The Witness of the StarsBullinger, E. W. (Ethelbert William)
Religion
The Witness of the Stars
Bullinger, E. W. (Ethelbert William)
Astronomy; Astronomy in the Bible; Bible and science; Constellations
Surely there is something more referred to here than a mere wonder excited
by the works of the Creator! When we read the whole passage and mark its
structure, and note the words employed, we are emphatically told that the
heavens contain a revelation from God; they prophesy, they show knowledge,
they tell of God’s glory, and set forth His purposes and counsels.
It is a remarkable fact that it is in the Book of Job, which is generally
allowed to be the oldest book in the Bible,(11) if not in the world, that
we have references to this Stellar Revelation. This would be at least
2,000 years before Christ. In that book the signs of the Zodiac and the
names of several stars and constellations are mentioned, as being ancient
and well‐known.
In Isa. xl. 26 (R.V.) we read:—
“Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who hath created these,
That bringeth out their host by number:
He calleth them all by name;
By the greatness of His might,
And for that He is strong in power,
Not one is lacking.”
We have the same evidence in Psalm cxlvii. 4. (R.V.)
“He telleth the number of the stars;
He giveth them all their names.”
Here is a distinct and Divine declaration that the great Creator both
_numbered_ as well as _named_ the stars of Heaven.
The question is, Has he revealed any of these names? Have any of them been
handed down to us?
The answer is Yes; and that in the Bible itself we have the names (so
ancient that their meaning is a little obscure) of _Ash_ (עָשׁ, a name
still connected with the Great Bear), _Cesil_ (כְּסִיל), and _Cimah_
(כִּימָה).
They occur in Job ix. 9: “Which maketh Arcturus (R.V. _the Bear_), Orion,
and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.” (Marg., Heb., _Ash_,
_Cesil_, and _Cimah_.)
Job xxxviii. 31, 32: “Canst thou bind the sweet influences (R.V. cluster)
of the Pleiades (marg., _the __ seven stars_, Heb. _Cimah_), or loose the
bands of Orion (marg. Heb. _Cesil_)? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth
(marg., _the twelve signs_. R.V., ‘the twelve signs’: and marg., _the
signs of the Zodiac_) in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his
sons (R.V., the Bear with her train; and marg., Heb., _sons_).”(12)
Isa. xiii. 10: ... “The stars of heaven and the constellations thereof.”
...
Amos v. 8: “Seek him that maketh the seven stars (R.V., the Pleiades) and
Orion.”
Then we have the term “Mazzaroth,” Job xxxviii. 32, and “Mazzaloth,” 2
Kings xxiii. 5. The former in both versions is referred to the Twelve
Signs of the Zodiac, while the latter is rendered “planets,” and in
margin, _the twelve signs or constellations_.
Others are referred to by name. The sign of “Gemini,” or the Twins, is
given as the name of a ship: Acts xxviii. 11, Διόσκουροι, (_i.e._ Castor &
Pollux).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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