Topical Encyclopedia
Zebub is a term found in the Bible that is often associated with the Philistine god Baal-Zebub, which translates to "lord of the flies." This name appears in the context of the ancient city of Ekron, one of the five major Philistine cities. The term "Zebub" itself is derived from the Hebrew word for "fly," and it is used in a derogatory sense to refer to a deity worshiped by the Philistines.
Biblical References:1.
2 Kings 1:2-3 : "Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, 'Go, consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.' But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, 'Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?"'"
In this passage, King Ahaziah of Israel seeks guidance from Baal-Zebub after an accident, indicating the influence and reach of this Philistine deity. The LORD, through the prophet Elijah, rebukes Ahaziah for turning to a foreign god instead of seeking the God of Israel, highlighting the spiritual apostasy of the king.
2.
2 Kings 1:6 : "They replied, 'A man came to meet us and said, "Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’”'"
This reiteration of the LORD's message through Elijah underscores the futility and danger of seeking counsel from false gods. The name Baal-Zebub is used here to emphasize the contrast between the living God of Israel and the powerless idols of the surrounding nations.
Cultural and Theological Significance:The worship of Baal-Zebub in Ekron reflects the broader Canaanite and Philistine religious practices, which often involved the veneration of various Baals or "lords." The term "lord of the flies" may have been intended to denote a deity associated with pestilence or protection against flies, which were common nuisances in the ancient Near East.
From a theological perspective, the narrative involving Baal-Zebub serves as a cautionary tale against idolatry and the abandonment of faith in the one true God. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting the religious customs of their neighbors, as these practices led them away from the covenant relationship with Yahweh.
New Testament Reference:In the New Testament, the name Beelzebul (a variant of Baal-Zebub) is used to refer to the prince of demons, often identified with Satan. This connection is seen in passages such as
Matthew 12:24 : "But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, 'Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.'"
This usage reflects the continued association of the name with evil and opposition to God's work, further illustrating the enduring legacy of the term within the biblical narrative. The transformation of Baal-Zebub into Beelzebul in the New Testament underscores the spiritual battle between the forces of good and evil, with Christ ultimately triumphing over all demonic powers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) A large noxious fly of Abyssinia, which like the tsetse fly, is destructive to cattle.
Strong's Hebrew
1176. BaalZebub -- "Baal of flies," a Philistine godBaal
Zebub. 1175, 1176. Baal
Zebub. 1177 . "Baal of flies," a Philistine
god. Transliteration: Baal
Zebub Phonetic Spelling: (bah
...2070.zebub -- a fly
... 2069, 2070.zebub. 2071 . a fly. Transliteration:zebub Phonetic Spelling:
(zeb-oob') Short Definition: flies.... 2069, 2070.zebub. 2071 . Strong's Numbers
2079. Zabbay -- an Israelite
... an Israelite. Transliteration: Zabbay Phonetic Spelling: (zab-bah'-ee) Short Definition:
Zabbai. Word Origin from the same aszebub Definition an Isr....
Library
The Fall of the House of Ahab
... a man of God, who directed them to return to the king with the message: "Is it because
there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god...
The Call of Elisha
... And when Ahaziah, after the death of his father Ahab, turned from the living God
to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, it was Elijah's voice that was heard once...
Ephesus
... judgment on a king who had sent for counsel to a heathen oracle: "Is it not because
there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god...
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Baalzebub was the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1:2-6), and his name was doubtfully translated
"Lord of Flies." The discovery of the name of the townZebub on the...
The Being of God
... run ourselves into sin to rid ourselves out of trouble.2 Kings 1:1. Is it not because
there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-Zebub the god...
Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... The Baal who ruled atZebub was styled "Master ofZebub," or Baal-Zebub;* and the
Baal of Hermon, who was an ally of Gad, goddess of fortune, was sometimes...
Thesaurus
Zebub (4 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Zebub (4 Occurrences). 2 Kings 1:2 Ahaziah fell down through
the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick.
...Baal-zebub (4 Occurrences)
Baal-zebub. Baalzebub, Baal-zebub. Ba'al-ze'bub . Easton's Bible Dictionary...
Multi-Version Concordance Baal-zebub (4 Occurrences)....
Ba'al-ze'bub (4 Occurrences)
Ba'al-ze'bub. Baal-zebub, Ba'al-ze'bub. Baal-zebul . Multi-Version
Concordance Ba'al-ze'bub (4 Occurrences). 2 Kings 1:2 Ahaziah...
Consult (27 Occurrences)
... So he sent messengers, and said to them, "Go, inquire of BaalZebub, the god
of Ekron, whether I will recover of this sickness." (See NIV)....
Ekron (20 Occurrences)
... to which the Philistines carried the ark before they sent it back to Israel (1 Samuel
5:10; 6:1-8). There was here a noted sanctuary of Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1: 2...
Fly (33 Occurrences)
... Hebrewszebub, (Ecclesiastes 10:1; Isaiah 7:18). This fly was so grievous a pest
that the Phoenicians invoked against it the aid of their god Baal-zebub (qv)....
Inquire (95 Occurrences)
... So he sent messengers, and said to them, "Go, inquire of BaalZebub, the god of
Ekron, whether I will recover of this sickness." (WEB JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS...
Baal (94 Occurrences)
... FORMS OF BAAL 1. Baal-berith 2. Baal-gad 3. Baal-hamon 4. Baal-hermon 5. Baal-peor
6. Baal-zebub I. Name and Character of Baal: In Babylonia it was the title...
Sama'ria (102 Occurrences)
... down through the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick;
and he sent messengers, and said unto them: 'Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god...
Ahaziah (34 Occurrences)
... religion. "Thus saith Yahweh, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that
thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?...
Resources
Who was Beelzebub? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the Philistines? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the names of Satan? | GotQuestions.orgZebub: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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