Behind | The Installation of the Baal Priestess at Emar

For just a moment, let’s enter the world of Baal worship as a priestess is being installed. Pay attention to how she is selected, prepared and celebrated in this service.

Day 1

The new high priestess is selected by three criteria: 1) the use of sacred lots, 2) oil (from the palace and from a temple) is placed on her head and 3) sacrifices are offered to the storm god.

Day 2

The high priestess is shaved, a sacrifice of homage on her behalf is performed for the storm god, some men feast at the storm god’s temple, more oil is poured on the high priestess’s head and sacrifices are presented to various gods.

Day 3

A sacrifice of homage to the storm god is performed on behalf of the high priestess, she is seated on her throne, gold earrings are put on her ears, the storm god’s gold ring is put on her right hand and her head is wrapped with a red wool headdress.

Day 3-9

During a feast celebrating installation of the high priestess, which lasts seven days, sacrifices are offered every day, and the high priestess must give two gold figurines to the storm god and his consort.

Day 6

The high priestess leaves the house of her family with her head covered like a bride, she performs sacrifices in several locations, some men feast at the storm god’s temple and the high priestess is settled into her new residence.

This ceremony would likely feel quite strange to us. How much more so if we looked at sexual rituals for priestesses tied to seasonal fertility in Baal worship.

Adapted from: John H. Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament), Volume 1: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, 2009, p. 298.