Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Dan Wagner <Dan.Wagner AT dstm.com>]

Walter,

The verses cited earlier from the curse passages (Lev. 26:19; Deut. 28:23),
as well as passages such as Job 26:7 "He stretches out the north over empty
space And hangs the earth on nothing," indicate that the passages you site
are simple imagery, and not intended to be taken literally. Furthermore,
literal pillars neither tremble nor are astounded, as might be implied from
your use of Job 26:11. In Job 37:18, there is a Kaph preposition
("established/strong _as_ a cast mirror"), explicitly emphasizing that no
more is intended than a simile for the stability of the heavens through
God's power, in contrast to Job's weakness/inability to do such great
things. 

I'm sure further searching could produce other such passages, some
debatable, but i'm content to let the issue die. The evidence that an
unscientific view of the universe is presented in the Bible is not
convincing. In any case, our presuppositions are determinative. 

Kind regards,

Dan Wagner

-----Original Message-----
From: Walter Mattfeld [mailto:mattfeld AT mail.pjsnet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 13:32
To: Biblical Hebrew
Subject: Heavenly Vault, Amos 9:6


In an earlier post on the Hebrew word "raqiya", as possibly alluding to a
metal domed hemisphere of the heavens, comparing it to a Homeric notion (8th
century BCE) of the sky vault being bronze (brass) or iron, I would like to
add one other further observation, a quote from Job 37:14,18:

"...consider the wonderous works of God...Can you, like him, spread out the
skies, hard as a molten mirror ?"

This verse suggests to me that the Hebrews shared the Homeric Greek notion
of a metallic heavenly vault. Mirrors in antiquity were made of brass or
bronze,
poured as molten metal into a mold, then polished to a highly reflective
surface. Job's statement seems to suggest the Homeric notion of a
brass/bronze sky vault may have some validity.

While on the subject of Hebrew cosmology, I would like to call attention to
the archaic Greek notion (8th century BCE) of the Sky Vault being held up by
pillars:

"In need of additional support, the skies were propped by a series of tall
pillars, not visible, whose structured safety was in the care of Atlas."
(p.22, Lloyd Brown, The Story of Maps, New York : DoverPublications, [1949],
1977)

The biblical account:

"The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke." Job 26:11

Ancient Greek myths (8th century BCE) also speak of pillars propping up the
earth, similar to the biblical notion:

"...Hades... there dwells...terrible Styx, eldest daughter of back-flowing
Ocean. She lives apart from the gods in her glorious house vaulted over with
great rocks and propped up to heaven all around with silver pillars...and
there, all in their order, are the sources and ends of the dark earth and
misty Tatrtarus and the unfruitful sea and starry heaven, loathsome and
dank, which even the gods abhor." (pp. 135-137, Hesiod, Loeb #57)

The biblical account:

"For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's and on them he has set the
world." Samuel 2:8



All the best,

Walter

Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld
Walldorf by Heidelberg
Baden-Wurttemburg,
Germany





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