STAR
Since ancient times, men have been interested in the stars and constellations (Gen. 22:17).
They observed Orion, the Pleiades, the Big Dipper, the signs of the Zodiac (Jb. 9:9; 38:31-32; 2 Kings 23:5).
Names were given to certain planets: Saturn, Venus (see ZODIAC). Jud. 13 possibly alludes to meteors or comets.
The position of certain stars allowed dates to be fixed (Ant. 13:8, 2). The Egyptians divided the year into 36 periods of 10 days, each beginning with the appearance of one of the 36 successive constellations (see TIME).
The Israelites considered the stars as dependent on God, their Creator (Gen. 1:16; Ps. 8:4; Is. 13:10; Jer. 31:35).
The pagans and apostate Israelites instituted a cult of the stars (Deut. 4:19; 2 Kings 17:16); They erected altars for them, and burned perfumes in honor of the stars (2 Kings 21:5; 23:5).
They believed that the stars influenced not only nature (cf. Jb. 38:31), but also human endeavors. They also imagined that they indicated the future. Modern horoscope addicts retain the same pagan superstition. (See ASTROLOGY.)
In a symbolic sense, a star often represents a great personality:
The star rising from Jacob designates the Messiah (Num. 24:17);
the twelve patriarchs are symbolized by stars (Gen. 37:9);
The stars are the image of particularly important princes and leaders (Dan. 8:10; Rev. 1:20).
Jesus Christ is called the morning star (Rev. 2:28; 22:16; cp. 2 Pet. 1:9), making himself known to the believers of the Church in this heavenly character.
He will appear as the sun of righteousness in relation to his earthly people and to the judgments that are to close this age of grace (Mal. 4:2), at his second coming.