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
The next star, β (in the left fore foot), speaks the same truth. It is
named _Mirzam_, and means _the prince_ or _ruler_. The star δ (in the
body) is called _Wesen_, _the bright_, _the shining_. The star ε (in the
right hind leg) is called _Adhara_, _the glorious_.
Other stars, not identified, bear their witness to the same fact. Their
names are—_Aschere_ (Hebrew), _who shall come_; _Al Shira Al Jemeniya_
(Arabic), _the Prince or chief of the right hand_! _Seir_ (Egyptian), _the
Prince_; _Abur_ (Hebrew), _the mighty_; _Al Habor_ (Arabic), _the mighty_;
_Muliphen_ (Arabic), _the leader_, _the chief_.
Here there is no conflicting voice; no discord in the harmonious testimony
to Him whose name is called “Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God ... the
Prince of Peace” (Isa. ix. 6).
The names of the stars have no meaning whatever as applied to an Egyptian
Hawk, or a Greek Dog. But they are full of significance when we apply them
to Him of whom Jehovah says:
“Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people,
A LEADER and commander to the people.”
(Isa. lv. 4.)
This is “the Prince of princes” (Dan. viii. 23, 25) against whom, “when
transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance ... shall
stand up,” “but he shall be broken without hand,” for he shall be
destroyed “with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thess. ii. 8). This is He
who shall come forth “King of kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev. xix. 16).
But Sirius has a companion, and this brings us to—
3. CANIS MINOR (The Second Dog).
_The Exalted Redeemer (Procyon)._
The same facts are to be remembered concerning the Greek picture, and
Latin name of this constellation.
The Egyptian name in the Denderah Zodiac is _Sebak_, which means
_conquering_, _victorious_. It is represented as a human figure with a
hawk’s head and the appendage of a tail.
This small constellation has only 14 stars according to the Britannic
catalogue. One of the 1st magnitude, one of the 2nd, one of the 4th, etc.
The brightest star, α (in the body), is named _Procyon_, which means
REDEEMER, and it tells us that this glorious Prince is none other than the
one who was slain. Just as this chapter begins with _two_ persons in one
in the Sign (Gemini), one _victorious_, the other _wounded_; so it ends
with a representation of two princes, one of whom is seen triumphant and
the other as the Redeemer. This is confirmed by the next star, β (in the
neck), which is named _Al Gomeisa_ (Arabic), _the burthened_, _loaded_,
_bearing for others_. The names of the other stars, not identified, still
further confirm the great truth; _viz._, _Al Shira_, or _Al Shemeliya_
(Arabic), _the prince_ or _chief of the left hand_, answering to the star
in _Sirius_. One _right_, the other _left_, as the two united youths are
placed. _Al_ _Mirzam_, _the prince_ or _ruler_; and _Al Gomeyra_, _who
completes_ or _perfects_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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