THE BOOK OF THE COURSES OF THE HEAVENLY LUMINARIES
- The Twelve Windows and their Portals.
Chapter 76
1 And at the ends of the earth I saw twelve gates open for all the winds, from which they come forth, and blow over the earth.
2 Three of them are open in the face of heaven, three in the west, three on the right side of heaven, and three on the left.
3 The first three are those which are towards the east, three are towards the north, three behind those which are on the left towards the north, and three towards the west.
4 From four of these proceed winds of blessing and of health, and from the remaining eight go forth winds of punishment, when they are sent to destroy all the earth, and the water which is upon it, and all who dwell upon it, and all who are in the waters, or on the earth.
5 The first of these winds goes forth from the gate called the eastern, through the first gate on the east, which inclines to the south. From this gate goes forth destruction, drought, heat, and perdition.
6 From the second gate, the middle one, proceeds equity, there come from it rain, fruitfulness, health, and dew. And from the third gate towards the north go forth cold and drought.
7 After these the winds in the direction of the south go forth through three principal gates, through their first gate, which is towards the east goes forth a hot wind.
8 But from the middle gate proceed pleasant odour, dew, rain, health, and life. 9From the third gate which is towards the west, proceed dew rain, blight, and destruction.
9 After these are the winds towards the north which is called the sea.
10 They proceed from three gates. The first gate is that which is on the east in inclining to the south. From this go forth dew, rain, blight, and destruction.
11 From the middle direct gate go forth rain, dew, life, and health.
12 And from the third gate which is towards the west, inclining towards the north, proceed mist, frost, snow, rain, dew, and blight. From the middle direct gate go forth rain, dew, life, and health. And from the third gate which is towards the west, inclining towards the north, proceed mist, frost, snow, rain, dew, and blight.
13 After these in the fourth quarter are the winds to the west, and from the first gate inclining to the north, go forth dew, rain, frost, snow, cold, and chill. And from the middle gate go forth dew, rain, health, and blessing.
14 And from the last gate which is southwards, proceed drought, destruction, scorching, and perdition.
15 The account of the twelve gates of the four quarters of heaven is ended. I have shewn all their laws, all their punishment, and all their health, to thee my son Mathusala.
- The Four Quarters of the World: the Seven High Mountains, the Seven Rivers, & Seven Great Islands.
Chapter 77
1 The first wind is called the eastern, because it is the first. The second is called the south, because there the Most High descends, and He chiefly there descends, who is praised for ever.
2 The western wind has the name of deficiency, because all the lights of heaven are there diminished, and descend.
3 The fourth wind which is named the north is divided into three parts, one of is them for the habitation of men, another for seas of water, with valleys, woods, rivers, darkness, and snow, and in the third is Paradise.
4 The beginning of the month is from this, and its decrease which is effected in the sixth gate in its time to the end are one hundred and seventy seven days, according to its ordinance by twenty-five weeks, and two days.
5 And its time is less than that of the sun according to the ordinance of the stars by five days in one half year exactly, when they are at the end of that situation which thou seest.
6 Two come from the north to the sea, their waters flowing into the Erythrean Sea on the east,
7 and with respect to those which remain, four go forth into the cavity of the north, two to their sea the Erythrean Sea, and two are poured into a great sea, where it is said there is a desert.
8 I saw seven great islands on the sea and on the earth, seven in the great sea.