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BAAL-ZEBUB

Volume 4 · 73 words · 1842 Edition

Beel-zebub, or Belzebub, the idol or god of the Ekronites. In Scripture he is called the Prince of Devils. His name is usually rendered the "Lord of Flies," which, some think, was a mock appellation bestowed on him by the Jews. But Scaliger derives the name of this deity from Baalim-zebahim, which signifies the "Lord of Sacrifices;" the plural number (Baalim) being here, as in many other instances, used with a singular effect.