Page Content (OCR)
on the moon in five years thirty days, although when full the sun really has every year three hundred and sixty-four days, and not three hundred and sixty, as he counts to get the thirty days in five years.—11. Repeats this more plainly—12. As the author stands, or wants to stand, on biblical ground, and is conservative over against all innovations, he defends the lunar year as the best, as the Israelites followed that alone before the exile; cf. De Wette, Archdologie, 4 ed., p. 236, and Winer, R. W. sub voc. Jahr. Three hundred and sixty-five days, i.e. with the intercalary days —14. In three years the difference between the solar and lunar years at ten days (cf. vs. 8) will be exactly one month. In five years the difference is fifty days, which sum is reached by adding to these, i.e. to the thirty days in three years the intercalary days intervening between the 1092 days of the three years, and the 1820 of the five years —16. Accordingly, too, in eight years she recedes eighty days——17. Conclusion, cf. vs. 12 and 75:2. Cuap. 75, 1. This treats of the intercalary days, the stars, and the sun. The importance of the four intercalary days was noticed in 74:10, and is repeated here in the statement that the guardians of the other days were also over these four. Who these leaders are is uncertain; not angels, but probably higher stars, for they are called luminaries in verse 2; cf. 72:3; 80:6. These, i.e. the heads of the thousands, the chiliarchs.—2. Most men, not knowing the mystery of the intercalary days, make mistakes accordingly; cf. 80:7; 82:4, 5, 6.—3. But notwithstanding this ignorance it is the absolute truth that there are such days, because the angel Uriel, who is over all these phenomena, 72:1, showed them to Enoch. Rule, cf. Gen. I. 15-18. Chariots, cf. 72:5.—4. In the chariot of the sun—for the chariot from the appearance is considered a circuit, ie. round, 72:5,—there are twelve openings, from which heat descends when these are opened. In this manner he explains how the sun does not give an equal amount of heat at all times, as at different times a greater or less number of these openings are closed.—5. Some, i.e. openings; but these are in the ends of heaven, entirely distinct from those just mentioned; cf. chap. 76 and 34-36. This verse is probably the work of an interpolator, as it entirely interrupts the sense, but was easily suggested by the context.—6, 7. Besides the well-known twelve portals there are many window-openings, on which see 72:3, 7.8, 9. Different from the stars just mentioned, that rise and set, are the never-setting stars, those continually on the horizon at nights. What the special one is cannot be decided, since it is not even certain whether he refers to one of the setting, or of the never-setting stars. In the first case Dillmann thinks of the morning star, and of the Great Bear in the second. Did not the connection occasion some difficulty Hoffmann’s idea that the sun alone can here be meant would 1 144 be very probable. Cuap. 76.—And on the ends of the earth I saw for all the winds twelve portals opened, from which the winds come and blow over the earth. 2. Three of them are open on the face [i-e. the east] of the heavens, and three in the west, and three on the right [i-e. south] of and three in the west. 4. Through four of these come winds of blessing and of peace, and through those eight come winds of injury: when they are sent they bring destruction to all the earth and to the water on it and to all those who dwell on it and to everything that is in the water and on the land. 5. And the first wind from these portals, which is called the eastern, comes forth from the first portal which is towards the east, inclining towards the south; out of it comes destruction, dryness and heat and death. 6. And through the second middle portal comes forth the right mixture; there come forth rain and fruitfulness and peace and dew. And through the third portal, which is towards the north, come forth coldness and SECTION XV. heaven, and three on the left [i-e. north]. 3. And the first three are those towards the east, and three towards the north, and three behind those which are on the left, towards the south,