BAALIS (bā'a-līs, Heb. ba‘alîs). A king of the Ammonites who reigned soon after Nebuchadnezzar’s capture of Jerusalem. He instigated the murder of Gedaliah (Jer.40.14).


BAALIS bā ə lĭs (בַּעֲלִ֣יס). The king of the children of Ammon (Jer 40:14). He sent Ishmael to kill Gedeliah, the governor of Israel appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The murder occurred soon after Jerusalem was captured. Gedaliah did not believe the report that Baalis had sent Ishmael to kill him. He defended the character of Ishmael to his own hurt. Later (41:10) Ishmael returned to the children of Ammon.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

ba`lic, perhaps for Baalim, "gods"; Septuagint Beleisa, Belisa, [Baalis]; Ant, X, ix, 3, Baalimos: King of the children of Ammon, the instigator of the murder of Gedaliah (Jer 40:14). Compare Ant, X, ix, 3.