Between the porch and the altar] The altar of burnt offering was probably in the centre of the inner court, and the main Temple building faced it on the vv. The sun-worship now described was just in front of the sacred building: cp. Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51. With their backs, etc] This followed from their turning towards the rising sun. Their position implied the greatest contempt for the God of Israel, whose glory was at that moment visible to the prophet close to them. The worship of the sim and other heavenly bodies was introduced by the kings of Judah before Josiah's day, and abolished during his reformation (2 Kings 23:5; 2 Kings 23:11). Sun-images are mentioned as early as the days of Asa (2 Chronicles 14:5 RV). Jeremiah describes the worship of the Queen of Heaven (probably the moon or the planet Venus) as prevalent in Jerusalem before the second captivity (Jeremiah 44:17).

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