "Ba'ale haTosafot," an expression that designates the school, just as "Ba'ale ha-Mehkar" is the term for philosophers (compare Mkir Ba'al Nes; Ba'al Shem).

Hebrew word

H

,



A





Ba'al Hesron



dialect,

Bal hissaron

(a

man

having some phys-

ical defect)

Ba'al

Hob

(debtor



though in the Talmud the creditor, Ket.

ix. 3; Ned. i'h, and elsewhere). Ba'al Kabocl dialect, Bal Kovod (a man who lays stress on forms of respect). Ba'al Koali (man of strength). Ba'al Koreh (the reader from the scroll of the Law). Ba'al IMahaloket] Mahalokes (a quarrelsome man). Ba'al Maliashaboh [Mahashabofi (a dreamer ; literally, a man

of thoughts)

Ba'al Ba'al Ba'al Ba'al Ba'al Ba'al Ba'al Ba'al

Massa u-Mattan (a business man). Mazzal (man of good luck; a fortunate man)

Mefunnak (a lover of comfort and ease) (a working man; a craftsman). Milhamah [Bal Milhomo'] (a man of war a soldier) Mum (a man of some physical blemish) Nes (a man who had some miraculous experience in life). Nihush (a man of superstitious notions; a believer in

Melakah (Bal Meloko]



omens). Ba'al Nissayoii (a

man who

has been tried and has stood the

test)

Ba'al Serarah (an aristocrat) Ba'al Shalom (a man of peace) Ba'al Shem. (master in the use of the Holy Name). Ba'al Tefillah (the reader of the prayers on special occasions). Ba'al Teshubah (the man of repentance one who has turned from an irreligious to a religious mode of life). Ba'al Tobah (a man who loves to show kindness to others) Ba'al Torah (a man of learning). Ba'al Uman [Talmudical, Ba'al Umamit] (a craftsman). Ba'al Yesurin (a man afflicted with pain). Ba'al Zeclakah (a man of benevolence). Ba'al Zikkaron (the possessor of a good memory).

K.

J.



BA'AL Data



AND B A' AL-WOB.SHIP.—Biblical

The wide-spread and primitive Semitic

("ba'al")

may

root

be most nearly rendered in English



Bibliography Kohut, Aruch Completum, it. 141-150 Neuhehr. WDrterb. i. 248-249 Jastrow, D-i.etio)iary,



j.



Levy, p. 182.

L. G.

sr.

The following enumeration of the most popular compounds of Ba'al that have crept into common use

may

be found useful

Ba'al 'Askan (a busybody). Ba'al ha-Bayit (master of the house) dialect form, Baalboos, whence Bal Booste (mistress of the house).

Ba'al-berit Cthe master of the covenant), name given to the father upon whose child the covenant rite of circumcision is performed. Ba'al Dabar (compare Ex. xxiv. 14, " Ba'al Debarim," the

man who

has a case before the court) Ba'al Darshan, or Ba'al Derush (the preacher). Ba'al Din (the man who has a litigation at court). Ba'al Emah (a man of fear a timid man). Ba'al 'Ereh (one who is assessed; one well-to-do). Ba'al Ezah (a man of counsel an able adviser). Ba'al Oeburah (a man of strength a robust man). Ba'al Halnm (a dreamer). Ba'al Hen (a man of pleasing manners).





Altar of Ba'al at Petra, Idumcea. (After a photograph.)

by "possess."

The term "Ba'al," therefore, which usually explained as meaning "lord," is properly "possessor" or "owner," and is so used in a great variety of applications in common Hebrew speech. Thus we read of the "ba'al" of a house, of land, of goods, of a woman (that is, as a husband). It is also generalized so far as to be a mere noun of relation. Thus a " ba'al of dreams "

is