Beelphegor (Catholic Encyclopedia article)
John Francis Fenlon · 1913
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Description
Beelphegor, or Baalpeor, was the baal of Mount Phogor in Moab, baal meaning the possessor who holds real domination. Some identify him with Chemosh, Moab's national god, but local deities often stood distinct in the popular mind. Baal worship credited him with soil fertility and flock increase, honored by offerings and often by unchaste rites.
Israel met him at Settim, on Moab's plains, their last station before Canaan. There many Israelites, after intercourse with Moabite women, joined sacrificial banquets to Beelphegor and were punished by death. Numbers 25 tells the tale, and Paul cites the chastisement as a moral in 1 Corinthians. Whether immoral rites belonged to his cult is likely but not certain from the text.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | John Francis Fenlon |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 1913 |
| COLLECTION | REFERENCE |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 2 KB |
| LICENSE | PUBLIC_DOMAIN |
| RIGHTS | PUBLIC DOMAIN |
| SOURCE | New Advent — Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) |