Politically, the Israelites tribes eventually displaced the Canaanites city-states, but ideologically, the Canaanites exerted an enormous influenced on Israel for many centuries through their religion, which was of a more formidable force than its armies. Israelites association with their religion often made them lost the favour of God. The Hebrew noun “baal” means ‘master’, ‘possessor’ or ‘husband’’’. Baal was generally referred to as a specific deity – Hadad of Syria, which means a “storm-god” and was the most important deity in Canaan pantheon. Closely related to this deity (Baal) were “El”, the chief of the gods and his female companion “Asherah” both of which take a back seat to Baal – the “weather” or “storm-god” and his lover “Anat”, the goddess of love and war. At a time, Baal was attacked by “Mut”, the god of barrenness and sterility and was defeated scattering his powers of life and fertility as well as his body to the four corners of the earth.

 

While ‘El’ the father-god leads the heavenly mourning for his lost son, ‘Anat’, the goddess of fertility goes out to take her revenge. ‘Anat’ completely smashed ‘Mut’ causing Baal to win back his powers. As a result, ‘Baal’ renewed his sexual relationship with ‘Anat’ – and that in turn ensured the fertility of the earth and its inhabitants for another season. This was the main point of Canaanite religion, which they believed was their source of having rains. So whenever the rains seized, it seemed to the Canaanites as if Baal was dead, and needed to be revived – hence almost annual festival in ancient Canaan. Because of the relationship between Baal and Anat: Prostitution and children sacrifices were notable practices of the Baal worship

 

Though the Israelites knew their God – Yahweh was all powerful in the desert, and in war, they doubted his ability to control the weather and the fertility of fields and flocks. This led to all sorts of compromises. Some gave up the worship of Yahweh (Master, Possessor or Husband) to the Israelites all together and worshipped the Canaanites deities instead. All over the land, altars, statutes etc. were erected as symbols for the Canaanites religion (Baal worship). Israelites however were forbidden to worship Baal.