Baalah
BAALAH bā’ ə lə (בַּעֲלָ֔ה); BAAL bā’ əl (בָּ֑עַל, owner); BAALATH bā’ ə lăth (בַּעֲלָ֛ת, mistress). Variations in the name Baalah are found in Scripture as follows: 1. The same as Kiriath-jearim. Perhaps it should be identified with Tellel-Azhar, nine m. W of Jerusalem. The location is first mentioned in connection with the border designating the territory of Judah (Josh 15:9, 10, 11, 29; 1 Chron 13:6).
2. A city in the S of Judah, perhaps the same as Balah (Josh 19:3) and Bealoth (15:24). It is in the Shephelah, formerly a part of Simeon. It can possibly be identified with Khirbet el-Meshash, one of the southernmost cities of Judah (15:29).
3. Baalah mountain is a ridge from Ekron to Jabneel, located on Judah’s N border (15:11). Possibly it is the known hill of Mughar.
4. Baalah is a town of Dan on the border (19:44), sometimes associated with Bel ’ain.
5. Perhaps identifiable with number four, a city W of Gezer, built by Solomon. It was a store-city (1 Kings 9:18; 2 Chron 8:6).
6. Baal is mentioned in respect to the border of Simeon, and may be identified with Baalath-beer q.v. (1 Chron 4:33).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
ba`alah; ("possessor," "mistress "): Three occurrences of this name:
(1) = KIRIATH-JEARIM (which see) (Jos 15:9,10; 1Ch 13:6).
(2) A city in the Negeb of Judah (Jos 15:29). In Jos 19:3 Balah and in 1Ch 4:29 Bilhah; perhaps also Boaloth of Jos 15:24. The site is unknown; but see PEF, III, 26.
(3) Mount Baalah (Jos 15:11), a mountain ridge between Shikkeron (Ekron) and Jabnoel unless, as seems probable, the suggestion of M. Clermont-Ganneau (Rev. Crit, 1897, 902) is correct that for har ( = "mount"), we should read nahar ("river"). In this case the border in question would be the Nahr rubin. Here there is an annual feast held--attended by all classes and famous all over Syria--which appears to be a real survival of "Baal worship."