Baal-Berith ('Lord of the Covenant') was a local form of Baal worshipped at Shechem, specializing in the sanctification of oaths and treaties. The alternate title El-Berith suggests roots in El worship.
The Judges 8-9 narrative frames Baal-Berith worship as apostasy against Yahweh. After Gideon's death, Israel 'turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-Berith their god' (Judges 8:33).
Baal-Berith and Astarte were both worshipped in the mixed Canaanite-Israelite religious landscape. Judges 2:13 and 8:33 pair the turn to Baal worship with Astarte veneration in the same period.
Baal-Berith of Shechem and Baal-Hammon of Carthage were both local forms of Baal adapted to specific civic functions — covenant-making in Shechem and agricultural fertility in the Punic world.
Baal-Zebub of Ekron and Baal-Berith of Shechem were both local manifestations of Baal named in biblical polemics against Canaanite religion in Philistine and Israelite territory.
Baal-Berith of Shechem and Chemosh of Moab were both national patron deities condemned in the biblical tradition. Each had temples in or near Israelite territory that the Deuteronomistic historians targeted for destruction.
Ishara and Baal-Berith both sanctified oaths and treaties in Canaanite religion. Ishara enforced sworn agreements with her scorpion's sting while Baal-Berith ('Lord of the Covenant') presided over covenant ceremonies at Shechem.
Baal-Berith of Shechem and Melqart of Tyre were both local Baal forms who became the chief deities of their respective cities, each specializing in distinct civic functions.
Baal-Berith and Milcom were both foreign deities condemned in the Deuteronomistic history. Both maintained temples in Israelite territory — Baal-Berith at Shechem (Judges 9) and Milcom's shrine near Jerusalem (1 Kings 11).
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