(Heb. shemesh), first mentioned along with the moon as the two great luminaries of heaven ( Genesis 1:14-18 ). By their motions and influence they were intended to mark and divide times and seasons. The worship of the sun was one of the oldest forms of false religion ( Job 31:26 Job 31:27 ), and was common among the Egyptians and Chaldeans and other pagan nations. The Jews were warned against this form of idolatry ( Deuteronomy 4:19 ; 17:3 ; Compare 2 Kings 23:11 ; Jeremiah 19:13 ).

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.