In the tragic and turbulent era of the Judges, the name El-berith stands as a somber monument to Israel’s spiritual compromise. Unlike the men we have previously studied, El-berith is not a person, but a false deity—a title adopted by the apostate Israelites in Shechem. The name itself is a profound irony, meaning “God of the Covenant.”
The Corruption of a Holy Title
The name is derived from the Hebrew El (God) and Berith (Covenant). In a biblical context, the “God of the Covenant” should refer exclusively to Jehovah, who entered into a holy contract with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, after the death of the judge Gideon, the people of Shechem turned away from the true God and bestowed this sacred title upon a Canaanite idol, also known as Baal-berith.
“And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.” (Judges 8:33, KJV)
The House of the Idol
The center of this false worship was the “house of the god Berith” (or El-berith) in the city of Shechem. This temple served not only as a place of pagan ritual but also as a treasury and a political stronghold. When Abimelech, the ambitious and violent son of Gideon, sought to seize power and murder his seventy brothers, he was financed by the priests of this idol.
“And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.” (Judges 9:4, KJV)
The Judgement at the Stronghold
The final mention of El-berith occurs during the downfall of the men of Shechem. Having turned against Abimelech, the leaders of the city fled to the “hold” or the fortified tower of the temple of El-berith, believing their god would protect them.
“And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.” (Judges 9:46, KJV)
Their hope was misplaced. Abimelech and his men set the stronghold on fire, and approximately one thousand men and women perished in the flames. The very “house” of the covenant-god they had chosen over Jehovah became their tomb.
A Warning for the Faithful
The history of El-berith is a warning about the nature of syncretism—the blending of true faith with worldly culture. The men of Shechem did not necessarily stop believing in the concept of a covenant; they simply transferred the title of the “Covenant God” to a god of their own making.
In the “Who Was” series, El-berith serves as a dark contrast to the faithful men of history. It reminds us that a “covenant” is only as good as the one who stands behind it. While the idols of the world fail in the day of fire, the true God of the Covenant remains a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29) and a “refuge and strength” (Psalm 46:1) for those who trust in Him.