the Third Week of Advent
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Encyclopedias
Baal-Perazim
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Hebrews Ba'al Peratsiml, פְּרָצַים בִּעִל, having rents; Sept. [at the first occurrence in Slm.] Βαάλ Φαρασίν [v . r. Φαρασείν]), the scene of a victory of David over the Philistines, and of a great destruction of their images, and so named by him in a characteristic passage of exulting poetry- 'Jehovah hath burst (פָּרִוֹ ) upon mine enemies before me as a burst (פֶּרֶוֹ ) of waters.' Therefore he called the name of that place ‘ Baal-perazim,'" i.e. bursts or destructions (2 Samuel 5:20; 1 Chronicles 14:11). The place and the circumstance appear to be again alluded to in Isaiah 28:21, where it is called Mount Perazim. Perhaps this may indicate the previous existence of a highplace or sanctuary of Baal at this spot, which would lend more point to David's exclamation (see Gesenius, Jes. in loc.). The Sept. render the name in its two occurrences respectively Ε᾿πάνω διακοπῶν and Διακοπὴ φαρασίν, the latter an instance of retention of the original word and its explanation side by side; the former uncertain. (See PERAZIM). It is important as being the only one with the prefix Baal (See BAAL), of which we know the circumstances under which it was imposed; and yet even here it was rather an opprobrious application of a term already in use than a new name. The locality appears to have been near the valley of Rephaim, west of Jerusalem; perhaps identical with the modern Jebel Aly (Van de Velde, Map). (See PERAZIM).
These files are public domain.
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Baal-Perazim'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/b/baal-perazim.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
