Chapter III: The Star of Bethlehem

No narrative of Holy Scripture is more familiar to us than that of the visit of the wise men from the East to see Him that was born King of the Jews. It was towards the end of the reign of Herod the Great that they arrived at Jerusalem, and threw Herod the king and all the city into great excitement by their question--

"Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen
His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."

Herod at once gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, and demanded of them where the Messiah should be born. Their reply was distinct and unhesitating--

"In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the Prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least
among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a
Governor, that shall rule My people Israel. Then Herod, when
he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them
diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to
Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young
Child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that
I may come and worship Him also. When they had heard the king,
they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young
Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy."

So much, and no more are we told of the star of Bethlehem, and the story is as significant in its omissions as in that which it tells us.

What sort of a star it was that led the wise men; how they learnt from it that the King of the Jews was born; how it went before them; how it stood over where the young Child was, we do not know. Nor is it of the least importance that we should know. One verse more, and that a short one, would have answered these inquiries; it would have told us whether it was some conjunction of the planets; whether perchance it was a comet, or a "new" or "temporary" star; or whether it was a supernatural light, like the pillar of fire that guided the children of Israel in the wilderness. But that verse has not been given. The twelve or twenty additional words, which could have cleared up the matter, have been withheld, and there can be no doubt as to the reason. The "star," whatever its physical nature, was of no importance, except as a guide to the birthplace of the infant Jesus. Information about it would have drawn attention from the object of the narrative; it would have given to a mere sign-post the importance which belonged only to "the Word made flesh."

We are often told that the Bible should be studied precisely as any other book is studied. Yet before we can criticize any book, we must first ascertain what was the purpose that the author had in writing it. The history of England, for instance, has been written by many persons and from many points of view. One man has traced the succession of the dynasties, the relationships of the successive royal families, and the effect of the administrations of the various kings. Another has chiefly considered the development of representative government and of parliamentary institutions. A third has concerned himself more with the different races that, by their fusion, have formed the nation as it is to-day. A fourth has dealt with the social condition of the people, the increase of comfort and luxury. To a fifth the true history of England is the story of its expansion, the foundation and growth of its colonial empire. While to a sixth, its religious history is the one that claims most attention, and the struggles with Rome, the rise and decay of Puritanism, and the development of modern thought will fill his pages. Each of these six will select just those facts, and those facts only, that are relevant to his subject. The introduction of irrelevant facts would be felt to mark the ignorant or unskilful workman. The master of his craft will keep in the background the details that have no bearing on his main purpose, and to those which have but a slight bearing he will give only such notice as their importance in this connection warrants.

The purpose of the Bible is to reveal God to us, and to teach us of our relationship to Him. It was not intended to gratify that natural and laudable curiosity which has been the foundation of the physical sciences. Our own efforts, our own intelligence can help us here, and the Scriptures have not been given us in order to save us the trouble of exerting them.

There is no reason for surprise, then, that the information given us concerning the star is, astronomically, so imperfect. We are, indeed, told but two facts concerning it. First that its appearance, in some way or other, informed the wise men, not of the birth of _a_ king of the Jews, but of _the_ King of the Jews, for Whose coming not Israel only, but more or less consciously the whole civilized world, was waiting. Next, having come to Judæa in consequence of this information, the "star" pointed out to them the actual spot where the new-born King was to be found. "It went before them till it came and stood over where the young Child was." It may also be inferred from Matt. ii. 10 that in some way or other the wise men had for a time lost sight of the star, so that the two facts mentioned of it relate to two separate appearances. The first appearance induced them to leave the East, and set out for Judæa; the second pointed out to them the place at Bethlehem where the object of their search was to be found. Nothing is told us respecting the star except its work as a guide.

Some three centuries ago the ingenious and devout Kepler supposed that he could identify the Star with a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, in the constellation Pisces. This conjunction took place in the month of May, B.C. 7, not very long before the birth of our Lord is supposed to have taken place.

But the late Prof. C. Pritchard has shown, first, that a similar and closer conjunction occurred 59 years earlier, and should therefore have brought a Magian deputation to Judæa then. Next, that the two planets never approached each other nearer than twice the apparent diameter of the moon, so that they would have appeared, not as one star, but as two. And thirdly, if the planets had seemed to stand over Bethlehem as the wise men left Jerusalem, they most assuredly would not have appeared to do so when they arrived at the little city. Ingenious as the suggestion was, it may be dismissed as unworthy of serious consideration.

Another suggestion shows upon what slight foundations a well-rounded legend may be built. In the year 1572 a wonderful "new star" appeared in the constellation Cassiopeia. At its brightest it outshone Venus, and, though it gradually declined in splendour, it remained visible for some sixteen months. There have been other instances of outbursts of bright short-lived stars; and brief notices, in the annals of the years 1265 and 952 may have referred to such objects, but more probably these were comets. The guess was hazarded that these objects might be one and the same; that the star in Cassiopeia might be a "variable" star, bursting into brilliancy about every 315 or 316 years; that it was the star that announced the birth of our Lord, and that it would reappear towards the end of the nineteenth century to announce His second coming.

One thing more was lacking to make the legend complete, and this was supplied by the planet Venus, which shines with extraordinary brilliance when in particular parts of her orbit. On one of these occasions, when she was seen as a morning star in the east, some hazy recollection of the legend just noticed caused a number of people to hail her as none other than the star of Bethlehem at its predicted return.

There is no reason to suppose that the star of 1572 had ever appeared before that date, or will ever appear again. But in any case we are perfectly sure that it could not have been the star of Bethlehem. For Cassiopeia is a northern constellation, and the wise men, when they set out from Jerusalem to Bethlehem must have had Cassiopeia and all her stars behind them.

The fact that the "star" went before them and stood over where the young Child lay, gives the impression that it was some light, like the Shekinah glory resting on the Ark in the tabernacle, or the pillar of fire which led the children of Israel through the wilderness. But this view raises the questions as to the form in which it first appeared to the wise men when they were still in the East, and how they came to call it a star, when they must have recognized how very unstarlike it was. Whilst, if what they saw when in the East was really a star, it seems most difficult to understand how it can have appeared to go before them and to stand over the place where the young Child lay.

I have somewhere come across a legend which may possibly afford the clue, but I have not been able to find that the legend rests upon any authority. It is that the star had been lost in the daylight by the time that the wise men reached Jerusalem. It was therefore an evening star during their journey thither. But it is said that when they reached Bethlehem, apparently nearly at midday, one of them went to the well of the inn, in order to draw water. Looking down into the well, he saw the star, reflected from the surface of the water. This would of course be an intimation to them that the star was directly overhead, and its re-observation, under such unusual circumstances, would be a sufficient assurance that they had reached the right spot. Inquiry in the inn would lead to a knowledge of the visit of the shepherds, and of the angelic message which had told them where to find the Babe born in the city of David, "a Saviour, Which is Christ the Lord."

If this story be true, the "Star of Bethlehem" was probably a "new star," like that of 1572. Its first appearance would then have caused the Magi to set out on their journey, though it does not appear how they knew what it signified, unless we suppose that they were informed of it in a dream, just as they were afterwards warned of God not to return to Herod. Whilst they were travelling the course of the year would bring the star, which shone straight before them in the west after sunset every evening, nearer and nearer to the sun. We may suppose that, like other new stars, it gradually faded, so that by the time the wise men had reached Jerusalem they had lost sight of it altogether. Having thus lost it, they would probably not think of looking for it by daylight, for it is no easy thing to detect by daylight even Venus at her greatest brilliancy, unless one knows exactly where to look. The difficulty does not lie in any want of brightness, but in picking up and holding steadily so minute a point of light in the broad expanse of the gleaming sky. This difficulty would be overcome for them, according to this story, by the well, which acted like a tube to direct them exactly to the star, and like a telescope, to lessen the sky glare. It would be also necessary to suppose that the star was flashing out again with renewed brilliancy. Such a brief recovery of light has not been unknown in the case of some of our "new" or "temporary" stars.

I give the above story for what it is worth, but I attach no importance to it myself. Some, however, may feel that it removes what they had felt as a difficulty in the narrative,--namely, to understand how the star could "stand over where the young Child lay." It would also explain, what seems to be implied in the narrative, how it happened that the Magi alone, and not the Jews in general, perceived the star at its second appearance.

For myself, the narrative appears to me astronomically too incomplete for any astronomical conclusions to be drawn from it. The reticence of the narrative on all points, except those directly relating to our Lord Himself, is an illustration of the truth that the Scriptures were not written to instruct us in astronomy, or in any of the physical sciences, but that we might have eternal life.

"AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY
TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, WHOM THOU HAST SENT."

A TABLE OF SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES

+-------+---------------+-----------------------+
| Page. | Book. | Chap. and Verse. |
+-------+---------------+-----------------------+
| 9 | I. Kings | v. 29-34 |
| 10 | Wisdom | vii. 17-22 (R.V.) |
| 11 | Psalm | viii. 3, 4 |
| 15 | Eccl. | i. 9 |
| 17 | Gen. | i. 1 |
| " | I. Chron. | xvi. 26 |
| " | Deut. | vi. 4 |
| " | Mark | xii. 29 |
| " | Neh. | ix. 6 |
| 19 | Heb. | xi. 23 |
| 20 | II. Pet. | iii. 8 |
| 22 | Psalm | cxi. 2-4 (R.V.) |
| " | Gen. | ii. 3 |
| 23 | Exod. | xx. 10, 11 |
| " | " | xxxi. 16, 17 |
| " | Gen. | i. 14 |
| 25 | " | i. 1 |
| 32 | Exod. | xv. 4, 5 |
| 35 | Gen. | i. 6-8 |
| " | " | i. 14 |
| 36 | " | i. 20 |
| " | Job | xxxvii. 18 (R.V.) |
| " | Num. | xvii. 39 |
| " | Isaiah | xl. 19 |
| 37 | Jer. | x. 9 |
| " | Psalm | cxxxvi. 6 |
| 38 | Heb. | i. 3 |
| 39 | II. Sam. | xxii. 8 |
| " | Job | xxvi. 11 |
| " | " | xxvi. 7 |
| " | I. Sam. | ii. 8 |
| 40 | Psalm | lxxv. 3 |
| " | " | civ. 2 |
| " | Isaiah | xl. 22 |
| " | Amos | ix. 6 |
| " | Num. | xxxiv. 4 |
| " | II. Sam. | xv. 30 |
| 41 | Psalm | cxlviii. 4 |
| " | Song of Three | |
| | Children | 38 |
| " | Amos | v. 8 |
| " | " | ix. 6 |
| " | Eccl. | i. 7 |
| " | Isaiah | lv. 10 (R.V.) |
| 42 | " | lv. 11 |
| " | Job | xxxvi. 26-28 |
| | | (R.V.) |
| " | Judges | v. 4 |
| " | Psalm | lxxvii. 17 |
| " | " | cxlvii. 8 |
| " | Prov. | xvi. 15 |
| " | Eccl. | xii. 2 |
| " | Isaiah | v. 6 |
| " | Jude | 12 |
| " | Nahum | i. 3 |
| " | Isaiah | xviii. 4 |
| 43 | Eccl. | xi. 3 |
| " | Job | xxvi. 8 |
| " | " | xxxviii. 34-37 |
| 44 | " | xxxviii. 19-29 |
| | | (R.V.) |
| " | Psalm | xviii. 6-17 (R.V.) |
| 45 | Jer. | x. 13 (R.V.) |
| " | Psalm | cxxxv. 7 |
| 46 | Job | xxxvii. 16 |
| 49 | " | xxxvi. 29 |
| " | Gen. | vii. 11 |
| 50 | II. Kings | vii. 1, 2 |
| " | Mal. | iii. 10 |
| " | Hos. | vi. 4 |
| " | Dan. | viii. 8 |
| " | Ezek. | xxxvii. 9 |
| 51 | Jer. | xlix. 36 |
| " | Eccl. | i. 6 |
| " | Isaiah | xi. 12 |
| " | " | xl. 22 |
| " | Prov. | viii. 27 |
| 52 | Job | xxii. 14 (R.V. |
| | | margin) |
| " | " | xxvi. 10 (R.V.) |
| " | Gen. | i. 9 |
| " | Psalm | xxiv. 2 |
| " | " | cxxxvi. 6 |
| 53 | Ezek. | xxxi. 4 |
| " | Gen. | vii. 11 |
| " | " | viii. 2 |
| " | Job | xxxviii. 16 |
| " | Prov. | iii. 20 |
| " | Jer. | v. 22 |
| 54 | Job | xxxviii. 8 |
| " | Prov. | viii. 27, 29 |
| 55 | Josh. | x. 13 |
| " | Psalm | xix. 1-6 (R.V.) |
| 56 | I. Kings | xxii. 19 |
| 57 | Jer. | xxxiii. 22 |
| " | Deut. | iv. 15, 19 |
| 58 | Job | xxxviii. 7 |
| " | Judges | v. 20 |
| " | II. Kings | vi. 14-17 |
| 60 | Job | xxxviii. 52 (R.V.) |
| " | Psalm | cxi. 2 |
| " | Rev. | ii. 26, 28 |
| 61 | Isaiah | xiv. 12-14 |
| " | Rev. | xxii. 16 |
| 62 | Jer. | xxxi. 36 |
| " | Isaiah | xl. 26-31 (R.V.) |
| 63 | Gen. | i. 14-19 |
| 64 | Deut. | xxxiii. 14 (R.V.) |
| " | I. John | i. 5 |
| " | Psalm | xxvii. 1 |
| " | Isaiah | lx. 19 |
| " | John | i. 9 |
| " | Psalm | lxxxiv. 11 |
| " | Mal. | iv. 2 |
| 65 | James | i. 17 |
| " | Psalm | cxxxix. 12 |
| " | Deut. | iv. 19 |
| " | " | xvii. 2, 3 |
| 66 | II. Kings | xxiii. 11 |
| " | Ezek. | viii. 11 |
| " | " | viii. 16 |
| " | Job | xxxi. 26 |
| " | Cant. | vi. 10 |
| 67 | Judges | viii. 13 |
| 67 | Judges | xiv. 18 |
| " | Jer. | xliii. 13 |
| 68 | Isaiah | xix. 18 |
| " | Cant. | vi. 10 |
| 69 | Psalm | lxxii. 5 |
| " | " | lxxii. 17 |
| 70 | " | lxxxix. 36 |
| " | " | l. 1 |
| " | " | cxiii. 3 |
| " | " | xix. 6 |
| " | Eccl. | i. 3 |
| 71 | Job | xxxviii. 12-14 |
| " | " | xxxviii. 14 (R.V.) |
| " | Eccl. | i. 5 |
| 72 | Job | xxvi. 7 |
| " | Psalm | xix. 6 |
| " | II. Kings | iv. 19 |
| " | Psalm | cxxi. 6 |
| " | Isaiah | xlix. 10 |
| " | Rev. | vii. 16 |
| " | Deut. | xxxiii. 14 |
| 73 | James | i. 17 |
| " | Job | xxxviii. 33 |
| " | Wisdom | vii. 18 |
| 78 | Rom. | i. 20-23 |
| 79 | John | ix. 4 |
| 80 | Psalm | lxxxi. 3 |
| " | Prov. | vii. 20 |
| 82 | Isaiah | lx. 20 |
| 83 | Num. | x. 10 |
| " | Psalm | lxxxi. 3 |
| " | Isaiah | iii. 18 |
| 84 | Gen. | xxxvii. 9 |
| " | Jer. | viii. 2 |
| " | Psalm | civ. 19 |
| " | " | lxxxix. 36, 37 |
| " | " | cxxxvi. 9 |
| " | Jer. | xxxi. 35 |
| " | Eccl. | xii. 2 |
| " | Isaiah | xiii. 10 |
| " | Ezek. | xxxii. 7 |
| " | Joel | ii. 10, 31 |
| " | " | iii. 15 |
| " | Hab. | iii. 11 |
| " | Exod. | ii. 2 |
| 85 | Deut. | xxxiii. 13, 14 |
| " | II. Kings | xv. 13 |
| " | Dan. | iv. 29 |
| " | Ezra | vi. 15 |
| " | Neh. | i. 1 |
| " | I. Kings | vi. 1, 37, 38 |
| " | " | viii. 2 |
| " | Cant. | vi. 10 |
| " | Isaiah | lxxiv. 23 |
| 86 | " | xxx. 26 |
| " | Rev. | xix. 6-8 |
| " | Gen. | xxxvii. 9 |
| 87 | " | xxxvii. 10 |
| " | Job | xxxi. 26-28 (R.V.) |
| 88 | Deut. | iv. 12, 15, 16, 19 |
| " | Judges | viii. 21 |
| " | Isaiah | iii. 18 |
| " | II. Kings | xxiii. 13 |
| 89 | Gen. | xiv. 5 |
| " | I. Sam. | xxxi. 10 |
| " | II. Kings | xxiii. 13 |
| 89 | Jer. | vii. 18 |
| 90 | " | xliv. 17, 18 |
| 91 | Isaiah | xxx. 26 |
| " | " | lx. 20 |
| 92 | Psalm | cxxi. 6 |
| " | " | civ. 19-24 (R.V.) |
| 96 | Gen. | xv. 5 |
| 97 | Psalm | cxlvii. 4 |
| " | Isaiah | xl. 22 |
| 98 | I. Cor. | xv. 41 |
| 99 | Prov. | xxv. 3 |
| " | Job | xi. 7, 8 |
| " | " | xxii. 12 |
| " | Jer. | xxxi. 37 |
| 100 | Psalm | ciii. 11, 12 |
| 107 | Joel | ii. 30 |
| " | Gen. | iii. 24 |
| " | Heb. | i. 7 |
| " | I. Chron. | xxi. 16 |
| 108 | Jude | 13 |
| 113 | Acts | xix. 35 (R.V.) |
| 116 | Rev. | vi. 13 |
| " | Isaiah | xxxiv. 4 |
| " | Rev. | viii. 10 |
| " | Jude | 13 |
| 117 | Job | iii. 9 (margin) |
| " | " | xli. 18 |
| " | " | xxxvii. 22 (R.V.) |
| 119 | Jer. | x. 2 |
| 122 | Wisdom | vii. 18 |
| 123 | Amos | i. 1 |
| " | Zech. | xiv. 5 |
| " | Gen. | i. 14 |
| 124 | Joel | ii. 10 |
| " | " | ii. 30, 31 |
| " | Acts | ii. 19, 20 |
| " | Rev. | vi. 12 |
| " | Amos | viii. 9 |
| 125 | Micah | iii. 6 |
| " | Isaiah | xiii. 10 |
| " | Jer. | xv. 9 |
| " | Ezek. | xxxii. 7, 8 |
| 129 | Mal. | iv. 2 |
| " | James | i. 17 (R.V.) |
| 131 | Gen. | xiv. 5 |
| " | Isaiah | xlvi. 1 |
| 132 | " | xiv. 12 |
| " | II. Peter | i. 19 |
| " | Isaiah | lxv. 11 |
| " | Dan. | v. 26 (R.V.) |
| 133 | Amos | v. 25, 26 |
| " | Acts | vii. 43 |
| 143 | Isaiah | viii. 19 |
| 144 | Ezek. | xxi. 21 (R.V.) |
| " | Isaiah | xlvii. 12, 13 |
| " | Jer. | x. 2 |
| 150 | Acts | xvii. 24-28 |
| 163 | Gen. | ix. 13 |
| 164 | " | iii. 15 |
| 166 | " | iii. 24 |
| " | Ezek. | i. 5 |
| " | Rev. | iv. 7 (R.V.) |
| " | Ezek. | x. 20 |
| " | I. Kings | vi. 29, 32 |
| 167 | Gen. | x. 9 |
| 169 | Psalm | lxxx. 1 |
| 173 | Gen. | vi. 19 |
| " | " | vii. 2 |
| 184 | Psalm | l. 5 |
| 186 | Gen. | xxxvii. 9 |
| 189 | " | xlix. 9 |
| " | Rev. | v. 5 |
| 190 | Deut. | xxxiii. 17 (R.V.) |
| " | Gen. | xlix. 6 (R.V.) |
| " | " | xlix. 4, 17 |
| 191 | Num. | xxiii. 7, 24 (R.V.) |
| " | " | xxiv. 9 (R.V.) |
| " | " | xxiv. 8 (R.V.) |
| " | " | xxiv. 7 (R.V.) |
| 193 | Exod. | xxxii. 1 |
| " | Acts | vii. 41, 42 |
| " | Exod. | xx. 3 |
| " | " | xx. 4, 5 |
| 194 | Deut. | iv. 15 |
| " | Psalm | cvi. 20 |
| " | Acts | vii. 42 |
| " | I. Kings | xii. 28 |
| 195 | Rev. | v. 5 |
| 203 | Job | iii. 8, 9 (R.V.) |
| " | " | xli. |
| " | Psalm | civ. 25 |
| " | Isaiah | xxvii. 1 |
| 204 | Job | xxvi. 12, 13 |
| 205 | Isaiah | xxx. 7 (R.V.) |
| " | " | li. 9, 10 (R.V.) |
| " | Psalm | lxxxix. 9, 10 |
| 206 | Ezek. | xxxii. 2 (R.V.) |
| " | Rev. | xx. 2 |
| " | Ezek. | xxxii. 4 (R.V.) |
| " | " | xxix. 3, 5 |
| 207 | Rev. | xii. 6 (R.V.) |
| 208 | " | xii. 15, 16 (R.V.) |
| 209 | Job | iii. 9 (R.V.) |
| " | " | xli. 18 (R.V.) |
| 210 | Psalm | xix. 5 |
| 211 | I. Kings | xviii. 27 |
| " | Isaiah | xxx. 31 |
| 212 | Psalm | lxxiv. 12-17 |
| 215 | Job | ix. 9 |
| " | " | xxxviii. 31 |
| " | Amos | v. 8 |
| 217 | Isaiah | lxv. 11 |
| 218 | II. Kings | xvii. 30 |
| " | Gen. | xlix. 22 |
| 220 | Rev. | i. 12, 13, 15 |
| " | " | i. 20 |
| 223 | I. Peter | iii. 20 |
| " | Amos | v. 8 |
| " | Job | xxxviii. 31 |
| 224 | Cant. | ii. 11-13 (R.V.) |
| 225 | Job | xxxviii. 4 |
| " | " | xxxviii. 31 (R.V.) |
| 231 | " | ix. 9 |
| " | " | xxxviii. 31 |
| " | Amos | v. 8 |
| " | Isaiah | xiii. 10 |
| " | Prov. | i. 22 |
| 234 | Gen. | x. 8 |
| 235 | " | x. 10 |
| 238 | Isaiah | xiv. 13, 14 |
| 239 | " | xiii. 9-11 |
| " | Amos | v. 8 |
| 241 | Job | xxxviii. 36 |
| 242 | " | xxvi. 13 |
| " | Isaiah | xlv. 7 |
| 243 | Job | xxxviii. 32 |
| 251 | " | xxxviii. 32 |
| " | II. Kings | xxiii. 5 |
| " | Deut. | iv. 19 |
| " | Job | ix. 9 |
| " | " | xxxviii. 31, 32 |
| " | " | xxxvii. 9 |
| 252 | Exod. | xxxii. |
| " | I. Kings | xii. |
| 253 | II. Kings | xxiii. 5 |
| " | Job | ix., xxxviii. |
| 257 | " | xxxviii. 33 |
| " | Luke | xi. 2 |
| 258 | Job | ix. 9 |
| " | " | xxxviii. 31-33 |
| 259 | " | xxxvii. 9 |
| 260 | Isaiah | l. 9 |
| 262 | Job | xxxvii. 9 |
| 271 | Gen. | i. 14 |
| " | Deut. | iv. 19 |
| 273 | Exod. | xii. 18, 19 |
| " | Lev. | xxiii. 32 |
| 275 | Psalm | lv. 17 |
| " | Job | iii. 9 (margin) |
| " | Cant. | ii. 17 |
| " | Gen. | xxxii. 24, 26 |
| " | Josh. | vi. 15 |
| " | Judges | xix. 25 |
| " | II. Sam. | ii. 32 |
| 276 | Gen. | xxxii. 31 |
" | Exod. | xvi. 21 |
| " | I. Sam. | xi. 9 |
| " | II. Sam. | iv. 5 |
| " | I. Kings | xviii. 26 |
| " | Judges | xix. 8, 9 |
| " | Job | vii. 2 |
| " | Jer. | vi. 4 |
| " | Prov. | vii. 9 |
| 277 | Exod. | xii. 6 |
| " | " | xvi. 12 |
| " | " | xxx. 8 |
| " | Levit. | xxiii. 5 |
| " | Num. | ix. 3 |
| " | " | xxviii. 4 |
| 278 | Deut. | xvi. 6 |
| 279 | Exod. | xxx. 8 |
| 280 | I. Cor. | xv. 52 |
| " | Psalm | lxiii. 6 |
| " | " | cxix. 148 |
| " | Lam. | ii. 19 |
| 281 | Judges | vii. 19 |
| " | Exod. | xiv. 24 |
| " | I. Sam. | xi. 11 |
| " | Matt. | xiv. 25 |
| " | Mark | vi. 48 |
| " | Dan. | iii. 6, 15 |
| " | " | iv. 19, 33 |
| " | " | v. 5 |
| " | Job | xxxviii. 12 |
| 282 | Acts | i. 12 |
| " | Matt. | xx. |
| " | John | xi. 9, 10 |
| 291 | Exod. | xx. 11 |
| " | Psalm | cxviii. 24 |
| 293 | II. Kings | iv. 23 |
| " | Isaiah | i. 13, 14 |
| 294 | Isaiah | lxvi. 23 |
| " | Amos | viii. 5 |
| " | Col. | ii. 16 |
| " | Num. | xxviii. |
| " | I. Chron. | xxiii. |
| " | II. Chron. | ii. |
| " | " | xxix. |
| " | Ezek. | xlv. |
| " | Ezra | iii. |
| " | Neh. | x. |
| 295 | Num. | xxix. 1 |
| " | " | xxix. 7 |
| " | " | xxix. 12 |
| 299 | Deut. | xvi. 1 |
| " | I. Kings | vi. 1, 37 |
| " | " | vi. 38 |
| " | " | viii. 2 |
| 300 | Esther | ii. 16 |
| " | " | iii. 7, 13 |
| " | " | viii. 9, 12 |
| " | " | ix. 1, 17, 19, 21 |
| " | Ezra | vi. 15 |
| " | Neh. | i. 1 |
| " | " | ii. 1 |
| " | Zech. | vii. 1 |
| " | Deut. | xxi. 13 (yerach) |
| " | II. Kings | xv. 13 " |
| " | Gen. | xxix. 14 (chodesh) |
| 301 | Num. | xi. 18-20, 31 " |
| " | Psalm | lxxviii. 27 |
| 302 | Gen. | vii. 11 |
| " | " | viii. 3, 4 |
| 304 | Ecclus. | xliii. 6, 7 |
| " | Psalm | civ. 19 |
| 308 | Exod. | xii. 2 |
| 309 | I. Chron. | xii. 15 |
| " | Jer. | xxxvi. 22, 23 |
| " | Ezra | x. 9 |
| 310 | Neh. | i. 1, 2 |
| " | " | ii. 1 |
| " | " | viii. 14 |
| 311 | Exod. | xxiii. 16 |
| " | " | xxxiv. 22 |
| " | II. Chron. | xxiv. 23 |
| 312 | II. Sam. | xi. 1 |
| " | I. Chron. | xx. 1 |
| " | I. Kings | xx. 26 |
| " | II. Chron. | xxxvi. 10 |
| 313 | Exod. | xii. 2 |
| " | " | xxiii. 16 |
| " | " | xxxiv. 22 |
| 321 | Gen. | i. 5 |
| 322 | " | vii. 11 |
| " | " | viii. 13, 14 |
| 325 | " | viii. 22 |
| " | Psalm | lxv. 9-11 (R.V.) |
| 326 | Exod. | xxi. 2 |
| " | " | xxiii. 10, 11 |
| 327 | Lev. | xxv. 20-22 |
| " | Lev. | xxvi. 2, 21 |
| " | " | xxvi. 33-35 |
| " | Deut. | xv. 1 |
| 328 | " | xxxi. 10, 11 |
| " | Jer. | xxxiv. |
| " | Lev. | xxvi. 32-35 |
| " | II. Chron. | xxxvi. 21 |
| 329 | Neh. | x. 31 |
| " | Lev. | xxv. 8-10 |
| 330 | Num. | xxxvi. 4 |
| " | Isaiah | lxi. 2 |
| " | Ezek. | xlvi. 17 |
| 332 | Lev. | xxv. 8, 10 |
| " | " | xxv. 11, 12 |
| 333 | " | xxv. 22 |
| " | " | xxv. 3 |
| " | " | xxv. 10 |
| 338 | " | xxv. 42 |
| " | Dan. | i. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, |
| | | 17-20 |
| 340 | " | viii. 13, 14 |
| " | " | xii. 7 |
| " | " | vii. 25 |
| " | Rev. | xii. 14 |
| 341 | " | xiii. 5 |
| " | " | xi. 2, 3 |
| " | " | xii. 6 |
| | Dan. | xi. 13 (margin) |
| " | " | iv. 16 |
| 348 | " | iii. 16-18 |
| 353 | Josh. | x. 12 |
| 355 | " | iv. 19 |
| " | " | v. 10 |
| " | " | vii. 2-5 |
| " | " | vii. 1, 21 |
| " | " | viii. |
| 356 | " | viii. 30-35 |
| " | Exod. | xix. 1, 11 |
| 362 | Josh. | x. 13 |
| 369 | Luke | ii. 44 |
| 371 | Josh. | x. 8 |
| 373 | " | x. 10 |
| 374 | " | x. 12 |
| 375 | " | x. 11 |
| 376 | " | x. 27 (R.V.) |
| 378 | " | x. 13 |
| 382 | " | x. 13 |
| 384 | " | x. 13, 14 |
| 385 | II. Kings | xx. 5-11 |
| 386 | Isaiah | xxxviii. 8 |
| 387 | II. Chron. | xxxii. 31 |
| 389 | Isaiah | xxxviii. 8 |
| 390 | II. Kings | xx. 9 (R.V.) |
| " | I. Kings | x. 5 |
| " | I. Chron. | xxvi. 16 |
| " | II. Kings | xvi. 18 (R.V.) |
| 391 | Neh. | xii. 37 |
| 392 | Isaiah | xxxviii. 10, 11 |
| " | " | xxxviii. 19, 20 |
| 393 | Matt. | ii. 2, 5-10 |
| 396 | " | ii. 10 |
| 399 | Luke | ii. 11 |
| 400 | John | xvii. 3 |
+-------+---------------+-----------------------+

INDEX

PAGE
Aben Ezra, Rabbi, 260, 278, 305

Abib (month of green ears), 299

Acronical rising, 223, 246, 261

Adar, month, 85, 300, 304

Aerolites, 111, 112, 113

Ahaz, Dial of, 385-392

Alexandria, Museum of, 5, 6, 138, 139, 290

Algebar, star-name, 233, 234

Allen, R. H., 221, 222

"Alroy", 278

Aratus, 149, 150, 152, 154, 162, 163, 186, 208, 218, 222, 224

Arcturus (_see_ `Ash), 258-266

Aristotle, 76, 105

`Ash, 214, 215, 216, 243, 251, 258, 259, 260, 261, 264-266

Asherah ("groves"), 67, 88

Ashtoreth, 67, 88, 89, 90, 131

Astrology, 5, 77, 78, 130-145, 248

Astruc, Jean, 171, 172

Atmospheric circulation, 41-45

Aurora Borealis, 117

`Ayish, _see_ `Ash

Baal, or Bel, 67, 89, 131, 176, 178, 210, 253

Bear, the (_see_ Arcturus), 152

Benetna`sh, 260

Bethlehem, Star of, 393-400

Bosanquet, J. W., 388

Bosanquet, R. H. M., 315

"Boundary-stones", 153, 154, 198, 318, 320

Bow-star, the, 240

Bradley, third Astronomer Royal, 96

Bul, month, 85, 299

Burton, Lady, 379

"Canterbury Tales", 277

Cardinal points, 50, 51

Carrington, R., 220

Causality, Law of, 15, 16, 18, 78

"Chaldean Account of Genesis", 27

Cherubim, 166, 169, 188, 190

Cheyne, Dr., 238, 240, 254, 255, 256

Chisleu, month, 85, 238, 300, 304, 310

Chiun, 133, 134, 144

Clouds, 42, 43, 44, 46, 54
the balancings of the, 46
the spreadings of, 49

Colures, the, 159

Comets, 103-108
Donati's, 105, 107
Halley's, 103, 104

Conder, Col. C. R., 238

Constellations, list of, 151-152
origin of, 149-161

Copernicus, 76

Cowell, P. H., 303

Creation, 12-24
story of, Babylonian, 26, 170, 178, 240, 242, 246, 252
Hebrew, 25
Scandinavian, 29

Cycles, Astronomical, of Daniel, 337-348

Cylinder seal, 71, 217

Damascius, 26, 27

Daniel, Cycles of, 337-348

Dawson, Dr. W. Bell, 343

Day and its divisions, 269-282

Days, different kinds of, 271, 272

"Dayspring", 71, 281

Decans, 142, 244, 245, 248

De Cheseaux, 343

Deep (_teh[=o]m_), 25-34, 53, 201, 210, 211, 234
fountains of, 52-54

Delitzsch, Prof. Fr., 31, 157, 170, 171, 285

Deluge, 49, 53, 83, 161, 165, 168, 170-185, 254

Denning, W. F., 220

Dial of Ahaz, 385-392

Diana of the Ephesians, 112

Dieulafoy, Marcel, 372

Disraeli, 278

Drach, 221

Draconic period, 122

Dragon's Head and Tail, 198, 199

Driver, Dr., 172, 209

Earth (_eretz_), 39
corners of, 51
foundations of, 39, 58
pillars of, 39, 40

East (_kedem_, front), 51
(_mizrach_, rising), 51

Eclipses, 118-129

Edda, prose, 29

Ellicott, Andrew, 114

Epicureans, 71

Epping, Dr., 274

Equuleus, 152

Eratosthenes, 218

Ethanim, month, 85, 299

Eudoxus, 5, 6, 37, 152, 345

Euripides, 218

Eusebius, 88

Evenings, between the two, 277-279

"Eyelids of the Morning", 117, 209, 210

"False Dawn", 117

Firmament (_raqia`_), 35-38
(_stereoma_), 37

Flamsteed, first Astronomer Royal, 96

Flood, _see_ Deluge

_Gad_, 132, 217

Galileo, 3, 4, 76

Gamaliel, Rabbon, 297

Genesis and the Constellations, 162-169

Gesenius, 134

Gilgamesh, Epic of, 167, 170, 177, 180

Gosse, P. H., 209

Groves, _see_ Asherah

Guinness, Dr. H. Grattan, 343

Heaven (_shamayim_), 35, 36, 38
"bisection of", 55, 362
foundations of, 39
host of, 56, 57, 65
pillars of, 39
stories of, 40
windows of, 49, 50, 53

Heliacal rising, 59, 222, 224, 261

Herschel, Sir W., 75, 76

Hershon, P. I., 311

Hesiod, 136, 152, 154, 216, 218, 237, 284

Hesperus, 137, 232, 258

Hipparchus, 5, 96, 250, 345

Höffler, Dr., 266

Hommel, Dr., 240

Homer, 136, 153, 154

Horace, 287, 288

Hour (_sha`ah_), 281
double- (_kasbu_), 282, 320, 345, 381

Humboldt, 114

Hyades, 133, 217

Ibrahim ben Ahmed, 114

Iliad, 80

Istar, 90, 131, 253, 323, 324

Jehuda, Rabbi, 261

Jensen, 240

Josephus, 68, 187, 222, 279, 288, 289

Joshua's Long Day, 351-384

Jubilee, the, 326-336

Jupiter, 104, 131, 132, 137, 247, 396
(_Nibir_), 243, 247

Juvenal, 288

Karaite Jews, 278

Kepler, 4, 96, 396

_K[)e]s[=i]l_, 214-216, 231-232, 237-243, 251, 261, 262

_Ketu_, 201

_Kimah_, 214-216, 223, 231-232, 237, 241, 243, 251, 261, 262

King, Dr. L. W., 240, 241, 303

Kouyunjik mound, 27, 33

Lance-star, 240

Leonid meteors, 114, 116

Leviathan, 196-212

Longfellow, 233, 236

Lucifer, 132

Mädler, 220

Maestlin, 219

Mazzaroth (or Mazzaloth), 130, 214, 243-257, 270, 280

_Meni_, 132, 217

Mercury, 131, 137

Merodach, 28, 29, 33, 131, 167, 178, 210, 234-242, 247, 252

Meteors, 111-117

Metonic Cycle, 306, 335, 336, 339, 344

Milton, 107

Mishna, the, 297, 311

Mithraic cult, 160

Month, 293-304 anomalistic, 342

Months, Hebrew names for, 304

Moon, 79-92
blindness, 92
-god (Sin), 87, 253, 323, 324
harvest, 81
new, 123
phases of, 80, 91

Müller, Otfried, 262

Newton, 4

Nisan, month, 300, 304, 310, 311, 315, 320

Node, 121, 122

North (_mezarim_), 262, 263
(_tsaphon_), 51

Onias, 68

Orion, 231-242

Ovid, 288

Palestine Exploration Fund, map, 360, 362

Panyasis 152

Parallax, 73, 98, 265

Persius, 288

Peschitta, 259, 261

Philo, 289

Phosphorus, 132, 137

Pinches, T. G., 27, 28, 30, 31, 90, 176, 235

Pleiades, 133, 152, 213-230

Precession, 158

Pritchard, Prof. C., 397

Proctor, R. A., 107, 108, 135, 141

Procyon, 152, 240

Ptolemy, Claudius, 5, 76, 96, 149-154

Ptolemy Philometer, 68

Pythagoras, 137, 345

_Rahab_ (the proud one), 204-206, 211

_Rahu_, 201

Rain, 42-45, 49

"Records of the Past", 26, 28

_Remphan_, 133, 134

Ring with wings, 88, 126, 129

Ruskin, 46

Sabbath, 22-24, 283-292

Sabbatic Year and the Jubilee, 326-336

Samaritans, 278

Samas (sun-god), _see_ Sun

Sanchoniathon, 88

_Sanhedrim_, 296

Saros, the, 122, 123, 346

Saturn and Astrology, 130-145

Sayce, A. H., 33, 315

Schiaparelli, G. V., 7, 41, 43, 139, 145, 198, 253, 254, 261-263, 269,
279, 285, 286, 290

Septuagint Version, 37, 133, 134, 161, 215, 231, 241, 258, 259

Sin (moon-god), _see_ Moon

Sirius, 98, 240

Sivan, month, 303, 320

Smith, George, 27, 30

South (_darom_, bright), 51
(_negeb_, desert), 51

Star of Bethlehem, 393-400

Stars, 75, 95-100
morning, 59-61
royal, 160
shooting, 113
Triad of, 253, 320

Statius, 222

Stern, Prof., 261, 262

Strassmaier, 274, 285

Sun, 55, 63-78
-god (Samas), 67, 131, 174, 253, 323, 324
-stroke, 72

Talmud, 222, 279, 297, 311

Tammuz, 66

Targum, the Jerusalem, 190

Tavthê, _see_ Tiamat

_Teh[=o]m_, _see_ Deep

Tennyson, 36, 79, 80

Thales, 345

Thiele, Prof., 15, 16

Tiamat, or Tiamtu, 27-29, 32, 34, 201, 210, 234-235, 240-242

Tibullus, 288

Tides, 41, 53, 92

Tribes of Israel and the Zodiac, 186-195

Tycho Brahé, 96

Venus, 90, 131, 132, 136, 137

Virgil, 160

Vulgate, 258, 259

Week and the Sabbath, 283-292

West (_meb[=o] hasshemesh_, going down of the sun), 51
(_yam_, the sea), 51

Winckler, Prof. H., 235

Winds, 50, 51

Wormwood, the star, 116

Xenophanes, 71

Year, 305-325
(_shanah_), 305

Yehoshua, Rabbi, 297

Zeuchros, 142, 249

Zif, month, 85, 299

Zodiac, constellations of, 141, 151, 152
sections of (_mizrata_), 243, 251
signs of, 141, 245, 249

Zodiacal Light, 117

RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED,
BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND
BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.

Transcriber's Notes:

Ellipses match the original except in poetry quotations where a row of asterisks represent an ellipses.

The following corrections have been made to the text:

Page 27: shows the god An[vs]ar[original has An[)s]ar]

Page 29: not a Creation myth at all.[period missing in
original]

Page 89: representing the sun[original has son] and moon

Page 140: place of an actual star into a horoscope;[semi-colon
missing in original]

Page 176: gods and the spirits of heaven.[period missing in
original]

Page 176: '[quotation mark missing in original]What, has a
soul escaped?

Page 176: '[original has double quote]Thou sage of the gods,
warrior

Page 206: "[quotation mark missing in original]I have given
thee for meat

Page 260: "tail" of the Great Bear[original has extraneous
quotation mark]

Page 374: and it was now noon,[comma missing in original] the
noon

Page 389: fifteen Psalms (cxx.-cxxxiv.)[original has
(cxx.-cxxxiv).]

Page 405: Allen, R. H. 221,[comma missing in original] 222

Page 405: "Alroy" 278[original has 221]

Page 407: Hommel[original has Hömmel], Dr. 240

Page 410: Tavthê[original has Tavthé], _see_ Tiamat

The following words use an oe ligature in the original:

Celoeno
manoeuvre/manoeuvres/manoeuvred/Out-manoeuvred
Phoenician

End of Project Gutenberg's The Astronomy of the Bible, by E. Walter Maunder