Reference: Host of Heaven
Easton
The sun, moon, and stars are so designated (Ge 2:1). When the Jews fell into idolatry they worshipped these (De 4:19; 2Ki 17:16; 21:3,5; 23:5; Jer 19:13; Zep 1:5; Ac 7:42).
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Thus was heaven and earth finished with all their apparel:
Yea, and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars and whatsoever is contained in heaven, shouldest be deceived and shouldest bow thyself unto them and serve the things which the LORD thy God hath distributed unto all nations that are under all quarters of heaven.
For the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah are defiled, like as Tophet, because of all the houses; in whose parlors they did sacrifice unto all the host of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto strange gods.'"
yea, and such as upon their house-tops worship and bow themselves unto the host of heaven: which swear by the LORD, and by their Milcom also:
Then God turned himself, and gave them up, that they should worship the stars of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'O ye of the house of Israel: gave ye to me sacrifices and meat offerings by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
Hastings
The phrase 'host (or army) of heaven' occurs in OT in two apparently different senses
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Thus was heaven and earth finished with all their apparel:
And when Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's host," and called the name of that same place Mahanaim.
Yea, and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars and whatsoever is contained in heaven, shouldest be deceived and shouldest bow thyself unto them and serve the things which the LORD thy God hath distributed unto all nations that are under all quarters of heaven.
so that they have gone and served strange gods and worshipped them, whether it be the sun or moon or anything contained in heaven which I forbade,
And he answered, "Nay, but I am the captain of the host of the LORD and am now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did reverence, and said unto him, "What sayeth my Lord unto his servant?"
From heaven came battle: for the stars, being in their course, fought against Sisera.
And Micaiah said, "Hear therefore the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sit on his seat and all his company of heaven standing about him, on his righthand and on his left.
But they left the commandments of the LORD their God and made them Images of metal, even two calves: and made groves and bowed themselves unto all the Host of heaven, and served Baal.
And he built altars unto all the host of heaven, even in two courts of the house of the LORD.
And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the inferior priests and the keepers of the door, to bring out of the temple of the LORD, all the vessels that were made for Baal and for the grove and for all the host of heaven. And he burnt them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried the ashes of them into Bethel. And he put down the Chemarims which the kings of Judah had set to burn offerings in the hill altars in the cities of Judah round about Jerusalem and also them that burnt sacrifices unto Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.
And the altars that were on the top of the parlour of Ahaz which the king of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king brake down, and ran thence and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
And the altars that were on the top of the parlour of Ahaz which the king of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king brake down, and ran thence and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
LORD, thou alone hast made heaven, and the heaven of all heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is therein, the sea and all that is therein: thou givest life unto all, and the host of heaven bow themselves unto thee.
For they maintain the barren, and make them that they cannot bear, and unto widows they do no good.
whose men of war are innumerable, and whose light ariseth over all.
Where wast thou, when the morning stars praised me together, and all the children of God rejoiced triumphantly?
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.
O praise the LORD all ye his hosts, ye servants of his that do his pleasure.
Praise him all ye angels of his; praise him, all his host.
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, thou fair morning child! How hast thou gotten a fall, even to the ground; thou that didst subdue the people?
And shall not turn to the altars that are the work of his own hands, neither shall he look upon groves and images, which his fingers have wrought.
All the stars of heaven shall be consumed, and the heaven shall fold together like a roll, and all the stars thereof shall fall, like as the leaves fall from the vines and fig trees.
Lift up your eyes on high, and consider who hath made those things, which come out by so great heaps; and he can call them all by their names. For there is nothing hid unto the greatness of his power, strength, and might.
I have made the earth, and created man upon it. With my hands have I spread forth heaven, and given a commandment for all the Host thereof.
For the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah are defiled, like as Tophet, because of all the houses; in whose parlors they did sacrifice unto all the host of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto strange gods.'"
For like as the stars of heaven may not be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and of the Levites my ministers."
in comparison of whom, all they that dwell upon the earth are to be reputed as nothing. He handleth according to his will, among the powers of heaven and among the inhabiters of the earth - and there is none that may resist his hand, or say, 'What doest thou?'
It grew up to the host of heaven, whereof it did cast some down to the ground, and of the stars also, and trod them under feet.
It grew up to the host of heaven, whereof it did cast some down to the ground, and of the stars also, and trod them under feet.
Yet have ye set up tabernacles to your Moloch, and images of your Idols, yea and the star of your god Rempha: figures which ye made to worship them.
yea, and such as upon their house-tops worship and bow themselves unto the host of heaven: which swear by the LORD, and by their Milcom also:
And straightway there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly soldiers, lauding God, and saying,
And he said unto them, "I saw Satan, as it had been lightning, fall down from heaven.
And the fifth angel blew, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth. And to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue, is Abadon: but in the Greek tongue, Apollion, that is to say: a destroyer.
and his tail drew the third part of the stars, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered: for to devour her child as soon as it were born.
And he opened his mouth unto blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.