noted debate on theology between Elijah and the Baalites, when God himself answered by fire to end the dispute. See 1 Kings xviii, 38.
That those priests of Baal were black men, is shown not only from their having been of the same people with Jezebel, but also from the appellation given them by the Jews, who called them in derision (cemarim, from camar), the black priests of Baal. See Clarke's comment on 2 Kings, xxiii, 5. That those priests of Baal, called by the Targums, camar, or the black priests, were not thus called on account of their wearing black vestments, as Dr. Clarke has supposed, but because they were actually of black complexions — as it is well known that in all ages among pagan nations of the old world, the priests officiating at their altars of sacrifice, were always dressed in white — in imitation, no doubt, of the priests of the Hebrews — which was a sign of purity, dignity, and holiness.
It follows, therefore, that the Jews called them black priests of Baal, because they were black, and for no other reason. In this chapter, just quoted, if the reader desire it, he can find the names of several of the negro gods of those ages, and also in 1 Kings xi, 5, 7, whose horrid worship infested the whole of mankind; as it was from this people a knowledge of idolatry was derived, to the whole Greek and Roman world, as well as in the most early times immediately after the flood, to the myriads of the Indies, and to the Jews and other nations of the earth.
Succoth Benoth, a Hebrew phrase, meaning tents of prostitutes, was the name of one of the negro
