Lexical Definition

‎בַּעֲלִיס‎ Baʻălîyç (bah-al-ece') Baalis ^N:N-M-P
probably from a derivative of ‎עָלַס‎ with prepositional prefix; in exultation

Baalis.

• § Baalis = "lord of the banner: in causing the joy"
• Baalis, an Ammonitish king

1) king of the Ammonites at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar

Extended Information

• A man of the Ammonites living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Jer.40.14

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎בַּעֲלִיס‎ proper name, masculine (Gr^{Monatsschrift, 1885, 471} reads ‎בַּעְלִיס‎; = ‎בֶּןעֲֿלִיס‎ son of delight ? compare below ‎בְּ‎) king of Ammonites Jer 40:14 (Manuscripts & Jos^{Ant. «JOSEPHUS:Antiquities 10:9»x. 9}, 2 read ‎בעלים‎). ‎בְּעֹן‎ see ‎בית בעל מען‎ below ‎בית‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Ammonite king • King of the Ammonites during the Babylonian exile.

King living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, sent Ishmael to assassinate Gedaliah the governor.

• An Ammonite king living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Jer.40.14;
• only referred to as Baalis בַּעֲלִיס.

Baalis was the king of the Ammonites during the time of the Babylonian exile. He is mentioned in Jeremiah 40:14 in connection with a plot to assassinate Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians over the remnant of Judah. According to the text, Johanan warned Gedaliah that Baalis had sent a man named Ishmael to kill him. Gedaliah did not believe the warning and was subsequently murdered by Ishmael, causing the remaining Jews to flee to Egypt out of fear. This incident reveals that Baalis was opposed to the Babylonian-appointed governor and was willing to use violence to disrupt the fragile peace in Judah after the exile. The Ammonites, led by Baalis, were long-time enemies of Israel and may have seen Judah's weakened state as an opportunity to gain power in the region.

All entries for Baalis: בַּעֲלִיס