the false god is not the false god

[novapsyche]

While researching background information for "The Concubine", I came across this source on Middle Eastern history, specifically for the Hebrews for the period from Abraham to David (to 1000 BCE). One section reads:

The First Book of Samuel, 9:15, describes Saul as the Lord's choice. And in Chapter 10 of the First Book of Samuel, Saul is described as one of Yahweh's prophets. Saul appears to have been close to the worship of the Canaanite god Ba'al. He named one of his sons Eshbaal (meaning Ba'al exists) and another son he had named Meribaal (meaning Ba'al rewards). Also, one of Saul's Benjamite clansmen was Bealiah (which meant Yahweh is Ba'al).

This is incredibly interesting, etymologically and otherwise.