The term "Horses of the Sun" is not directly found in the Bible, but it is often associated with ancient Near Eastern mythology and practices that were condemned in the biblical texts. The concept is linked to the worship of celestial bodies, which was prevalent among Israel's neighboring cultures and occasionally infiltrated Israelite practices, leading to divine rebuke.

Biblical References:

The most direct biblical reference related to the "Horses of the Sun" is found in 2 Kings 23:11. This passage describes King Josiah's reforms, where he removed idolatrous practices from the temple in Jerusalem:

> "He removed from the entrance to the house of the LORD the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court near the room of an official named Nathan-Melech. Josiah then burned the chariots of the sun." (2 Kings 23:11)

This verse indicates that the kings of Judah had dedicated horses to the sun, a practice that was part of the syncretistic worship that had crept into Judah. The horses and chariots were likely used in rituals venerating the sun, reflecting the influence of surrounding pagan cultures.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, the sun was often personified and worshiped as a deity. The imagery of horses and chariots was commonly associated with the sun god, as these were believed to carry the sun across the sky. This form of worship was prominent in cultures such as the Egyptians, Hittites, and Canaanites, and it occasionally influenced Israelite practices despite the clear prohibitions against idolatry in the Mosaic Law.

Theological Significance:

The presence of sun worship in Judah, as indicated by the dedication of horses to the sun, represents a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh, the one true God. The first commandment explicitly forbids the worship of other gods (Exodus 20:3), and the Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting the religious practices of their neighbors (Deuteronomy 12:29-31).

King Josiah's reforms, including the removal of the horses dedicated to the sun, were part of a broader effort to restore true worship and obedience to the covenant. Josiah's actions were in line with the Deuteronomic call to destroy all forms of idolatry and to purify the worship of Yahweh (Deuteronomy 12:2-4).

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The "Horses of the Sun" symbolize the allure and danger of syncretism, where the worship of Yahweh is compromised by the incorporation of pagan elements. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of maintaining the purity of faith and the exclusive worship of God. Josiah's decisive actions underscore the need for spiritual renewal and the rejection of idolatry in all its forms.

In summary, while the "Horses of the Sun" are not a central biblical theme, they represent a significant moment in Israel's history where the purity of worship was restored through the zealous reforms of a faithful king.Horses of the Sun

HORSES OF THE SUN

(2 Kings 23:11): In connection with the sun-worship practiced by idolatrous kings in the temple at Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:5; compare Ezekiel 8:16), horses dedicated to the sun, with chariots, had been placed at the entrance of the sacred edifice. These Josiah, in his great reformation, "took away," and burned the chariots with fire. Horses sacred to the sun were common among oriental peoples (Bochart, Heiroz., I, 2, 10).

Alexander.
... hundred and sixty-five youths in scarlet dresses, to represent the days of the year;
then the Magi, and the gilded chariot and white horses of the Sun; and next ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xv alexander.htm

Some Portions of the virtue have Good in Them, Others More Good ...
... For they say that the sun and moon have contracted no stain from their admixture
with ... as far as the breast were men, and in the lower part horses, which are ...
/.../alexander/of the manichaeans/chapter xxi some portions of the.htm

Manasseh
... have a merry night to-night; we will bow before the shrine of Ashtaroth, and thank
her that she has set thee at liberty; lo, the horses of the sun are ready ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/manasseh.htm

Expatriation
... The April sun, hot as a torrid July noon in northern lands, discovered the sleeper
and stared into his ... Three mounted soldiers leading a score of horses passed. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlii expatriation.htm

The Races --A Letter
... The hobby-horses swarmed with Negresses and Hindoos of the lower order. ... Then I walked
back under the blazing sun across the Savanna, over the sensitive plants ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xv the racesa letter.htm

His Journey to South Russia.
... In these three articles of dress they drive the horses and oxen; the sun burns them
to a dark brown, almost black. The children we saw were quite naked. ...
/.../chapter xix his journey to.htm

Obadiah
... They had prayed to the sun and moon; and this was the fruit of their ... of that misery,
that wretched King Ahab seems to have cared for nothing but his horses. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon ix obadiah.htm

The Days of the Week
... Nothing, except the sun, seemed so grand and beautiful to them as the moon ... should
there be hanging the rotting carcases, not of goats and horses merely, but of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxv the days of.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... About four leagues from Santander, whilst we were baiting our horses at a village ...
intention of doing so; but on arriving there, finding that the sun was still ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 31.htm

The Seventh (And Last) vision "On Earth"
... of chief-captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of
them ... here, as they are in Ezekiel; for this cry goes forth from the sun, and is ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the seventh and last vision.htm

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