THE BOOK OF THE COURSES OF THE HEAVENLY LUMINARIES
- The Sun
Chapter 72
1 The book of the revolutions of the lights of heaven, one according to another as they are, according to their particular divisions, their particular powers, their particular times, their particular names, according to the places of their beginnings, and according to their particular months, which Uriel the holy angel who was with me shewed to me, who is their conductor. The whole account of them he shewed to me according to every year of the world for ever, until a new work shall be formed, which shall be eternal.
2 This is the first law of the luminaries: the sun and the light come by the gates of heaven which are on the east, and on the west are the western gates of heaven.
3 I saw six gates where the sun rises, and six gates where it sets. In these gates also the moon rises and sets, and the conductors of the stars with those who conduct them. Six gates were at the rising, and six at the setting of the sun. All these one after another are even, and many windows are on the right, and on the left side of these gates.
4 And first, that great light which is called the sun goes forth, the orb of which is as the orb of heaven, and the whole is filled with shining and burning fire.
5 Where its chariot ascends, the wind blows forth. The sun sets in heaven, and turns by the north to go to the east, is conveyed so as to come by that gate, and enlighten the face of heaven.
6 In the same manner it goes forth in the first month by a great gate. It goes through the fourth of these six gates which are at the setting of the sun.
7 And in the fourth gate, through which the sun goes in the first month, there are twelve open windows, from which goes forth a flame, when they are opened at their proper times.
8 When the sun rises in heaven, it goes forth through this fourth gate thirty days, and descends by the fourth gate even with it in the west of heaven.
9 During that time the days lengthened from the day, and the night shortened from the night for thirty mornings long,
10 and then the day is longer by two parts than the night. The day is exactly ten parts, and the night is eight parts.
11 The sun goes forth through the fourth gate, and sets in it, and turns to the fifth gate, which is in the east during thirty days, after which it goes forth, and sets in the fifth gate.
12 Then the day becomes longer by a second portion, so that it is eleven parts, and the night becomes shorter, and is only seven parts.
13 The sun turns to the east, and comes into the sixth gate, and rises and sets in the sixth gate thirty-one days on account of its signs.
14 At that time the day is longer than the night being twice the night, and becomes twelve parts. But the night is shortened and becomes six parts.
15 Then the sun rises up that the day may be shortened, and the night lengthened. And the sun turns to the east, and comes to the sixth gate, and there it rises and sets for thirty days.
16 When thirty days are expired, the day becomes shortened one part, so that it is eleven parts, and the night is seven parts.
17 Then the sun goes from the west out of that sixth gate, and goes to the east, and goes in at the fifth gate thirty days, and sets again in the west, in the fifth gate of the west.
18 At that time the day becomes shortened two parts, and the day becomes ten parts, and the night eight parts.
19 Then the sun goes forth from the fifth gate, as it sets in the fifth gate, and rises in the fourth gate thirty one days, on account of its signs, and sets in the west.
20 At that time the day becomes equal with the night, and being equal, the night becomes nine parts, and the day nine parts.
21 Then the sun goes from that gate, as it sets in the west, and turns to the east, and goes forth from the third gate, for thirty days, and sets in the third gate.
22 At that time the night is lengthened from the day during thirty mornings, and the day is shortened from the day during thirty days, the night being exactly ten parts, and the day eight parts.
23 The sun now goes from the third gate, as it sets in the third gate in the west, and turns to the east, and goes forth by the second gate of the east for thirty days. And so it sets in the second gate in the west of heaven.
24 At that time the night is eleven parts, and the day seven parts.
25 And at that time the sun goes from the second gate, as it sets in the second gate in the west, and turns towards the east by the first gate for thirty-one days, and sets in the west in the first gate.
26 At that time the night is lengthened so as to be double the length of the day. It is exactly twelve parts, and the day six parts.
27 The sun has arrived at its elevation, and a second time makes its progress from that elevation. It comes into that gate for thirty days, and sets in the opposite part of heaven in the west.
28 All that time the night is shortened in its length one part, and becomes eleven parts. And the day seven parts.
29 Then the sun turns and comes into the second gate of the east. And it turns by these heights, thirty days rising and setting.
30 At that time the night is shortened in its length, it becomes ten parts, and the day eight parts,
31 then the sun goes from that second gate, and sets in the west, and it turns to the east, and rises in the east in the third gate thirty-one days, and sets in the west of heaven.
32 At that time the night becomes diminished, it is nine pirts, and the day is nine parts, and the night is equal with the day. The year is exactly three hundred and sixty-four days.
33 The lengthening of the day and the night, and the shortening of the day and the night, are made to differ from each other by the progress of the sun.
34 By reason of this progress the day is lengthened from the day, and the night shortened from the night.
35 This is the law and progress of the sun, and it’s turning when it turns back, it turns during sixty days and goes forth. This is the great everlasting light, that which he names the sun for ever and ever.
36 This also is that which goes forth a great light, which is named according to its appearance, as the Lord has commanded.
37 And so it goes in and out without diminishing, or resting, but runs day and night in its chariot, and its light enlightens seven parts from the moon, but the light of both is extended for the same purpose.
Chapter 73
1 After this law I saw another law of lesser light, the name of which is the moon,
2 the orb of which is as the orb of heaven. And where its chariot ascends the wind blows forth, and light is given to it by measure.
3 At the beginning and end of every month it is changed, and its days are as the days of the sun, and when in like manner its light is to be, its light is a seventh part from the light of the sun.
4 And when it rises, its beginning is towards the east, it goes forth thirty days. At that time it is seen and is to you the beginning of the month. It is thirty days with the sun in the gate from which the sun goes forth.
5 One half of it being taken away, it is seven portions, and the whole of its orb is without any light, except a seventh portion out of the fourteen portions of its light.
6 In a day it receives a seventh or half that portion of its light. Its light is by sevens, by one portion, and by the half of a portion it sets with the sun.
7 And when the sun rises, the moon rises with it, and receives a half portion of light. And on that night in its beginning in the east, before the day of the month, the moon sets with the sun. And it is dark on that night in its fourteen portions, that is in each half,
8 but it rises on that day with a seventh portion exactly, and it goes forth and turns from the rising of the sun. During the remainder of its time, its light increases to fourteen portions.