Constellations
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(2 Kings 23:5)—recognized groupings of stars. Ancient peoples gave such groups names and associated them with deities, seasons, and navigation. Scripture names or alludes to Pleiades, Orion, and other star groups, while firmly rejecting their worship. Josiah removed the idolatrous priests who burned incense to the sun, moon, planets, and all the host of heaven (2 Kings 23:5). The encyclopedia’s total of 117 constellations reflects the astronomical convention of its period and is not the modern standard.