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'''Baal''' is the name of several [[other gods|gods]] that date back to the 14th century BC among the ancient [[Semitic]] peoples, the descendants of [[Shem]], the oldest son of Biblical [[Noah]]. Semitic is more of a linguistic classification than a racial one. Thus, people speaking the same or similar languages first worshiped Baal in his many forms. In ancient religions the name denoted sun, lord or god. Baal was common a name of small [[Syria]]n and [[Persia]]n deities. Baal is still principally thought of as a Canaanite fertility deity. The Great Baal was of Canaan.The cult of Baal celebrated annually his death and resurrection as a part of the Canaanite fertility rituals. <ref>http://www.pantheon.org/articles/b/baal.html</ref> Some [[Christians]] and [[Jewish]] people view Baal as an [[evil]] [[god]] that some of the children of [[Israel]] served in the book of [[Judges]].

'''Baal''' is the name of several [[other gods|gods]] that date back to the 14th century BC among the ancient [[Semitic]] peoples, the descendants of [[Shem]], the oldest son of Biblical [[Noah]]. Semitic is more of a linguistic classification than a racial one. Thus, people speaking the same or similar languages first worshiped Baal in his many forms. In ancient religions the name denoted sun, lord or god. Baal was common a name of small [[Syria]]n and [[Persia]]n deities. Baal is still principally thought of as a [[Canaanite]] fertility deity. The Great Baal was of Canaan. The cult of Baal celebrated annually his death and resurrection as a part of the Canaanite fertility rituals and involved human sacrifices and temple prostitution. <ref>http://www.pantheon.org/articles/b/baal.html</ref> The worship of Baal often led the Israelites astray from [[God]] due to the carnal pleasures derived from temple prostitutes.

[[category:mythology]]

[[category:Bible]]

==References==

==References==

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