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Re: 4Q318
Dear all,
Not only deutero-Isaiah is not enamoured with gentile astral omens
(I am not sure whether astrology was yet known in the ANE) but Nahum also
may have taken a swipe at it. In the last chapter he says about Nineveh
Minzerayik ka'arbeh, tafserayik gov-govai- your minzarim are like
locusts, your tafsarim as grasshoppers. It has been suggested that
tafsarayik in this verse is an abbreviation of the Akkadian term tupshar
enuma-anu-enlil, i.e. a scribe expert in the series of astronomical omens
enum-anu- enlil.
As for the problematic inclinations towards astrology at qumran, may I
refer to Ibn-Ezra, an astronomer and astrologer. He doesn't seem to have
been bothered, so why should the covenanters? Even Maimonides regards
stars as more than physical beings. The problem with them is that they
became at a very early date (in the time of ENosh) objects of worship,
diverting mankind from worship of their boss, the true God.
Avigdor Hurowitz
PS, the late JOnas Greenfield wrote an article on brontologies which
might interest the members. Find reference in his Memorial Festchrift.
On Fri, 11 Oct 1996, Jim West wrote:
> At 12:25 PM 10/11/96 -0500, you wrote:
> >
> >
> > In the immediate context, i.e., the condemnation oracle against
> >Babylon, sorcery (v. 12) is mentioned as condemnable in Exod. 22:18,
> >spiritism, a like concept is condemned in Lev. 20:6, 20:27. Isa.
> >8:19 asks the question: should not a people consult their G'd
> >(instead of mediums and spiritists)? In Isa. 47, is not G'd mocking
> >the practices of the Babylonians which will not deliver them from His
> >coming wrath? It seems to make sense then that He would desire for
> >His people to avoid practices which would lead to self-deception.
> >Including astrology in a passage which also condemns sorcery, which
> >is clearly forbidden for Israel, seems to be a good case for guilt by
> >association.
> >
> >Yours,
> >
> >Dave Fouts
> >Bryan College
>
>
> thanks Dave,
>
> You make my point but better.
>
>
> jim
>
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Jim West, ThD
> Professor of Biblical Languages
> Petros TN
>