The Astronomy of the Bible

414 Pages·2011·6.58 MB·English

THE ASTRONOMY
OF THE BIBLE

THE ASTRONOMY
OF THE BIBLE
AN ELEMENTARY COMMENTARY ON THE
ASTRONOMICAL REFERENCES
OF HOLY SCRIPTURE
BY
E. WALTER MAUNDER, F.R.A.S.
AUTHOR OF
WITH THIRTY-FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS
NEW YORK
MITCHELL KENNERLEY
FEB 23 38
To
MY WIFE
My helper in this Book
and in all things.
PREFACE
WHY should an astronomer write a commentary on the
Bible ?
Because commentators as a rule are not astronomers,
and therefore either pass over the astronomical allusions
of Scripture in silence, or else annotate them in a way
which, from a scientific point of view, leaves much to. be
desired.
Astronomical allusions in the Bible, direct and indirect,
are not few in number, and, in order to bring out their full
significance, need to be treated astronomically. Astronomy
further gives us the power of placing ourselves to some
degree in the position of the patriarchs and prophets of
old. We know that the same sun and moon, stars and
planets, shine upon us as shone upon Abraham and Moses,
David and Isaiah. We can, if we will, see the unchanging
heavens with their eyes, and understand their attitude
towards them.
It is worth while for us so to do, For the immense
advances in science, made since the Canon of Holy
Scripture was closed, and especially during the last three
hundred years, may enable us to realize the significance
of a most remarkable fact. Even in those early ages,
vii
. . .
Vlll PREFACE
when to all the nations surrounding Israel the heavenly
bodies were objects for divination or idolatry, the attitude
of the sacred ‘writers toward them was perfect in its
sanity and truth.
Astronomy has a yet further part to play in Biblical
study. The dating of the several books of the Bible, and
the relation of certain heathen mythologies to the Scripture
narratives of the world’s earliest ages, have received much
‘attention of late years. Literary analysis has thrown much
light on these subjects, but hitherto any evidence that
astronomy could give has been almost wholly neglected ;
although, from the nature of the case, such evidence, so
far as it is available, must be most decisive and exact.
-1 have endeavoured, in the present book, to make an
astronomical commentary on the Bible, in a manner that
shall be both clear and interesting to the general reader,
dispensing as far as possible with astronomical technicali-
ties, since the principles concerned are, for the most part,
quite simple. I trust, also, that I have taken the first
step in a new inquiry which promises to give results of
no small importance,
E. WALTER MAUNDER.
J’ookds, London, 8. E.
JanzcaTy 1908.
CONTENTS
BOOK I
THE HEAVENLY BODIES
CHAPTER I. THE HEBREW BND ASTRONOMY
Modern Astronomy--Astronomy in the Classical Age-The
Canon of Holy Scripture closed before the Classical
Age-Character of the Scriptural References to the
Heavenly Bodies-Tradition of Solomon’s Eminence in
Science-Attitude towards Nature of the Sacred Writers
-Plan of the Book . . . . . 3
CHAPTER II. THE CREATION
Indian Eclipse of 1898-Contrast between the Heathen and
Scientific Attitudes-The Law of Causality--Inconsistent
with Polytheism-Faith in One God the Source to the
Hebrews of Intellectual Freedom-The First Words
of Genesis the Charter of the Physical Sciences-The
Limitations of Science-“Explanations ” of the First
Chapter of Genesis-Its Real Pnrposes-The Sabbath . 12
CHAPTER III. THE DEEP
Babylonian Creation Myth-Tiamat, the Dragon of Chaos-
Overcome by Merodach-Similarity to the Scandinavian
Myth-No Resemblance to the Narrative in Genesis-
Meanings of the Hebrew Word tehom-Date of the
Babylonian Creation Story . . . . 25
CHAPTER IV. THE FIRNAMENT
Twofold Application of the Hebrew Word raqia,‘---Its Etymo-
logical Meaning-The Idea of Solidity introduced by the
“ Seventy “-Not the Hebrew Idea-The “ Foundations ”
of Heaven and Earth-The ‘( Canopy” of Heaven-The
“ Stories ” of Heaven-Clouds and Rain-The Atmo-
spheric Circulation-Hebrew Appreciation even of the
Terrible in Natnre-The “ Balancings” and “ Spread-
ings ” of the Clouds-The u Windows of Heaven”-Not
Literal Sluice-gates-The Fonr Winds-The Four
Quarters-The Circle of the Earth-The Waters under
the Earth-The “Depths” . . . . 35
ix
CONTENTS
CHAPTER V. THE ORDINASCES OF THE HE;PVENB
The Order of the Heavenly Movements-Daily Movement
of the Sun-Nightly Movements of the Stars-The
“Host of Heaven”-Symbolic of t,he Angelic Host-
Morning Stars-The Scripture View of the Heavenly
Order . . . . . . , 55
CHAPTER VI. THE SUN
The Double Purpose of the Two Great Heavenly Bodies-
Symbolic Use of the Sun as Light-giver-No Deification
of the Sun or of Light-Solar Idolatry in Israel-
#hemesh, and qeres-Sun-spots-Ligh tbefore the Sun-
‘<Under the Sun”--The Circuit of the Sun-Sun-
stroke--” Variableness “-Our present Knowledge of
the Sun-Sir William Herschel’s Theory--Conflict be-
tween the .Old Science and the New-Galileo-A
Question of Evidence-A Question of Principle . 63
CHAPTER VII. THE MOON
Importance of the Moon in Olden Times-Especially to the
Shepherd-Jewish Feasts at the Full Moon-The
Harvest Moon-The Hebrew Month. a Natural one-
Different Hebrew Words for Moon-Moon-worshia
forbidden--” Similitudeq L” of the Moon-Worship 01
Ashtoreth-No mention of Lunar Phases-The Moon
“for Seasons” . . . . . . 79
CHAPTER VIII. THE STARS
Nnmber of the Stars--” Magnitudes” of the Stars-Distances
of the Stars . 95
CHAPTER IX. COMETS
Great Comets unexpected Visitors-Description of Comets-
Formation of the Tail-Possible References in Scrip-
ture to Comets . . . . . . 103
CHAPTER X. METEORS
Aerolites-Diana of the Ephesians-Star-showers-The Leo-
nid Meteors-References in Scrinture-The Aurora
Borealis , . . . A . , . 111
CHAPTER XI. ECLIPSES OF THE SUN AND MOON
Vivid Impression produced by a Total Solar Eclipse-
Eclipses not Omens to the Hebrews-Eclipses visible in
Ancient Palestine-Explanation of Eclipses-The Saros
-Scripture References to Eclipses-The Corona-The
Egyptian “ Winged Disc “-The Babylonian LL Ring with
Wings “-The Corona at Minimum . . . 118
CONTENTS xi
CHAPTER XII. SATURN AND ASTROLOGY
The “ Seven Planets”-Possible Scripture References to
Venus and Jupiter--L‘ Your God Remphan ” probably
Saturn-The Sabbath and Saturn’s Day-R. A. Proctor
on the Names of the Days of the Week-Order of the
Planets-Alexandrian Origin of the Weekday Names-
The Relation of Astrology to Astronomy-Early Paby-
lonian Astrology-Hebrew Contempt for Divination . 130
BOOK II
THE CONSTELLATIONS
CHAPTER I. THE ORIGIN OF THE CONSTELLATIONS
The ‘( Greek Sphere “-Aratns-St. Paul’s Sermon at Athens
-The Constellations of Ptolemy’s Catalogue-References
to the Constellations in Hesiod and Homer-The Con-
stellation Figures on Greek Coins-And on Babylonian
‘( Boundary-stones”-The Unmapped Space in the
South-Its Explanation-Precession-Date and Place of
the Origin of the Constellations-Significant Positions
of the Serpent Forms in the Constellations-The Four
‘( Royal Stars”-The Constellations earlier than the
Old Testament . 149
CHAPTER II. GEAESIS AND TEIE CONSTELLATIONS
The Bow set in the Cloud-The Conflict with the Serpent-
The Seed of the Woman-The Cherubim-The “ Mighty
Hunter” . . . . . . , 162
CHAPTER III. THE S,~ORY OF THE DELUGE
Resemblance between the Babylonian and Genesis Deluge
Stories-The Deluge Stories in Genesis-Their Special
Features-The Babylonian Deluge Story-Question as
to its Date-Its Correspondence with both the Genesis
Narratives-The Constellation Delnge Picture-Its
Correspondence with bot,h the Genesis Narratives-The
Genesis Deluge Story -independent of Star Myth and
Babylonian Legend . . . . .
CHAPTER IV. THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL AND THE ZODIAC
Joseph’s Dream-Alleged Sssociation of the Zodiacal Figures
with the Tribes of Israel-The Standards of the Four
Camps of Israel-The Blessings of Jacob and Moses-
The Prophecies of Balsam-The Golden Calf-The
Lion of Judah .