Sun worship

Synopsis

At dawn Rabbi Chiya remarks how all the inhabitants of the East are at that moment worshipping the rising sun. He says that from ancient days it was known that before the sun emerges the prince appointed over it goes forth with the holy letters of the Supernal Name written on his head, and with the power of those letters he opens the windows of heaven and passes through. Then he remains there until the sun emerges. Rabbi Chiya adds that that prince is in charge over gold and red jewels. He says that the sun worshippers know the spots of the sun. Rabbi Yosi asks how long it will be that idols are still in the world, and says that falsehood can not endure.

Deity of the Illuminating Jewels Earth East Face Light Mountains Sun

7. Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya were traveling. While they were still walking, it became dark and they sat down. While they were still sitting dawn began to light up. They got up and went on. Said Rabbi Chiya: See, the East has lit up. Now all those inhabitants of the East, of the mountains of light, are bowing to this light that illuminates in the place of the sun, before it emerges OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH, and worship it. Many worship the sun after it comes out. They worship this light OF THE BREAKING DAWN, and call this light 'the Deity of the Illuminating Jewels'. And they swear by the Deity of the Illuminating Jewels.

7. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי וְר' חִיָּיא הֲווֹ אַזְלֵי בְּאָרְחָא, עַד דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלִין רָמַשׁ לֵילְיָא, יָתְבוּ. אַדְהֲווֹ יַתְבִין, שְׁרִיאַת צַפְרָא לְאַנְהֲרָא, קָמוּ וְאָזְלוּ. א"ר חִיָּיא, חָמֵי אַנְפּוֹי דְּמִזְרָח דְּקָא מְנַהֲרִין, הַשְׁתָּא כָּל אִינּוּן בְּנֵי מְדִינְחָא דְּטוּרֵי נְהוֹרָא, סַגְדִּין לְגַבֵּי הַאי נְהוֹרָא, דְּנָהִיר בַּאֲתָר דְּשִׁמְשָׁא, עַד לָא יִפּוּק, וּפָלְחִין לֵיהּ, דְּהָא כֵּיוָן דְּנָפִיק שִׁמְשָׁא, כַּמָה אִינּוּן דְּפָלְחִין לְשִׁמְּשָׁא. וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן דְּקָא פַּלְחִין לִנְהוֹרָא דָּא, וּקְרָאן לְהַאי נְהוֹרָא, אֱלָהָא דְּמַרְגְּלָא דְּנָהִיר. וְאוֹמָאָה דִּלְהוֹן בֵּאֱל"הּ דְּמַרְגְּלָא דְּנָהִיר.

Earth Face Head Heaven Hebrew Letters Sun Windows Wisdom

8. And you may ask if this worship is not in vain. From the early, ancient days the wisdom was known that when the sun shines, before it emerges OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH, the prince appointed over the sun goes forth, with the holy letters of the Supernal Name written on his head. With the power of these letters, he opens all the windows of heaven, smites them, and passes through. And that prince enters into the glow that shines around the sun, BEFORE IT EMERGES, and remains there until the sun emerges and spreads over the world.

8. וְאִי תֵּימָא פּוּלְחָנָא דָּא לְמַגָּנָא הוּא. מִיּוֹמִין עַתִּיקִין קַדְמָאֵי, חָכְמְתָא יָדְעוּ בֵּיהּ. בְּזִמְנָא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא נָהִיר, עַד לָא יִפּוֹק, הַהוּא מְמָנָא דְּפָקִיד עַל שִׁמְשָׁא, נָפִיק, וְאַתְוָון קַדִּישִׁין דִּשְׁמָא עִלָּאָה קַדִּישָׁא רְשִׁימָן עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, וּבְחֵילָא דְּאִינּוּן אַתְוָון, פָּתַח לְכָל כַּוֵּי שְׁמַיָא וּבָטַשׁ בְּהוּ, וְעָבַר. וְהַהוּא מְמָנָא עָאל גּוֹ הַהוּא זֹהֲרָא דְּנָהִיר סָחֲרָנֵיהּ דְּשִׁמְשָׁא, וְתַמָּן שְׁכִיחַ, עַד דְּנָפַק שִׁמְשָׁא, וְאִתְפָּשַּׁט בְּעָלְמָא.

Form Gold Idolatry Light Pillar Red Sun

9. וְהַהוּא מְמָנָא, אִיהוּ פְּקִידָא, עַל דַּהֲבָא, וְעַל מַרְגְּלָן סוּמָקָן. וְאִינּוּן פַּלְחִין לְהַהוּא דִּיּוּקְנָא דְּתַמָּן, וּבְנִקוּדִין וְסִימָנִין דְּיַרְתּוּ מִקַּדְמָאֵי מִיּוֹמִין עַתִּיקִין, אַזְלֵי וְיַדְעֵי נְקוּדִין דְּשִׁמְשָׁא, לְמִשְׁכַּח אַתְרִין דְּדַהֲבָא וּמַרְגְּלָן, א"ר יוֹסֵי, עַד כַּמָה יְהוֹן פּוּלְחָנִין סַגִּיאִין אִלֵּין בְּעָלְמָא, דְּהָא שִׁקְרָא לֵית לֵיהּ קַיְימִין לְקַיְּימָא.