Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SUN

The physical reality of the sun was a constant presence for those in Palestine. It could be oppressively hot (1 Sam. 11:9; Neh. 7:3) and could tan the skin (Cant. 1:6) or burn crops (Matt. 13:6). The darkening of the sun was viewed as a sign of judgment (Ezek. 32:7; Isa. 13:10; Matt. 24:29) and its radiance a symbol of inspiration and divine favor (Exod. 34:29; Matt. 17:2; Acts 26:13).

Within the ancient Mediterranean world the sun was regularly embued with divine powers. In Egypt the sun, under a variety of names, was the chief god and the creator. Mesopotamians also worshipped the sun (Šamaš) and, like Egyptians, regarded him as the omniscient protector of justice. In such a context it is perhaps surprising that the Bible only speaks of worshipping the sun in terms of prohibition. This is explicit in Deut. 4:19 and implicit in Gen. 1:14-19, where Heb. šemeš does not even occur in the account of the creation of the sun. This did not, however, mean that there were none who worshipped the sun within Israel. Quite the opposite was the case, as evidenced by Josiah’s removing the horses and chariots dedicated to the sun (2 Kgs. 23:11), and Ezekiel’s vision of 25 men worshipping the sun within the temple court (Ezek. 8:16).

The Lord is frequently described in terms related to the sun (e.g., Deut. 33:2: “shining forth”; Ps. 19:8[MT 9]: his commandments “enlighten the eyes”; Rev. 1:16: face “like the sun”). God is also empowered with roles usually assigned to the sun-god, such as judge and creator, and the Jerusalem temple was built along an east-west axis. But in spite of these similarities the Bible conveys a consistent picture of the Lord as the creator of the sun (Deut. 4:19) and its master (Matt. 5:45).

Bibliography. H. G. May, “Some Aspects of Solar Worship in Jerusalem,” ZAW 55 (1937): 269-81; J. Morgenstern, “The Gates of Righteousness,” HUCA 6 (1929): 1-37; M. S. Smith, “The Near Eastern Background of Solar Language of Yahweh,” JBL 109 (1990): 29-39.

Christian M. M. Brady

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SUN

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)