Astrology is treated as a science which governs the life of man. The stars
make men wise. The stars make them rich. “A man born on the first day of
the week will excel in only one quality. He that is born on the second day
will be an angry man, because on that day the waters were divided. He that
is born on the third day of the week will be rich and licentious, because
on it the herbs were created. He that is born on the fourth day will be
wise and of good memory, because on that day the lights were hung up. He
that is born on the fifth day will be charitable, because on that day the
fishes and fowls were created. He that is born on the Sabbath, on the
Sabbath he also shall die, because on his account they profaned the great
Sabbath day.” Rabba bar Shila says, “He shall be eminently holy.” Rabbi
Chanina says, “The influence of the stars makes wise, the influence of the
stars makes rich, and Israel is under the influence of the stars.” Rabbi
Jochanan says, “Israel is not under the influence of the stars. Whence is
it proved? ‘Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be
not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them’
(Jer. x. 2). The heathen, but not Israel.” “An eclipse of the sun is an
evil sign to the nations of the world; an eclipse of the moon is an evil
sign to Israel, for Israel reckons by the moon, the nations of the world
by the sun.” It is also said that Saturn and Mars are the baleful stars,
and whosoever begins a work, or walks in the way, when either of these two
is in the ascendant, will come to sorrow. Astrology naturally leads to
amulets and charms. Amulets are divided into two classes, approved and
disapproved. An approved amulet is “one that has cured three persons, or
has been made by a man who has cured three persons with other amulets.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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