Sun
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
—the great luminary appointed by God to rule the day (Gen. 1:16). The Hebrew word shemesh appears in place-names such as Beth-shemesh and Ir-shemesh. Sun worship was widespread in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Canaan, Greece, and Rome, and Israel was repeatedly warned not to worship the sun, moon, or host of heaven (Deut. 4:19; 17:3). Job describes looking upon the shining sun and secretly kissing the hand as an iniquity that denies the God above (Job 31:26–28). Josiah destroyed the horses and chariots dedicated to the sun and suppressed the incense offered to heavenly bodies (2 Kings 23:5, 11).