NOTE. Page 13. ,Ash, Kesil מזרת, כימהכסיל, עש ,In the book of Job Kimah, Mazzaroth, are by most commentators considered to be the names of constellations or stars. It would have been far better under this impression for the translators of our bible to have retained the Hebrew names, Ash, Kesil, and Kimah, as well as Mazzaroth. The Septuagint translators of the book of Job, in Ch. ix. 9, render wy, o, MD'), Ash, Kesil, Kimah, IIMeiàs, Pleias, "EσTEрos, Hesperus, Apkтоupos, Arcturus; and in Ch. xxxviii. 31, 32, the same words are rendered Εσπερος, Hesperus, Ωρίων, Orion, Πλειάς, Pleias. In Amos v. 8, who made Kimah and Kesil”, is rendered ") עשה כימה וכסיל “ ὁ ποιῶν πάντα καὶ μετασκευζάσων,” “ who made and fashioned all things." In like manner the Vulgate, in Job ix. 9, renders these three words, Arcturus, Orion, Hyades; and in xxxviii. 31, 32, Vesperus, Arcturus, Pleiades. The interpretations of the rabbinical and other commentators upon these words are various. Ramban says: they are the names of superior stars, that is, stars of great influence and power. R. Salomo and Ralbag, that Kesil and Kimah are constellations. R. Aben Esra, that Ash is a constellation of seven stars not far from the north pole, and that Kesil and Kimah are stars of first magnitude in the Zodiac. R. Perizolides and others, that Ash is one of the stars in the tail of the Ram, Kesil and Kimah the stars that occasion cold and heat: Kesil, the cold; and Kimah, the heat. Mercer, with others, renders the three words, Arcturus, Orion, Pleiades. Cocceius maintains that Ash is Ursa minor: Kesil, Cor Scorpionis: Kimah, Oculus Tauri. Parkhurst rejects the notion of these words being the names of stars, and renders wy, Ash, Blight: Kesil, Cold: Kimah, Heat. There is the same diversity of opinion respecting D, Mazzaroth. R. Levy conjectures that it was a star which seldom appeared in the land of Uz, and hence the words: "Num educes Mazzaroth tempore suo?" Others consider this word a title for the twelve signs of the Zodiac: others again, that Ash, Kesil, Kimah and Mazzaroth are the four cardinal points. Schmidt remarks on Job ix. 9: “Insuperabilem, ut existimo, versus habet difficultatem, dum continet astrorum ejusmodi nomina de quibus nihil nisi conjectura nobis relicta est. Nos nihil audemus definire: sed cum Rambane in hoc potius acquiescimus, quod insignia astra sint, a quibus ad reliqua omnia valeat collectio." Bochart (Hierozoic. Vol. I. p. 113, 114) gives an explanation of Job xxxviii. 32, 66 Aish cum filiis ", עיש על בניה suis:" "Aish with her sons." He shews, that with some of the Arabian astrologers the name of the greater and lesser Bear was, "Feretrum majus et feretrum minus," "the greater and the lesser Bier, or Sarcophagus," on which a dead body is carried; and that the three stars in the tail of the Bear were called "the sons of," that is, the attendants or followers of the Bier, which was itself constituted of the other four conspicuous stars in the constellation. Hence Job says, An feretrum deduces cum filiis suis?" Schmidt on this verse ventures a conjecture, namely, that by "Aish cum filiis suis" is meant Jupiter and his four satellites: the arguments by which he supports this conjecture may be seen in his note upon the passage. 66 That these four words have any allusion to the stars is merely conjecture. We do not find these names or any similar to them used by the Arabian astronomers, which we probably should do, had they been the names of constellations or stars on the celestial sphere in the days of Job. May not the words wy, o, n, Ash, Kesil, Kimah, signify vapour, ice or snow*, and rain, the three natural conditions of water; and the passages in which they occur be thus rendered ? Job ix. 8. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth on the wave of the sea. 9. Which maketh the vapour, the snow, and the rain. Job xxxviii. 30. The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31. Canst thou congeal the soft showers of rain, or loosen the bands of ice? 32. Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth+ in his season? Canst thou produce the vapour with the dew-drops? Amos v. 8. Seek him that maketh the snow and the rain, and turneth the shadow of darkness into morning, and maketh the day dark with night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth. * 10, Kisleu, was the name of the ninth month, a very cold month, as we know from Jer. xxxvi. 22; whence probably its name, "the icy month." † Probably the name of a periodical pestilential wind. ΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΤΟΝ ΑΡΗΤΟΙΟ ΔΑΗΜΟΝΟΣ ΟΣ ΠΟΤΕ ΛΕΠΤΗ ΦΡΟΝΤΙΔΙ ΔΗΝΑΙΟΥΣ ΑΣΤΕΡΑΣ ΕΦΡΑΣΑΤΟ ΑΠΛΑΝΕΑΣ Τ ΑΜΦΩ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΗΜΟΝΑΣ ΟΙΣΙΝ ΕΝΑΡΓΗΣ ΙΛΛΟΜΕΝΟΣ ΚΥΚΛΟΙΣ ΟΥΡΑΝΟΣ ΕΝΔΕΔΕΤΑΙ ΑΙΝΕΣΘΩ ΔΕ ΚΑΜΩΝ ΕΡΓΟΝ ΜΕΓΑ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΣ ΟΣΤΙΣ ΕΘΗΚ ΑΣΤΡΑ ΦΑΕΙΝΟΤΕΡΑ THE ΡΗΕΝΟΜΕΝΑ. L ET us begin from Jove. Let every mortal raise His grateful voice to tune Jove's endless praise. Jove fills the heaven-the earth-the sea-the air: We feel his spirit moving here, and every where. Ordains the seasons by his signs on high, Studding with gems of light the azure canopy. What time with plough and spade to break the soil, Next hail, harmonious Muses, and inspire Some portion of your own celestial fire, Not adverse to a daring Poet's flight, Who scours on fancy's wings the realms of light. 10 These diamond orbs their various circles trace, And run incessantly their daily race. Round a fix'd axis roll the starry skies: Earth, even balanc'd, in the centre lies. Round this THE BEARS, with head to head reverse, Foster'd the babe with all a mother's care. 20 30 40 |