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returns to the east, and the sun goes into the second portal of the east thirty mornings, and in like manner into the second portal in the west of the heavens. 24. And on that day the night is eleven parts and the day seven parts. 25. And the sun comes forth on that day from the second portal and descends in the west into the second portal and returns to the east in the first portal thirty-one mornings and descends into the west into the first portal. 26. And on that day the night will be so long that it will be the double of the day, and the night is exactly twelve parts and the day six parts. 27. And with that the sun has completed his stations, and he again returns to his station and enters in this portal thirty mornings; he rises and sets opposite it in the west. 28. And on that day the night diminishes in length by ONE part, and is eleven parts and the day seven parts. 29. And the sun returns and goes into the second portal of the east and returns to his course thirty mornings, rising and setting. 30. And on that day the night diminishes in length, and the night is ten parts and the day eight parts. 31. And on that day the sun comes forth from the second portal and descends in the west and returns to the east and rises in the third portal thirty-one mornings and sets in the west of the heavens. 32. And on that day the night is shortened and is nine parts, and the day is nine parts, and the night is equal with the day, and the year has exactly three hundred and sixty-four days. 33. And the length of the day and of the night, and the shortness of the day and of the night—by the course of the sun they are made separated. 34. On that account the day-course becomes longer daily and the night-course shorter nightly. 35. And this is the law and the course of the sun and his return when he returns; sixty times he returns and comes out, that is the great, eternal luminary which is called the sun to all eternity. 36. And that which thus ascends is the great luminary, as it is called on account of its appearance, according to the command of the Lord. 37. And thus he ascends and descends, and is not diminished, and does not rest, but runs day and night in his chariot, and his light shines seven times stronger than that of the moon; but as regards size they are both equal. Cuap. 72, 1. From here on till chapter 105 we have again the author of chapters 1-37; cf. Introd. The part here introduced with the special title of book of the courses of the luminaries, or the astronomical book, extends to chap. 82, but with the peculiarity of chap. 1-37, that with the discussion of the luminaries is also connected an account of the winds and other physical secrets. It may be regarded as an attempt to systematize the biblical accounts on these topics, but scarcely with any polemical intentions. Classes, literally families or clans. These are sun, moon, and stars, with the subdivisions of the last, 82:4 sqq. Government, cf. 82:4-20; 75:3. Names, cf. 78:1, 2. Origin, literally places of birth, i.e. of their rising. Uriel, cf. 21:5; 33:3; an evidence that we are again having the author of the first part, as this name is not mentioned in the Parables, at least not expressly; cf. note on 40:2. Yet these arrangements are not permanent, but will give way to new and better ones; cf. Isa. Ixv. 17; xvi. 22; 2 Pet. iii. 13; Apoc. xxi. 1; En. 91:15, 16.—2. With a special superscription an account of the sun’s course is opened, and extends to verse 37. Portals; with this the author refers to his own theory, developed in 33-36.—3. Cf. 75:1-3; 80:6; 82:4-20. Windows, explained vs. 7 and 75:7. Right and left, ie. north and south.—4. Cf. 41:5-7. The composition of the sun is pure fire —5. The movements of the heavenly bodies are on wagons, cf. 73:2; 75:3, 8, driven by the wind, 18:4; 73:2. Why the plural is used is uncertain. Returns through the north, cf. 41:5. The sun’s punctual return is secured by his being led back to the right portal of the east, possibly by an angel, 43:2.—6. Great portal, in contradistinction from the small windows vs. 7. He commences his account with the first Hebrew month, Abib, the time of the vernal equinoxes (Josephus, Antiqq. iii. 10, 5), hence about our April. In the olden times it was called Abib, i.e. grain