Difference between revisions of "Sun-Worship"

<p> ''''' sun´wûr ''''' - ''''' ship ''''' : The splendor of the sun makes it a natural object of adoration, once the purer idea of the one true God ( Romans 1:20 , Romans 1:21 ) is parted with, and in most ancient nations the worship of the sun was an outstanding feature. It is found in [[Babylonian]] and [[Assyrian]] ( <i> '''''Šamaš''''' </i> ; special seats of sun-worship were Sippara and Larsa); in [[Egypt]] it is a leading feature of the religion (Ra, and, under special phases, Horus, Tum, Aten; a special seat of sun-worship was Heliopollis, the Old [[Testament]] On, called in Jeremiah 43:13 Beth-shemesh, "house of the sun"). Other cities bore the same name: Beth-shemesh ( Joshua 15:10 = Ir-shemesh; Joshua 19:41 , in Judah; Joshua 19:22 , in Issachar; Joshua 19:38 , in Naphtali; see [[Beth-Shemesh]] ). Allusions to, and warnings against, sun-worship are frequent in the Old Testament, as in Leviticus 26:30; 2 Chronicles 14:5; 2 Chronicles 34:4 , 2 Chronicles 34:7; Isaiah 17:8; Isaiah 27:9; Ezekiel 6:4 , Ezekiel 6:6 , in which passages for the King James Version "images," "idols," the Revised Version (British and American) has "sun-images" (which see); Job 31:26 , Job 31:27 and numerous passages show that this form of idolatry latterly penetrated deeply into [[Judah]] - even into its temple-worship ( 2 Kings 23:5 , 2 Kings 23:11 , "horses ... given to the sun" (see under [[Horses Of The Sun]] , _ "Chariots of the Sun"); and Ezekiel 8:16 ). Josiah's reformation took account of these abuses (2 Kings 23:5 , 2 Kings 23:11 ff; 2 Chronicles 34:4 , 2 Chronicles 34:7 ), and Ezekiel strenuously denounced them (Ezekiel 8:16 ff). </p>