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In ancient Greek literature, Homer and Hesiod refer to Orion as an important constellation, and give us a mythological account of Orion as a great hunter, before he was immortalized as a constellation in the sky.
Long before those accounts, Biblical sources offer multiple references to what is translated into English as Orion.
In Job 9 we read of He “Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea, which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south, which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.”
Again in Job 38, using the Hebrew word kesiyl, the Creator asks Job if he is able to “loose the bands of Orion” Basically, he was being challenged: Can you loosen Orion’s belt?
Amos 5 tells us to “Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night”
The constellation Orion was known by the Chaldeans as Tammuz, and the position of Orion in the sky was used to begin their month. Still today, the 4th month of the Jewish calendar is known as the month of Tammuz.
In the Book of Ezekiel, this same pagan god associated with Orion is mentioned in reference to the idolatry which Israel had fallen into.
“Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house… and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then said he unto me, “Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here?”
Through the imaginations of men, the “created” had come to be worshipped more than the Creator Himself.
We must not choose our own gods to give reverence to, nor should we reject the true God. The God of the Bible, the Designer of the universe.
I’m David Rives…
Truly, The Heavens Declare the Glory of God.