Baal-ShalishahBAY-uhl-shuh-LAI-shuh

Baal-Shalishah: A Place of Worship and Provision

Baal-Shalishah appears only once in Scripture, yet its name carries rich theological meaning. The place name combines two Hebrew elements: Baal, meaning "lord" or "master," and Shalishah, which likely derives from the Hebrew word for "three" (שלוש). Together, the name may mean "Lord of the Third" or "Baal of Shalishah," though scholars debate the exact significance of the "third" reference.

Biblical Location and Appearance

Baal-Shalishah appears in 2 Kings 4:42, where a man from this place brings Elisha the prophet twenty loaves of barley bread and fresh ears of grain in his sack. This humble offering becomes the setting for a powerful miracle—Elisha feeds a hundred men with this meager provision, with leftovers remaining. The narrative illustrates divine multiplication and Elisha's prophetic authority.

Understanding the Pronunciation

For those learning how to pronounce Baal-Shalishah correctly, break it into two parts: BAY-uhl (rhyming with "mail") for Baal, and shuh-LAI-shuh for Shalishah, with the stress on the second syllable of the second word. Pronouncing Baal-Shalishah accurately helps readers engage more meaningfully with this often-overlooked biblical account.

Why This Place Matters

Though geographically obscure today, Baal-Shalishah's presence in Scripture reveals important truths about the ancient Levantine landscape and the early prophetic ministry. The location likely sat in the hill country of Ephraim, making it part of the northern Israelite territory. The Baal-Shalishah pronunciation and proper understanding of its meaning remind us that even peripheral biblical locations carried spiritual significance to God's people.

For Bible teachers and students, familiarity with this place name enriches understanding of Elisha's miracles and the cultural-religious geography of Israel. While not as prominent as Jerusalem or Bethlehem, Baal-Shalishah demonstrates how Scripture weaves together miraculous intervention, ordinary people, and unexpected provisions—a pattern central to biblical faith.