The Astronomy of the Bible.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 16 June 1891, Page 2

The Astronomy of the Bible.

One>6f the modern discoveries in astronomy is, that the solar system is distinctly moving onwards through space. It is revolving round a centre which by careful measurement and caleulatiqn.is-fQHncl tp.be, " Alcyone " in ihe constellation of the 1 jpjeiades. The. circle on, orbit is, so ri Y#sti that during a' tliousaiid 'years 1 we* advance only a -an ■ appreciable atom* , Still the progress is perceptible, l though untold cycles of time will be required to complete the revolution. In the book of Job (oh. 88- v. 81) we find the Almighty addressing the patriarch thus : — Cans't thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades. As before stated the star - Alcyone in that constellation appears to be the central pivot around which our solar system is spinning, and? from which proceeds the prodigious power that tethers it, and compels it to whirl round in a circle. The Pleiades consists of seven r stars, closely placed ttogetherr r each of jwhich is enormously larger than out sun, and all of which, therefore, combined must possess an inconceivably- great power of gravitation. - ; ' In the margin of the Bible, the word Pleiades in .Job is t fe^dered m Chimah," which naeans ijhe pivot of a wheel. The p&Elsage might therefore be paraphrased.. r y. Canst thou, puny creaiure ' that flxm. ait, bind the influence 6,' f ■ Chiman, that great pivot or axis of it^e soiaf system which by an invisible bi^t tremendous power silently pulls the 'sun ;'ad^d all the planets round it.". " ' "';' "■ We have here eyjdej3(sß' that ancient Scripture andnaodfirn Science are in harmony. (Prom "X^rip to the se»;Qtest Stars," by thejßiav. Dr Davidson].:. „ \ t:i , • .. ,,;,.,.. 4