Kijjun

The Star God Worshipped by Israel

Även känd som: Kiun, Chiun, Kaiwan, Rephan, Romfa, Raifan, Remphan, Kiyyun

Det delade kungariket?

Kijjun (also known as Kewan or Chiun) is the name of a star god that the Israelites worshipped during their apostasy. The god is mentioned in the book of the prophet Amos as an example of Israel's idolatry, and the reference is repeated by Stephen in Acts. Kijjun represents the astral idolatry that led to God's judgment upon Israel.

Nyckelhändelser

Amos' Accusation Against Israel's Idolatry

The prophet Amos accuses the Israelites of carrying with them Kijjun, their star god, through the wilderness and throughout their history as an expression of persistent idolatry.

26Yet you carried Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.
וּנְשָׂאתֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת סִכּ֣וּת מַלְכְּכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כִּיּ֣וּן צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם כּוֹכַב֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם לָכֶֽם׃ ‬

Judgment Upon Israel for Idolatry

Amos proclaims that God will send Israel into exile because they have worshipped foreign gods, including Kijjun, instead of seeking the Lord.

25Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings those forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?
הַזְּבָחִ֨ים וּמִנְחָ֜ה הִֽגַּשְׁתֶּם־לִ֧י בַמִּדְבָּ֛ר אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ‬
26Yet you carried Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.
וּנְשָׂאתֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת סִכּ֣וּת מַלְכְּכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כִּיּ֣וּן צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם כּוֹכַב֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם לָכֶֽם׃ ‬
27So I will send you into exile beyond Damascus, says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.
וְהִגְלֵיתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵהָ֣לְאָה לְדַמָּ֑שֶׂק אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ פ ‬

Amos' Call to Repentance

In the context of condemning the worship of Kijjun, Amos calls the people to seek good and not evil, so that the Lord may be with them.

14Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you claim.
דִּרְשׁוּ־ט֥וֹב וְאַל־רָ֖ע לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֑וּ וִיהִי־כֵ֞ן יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֛וֹת אִתְּכֶ֖ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּֽם׃ ‬
15Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate. Perhaps then the LORD, the God of hosts, will show mercy to the remnant of Joseph.
שִׂנְאוּ־רָע֙ וְאֶ֣הֱבוּ ט֔וֹב וְהַצִּ֥יגוּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אוּלַ֗י יֽ͏ֶחֱנַ֛ן יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יוֹסֵֽף׃ ס ‬

Stephen Quotes Amos Regarding Kijjun

In his speech before the Sanhedrin, Stephen quotes the prophet Amos and mentions the Israelites' worship of Kijjun as evidence of the people's repeated apostasy throughout history.

42So God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?
ἔστρεψεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς λατρεύειν τῇ στρατιᾷ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν βίβλῳ τῶν προφητῶν· Μὴ σφάγια καὶ θυσίας προσηνέγκατέ μοι ἔτη τεσσεράκοντα ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οἶκος Ἰσραήλ;
43No, you carried the tent of Molech and the star of the god Rephan, the images you made to worship. So I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.'
καὶ ἀνελάβετε τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ Μολὸχ καὶ τὸ ἄστρον τοῦ ⸀θεοῦ ⸀Ῥαιφάν, τοὺς τύπους οὓς ἐποιήσατε προσκυνεῖν αὐτοῖς. καὶ μετοικιῶ ὑμᾶς ἐπέκεινα Βαβυλῶνος.

Stephen's Review of Israel's History of Apostasy

Stephen uses the reference to Kijjun as part of a broader review of how Israel repeatedly turned away from God, which ultimately led to his martyrdom.

39But our fathers refused to obey him. They rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
ᾧ οὐκ ἠθέλησαν ὑπήκοοι γενέσθαι οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ ἀπώσαντο καὶ ἐστράφησαν ⸂ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις⸃ αὐτῶν εἰς Αἴγυπτον,
40saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we have no idea what has become of him.'
εἰπόντες τῷ Ἀαρών· Ποίησον ἡμῖν θεοὺς οἳ προπορεύσονται ἡμῶν· ὁ γὰρ Μωϋσῆς οὗτος, ὃς ἐξήγαγεν ἡμᾶς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, οὐκ οἴδαμεν τί ⸀ἐγένετο αὐτῷ.
41In those days they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
καὶ ἐμοσχοποίησαν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις καὶ ἀνήγαγον θυσίαν τῷ εἰδώλῳ, καὶ εὐφραίνοντο ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν.
42So God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?
ἔστρεψεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς λατρεύειν τῇ στρατιᾷ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν βίβλῳ τῶν προφητῶν· Μὴ σφάγια καὶ θυσίας προσηνέγκατέ μοι ἔτη τεσσεράκοντα ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οἶκος Ἰσραήλ;
43No, you carried the tent of Molech and the star of the god Rephan, the images you made to worship. So I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.'
καὶ ἀνελάβετε τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ Μολὸχ καὶ τὸ ἄστρον τοῦ ⸀θεοῦ ⸀Ῥαιφάν, τοὺς τύπους οὓς ἐποιήσατε προσκυνεῖν αὐτοῖς. καὶ μετοικιῶ ὑμᾶς ἐπέκεινα Βαβυλῶνος.

Nämnd i Bibeln (2)