In the ancient Near Eastern context, the sun was often associated with various deities and held significant religious symbolism. Within the Hebrew Scriptures, the sun is acknowledged as part of God's creation, serving its purpose under His sovereign rule. However, there are instances where the Israelites, influenced by surrounding cultures, engaged in practices that attributed undue reverence to the sun, contrary to the worship of Yahweh.

One notable instance of this is found during the reign of King Josiah, a reformer king of Judah, who sought to restore proper worship and eliminate idolatrous practices. In 2 Kings 23:11 , it is recorded: "He removed from the entrance to the temple 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 dedicated to the sun."

This passage highlights the presence of consecrated chariots and horses, which were symbols of sun worship, within the precincts of the temple. The dedication of these items to the sun indicates a syncretistic practice where elements of pagan worship had infiltrated the religious life of Judah. The horses and chariots, likely used in processions or rituals honoring the sun, represented a direct violation of the first commandment, which prohibits the worship of any gods other than Yahweh (Exodus 20:3).

Josiah's actions in removing and destroying these symbols were part of a broader campaign to purify the worship of Yahweh and to rid the nation of idolatry. His reforms were comprehensive, targeting various forms of idol worship that had been established by previous kings. The removal of the sun-dedicated chariots and horses was a significant step in re-establishing the centrality of Yahweh worship and rejecting the influence of foreign religious practices.

The presence of these symbols within the temple complex underscores the persistent temptation faced by the Israelites to adopt the religious customs of their neighbors. It serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining fidelity to the covenant relationship with God, resisting the allure of syncretism, and upholding the distinctiveness of Israel's worship as prescribed in the Torah.

In the broader biblical narrative, the sun is recognized as a creation of God, serving to mark days and seasons (Genesis 1:14-18). It is a testament to God's creative power and order, not an object of worship. The actions of Josiah reflect a return to this understanding, emphasizing the need for exclusive devotion to the Creator rather than the creation.2 Kings 23:11
And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathanmelech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... whose face was as it were the sun, and his ... of Egypt, for a sign he claimed, as
consecrated to himself ... in heart.[723] Yea, to the unbelieving Jews the martyr ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... they were victorious over the iron chariots of Sisera ... The Jews gloried in children
and child-bearing; and the ... which was in a special sense consecrated to lust. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

What does the Bible say about sun worship? | GotQuestions.org

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Sun: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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