THE BOOK OF THE COURSES OF THE HEAVENLY LUMINARIES
- The Sun and Moon: the Waxing and Waning of the Moon.
Chapter 78
1 The names of the sun are these, one Oryares, the other Tomas.
2 The moon has four names, the first is Asonya, the second Ebla, the third Benase, and the fourth Erae.
3 These are the two great lights whose orbs are as the orbs of heaven, and the light of both is extended for the same purpose.
4 In the orb of the sun there is a seventh portion of light, which is given to it from the moon, it is put on by measure, until a seventh part of the light of the sun is departed.
5 I saw seven rivers upon earth greater than all rivers, of which one comes from the west, and its waters flow into a great sea.
6 When the moon rises, it appears in heaven, and the half of a seventh portion of light is all which is in it. And in fourteen days the whole of its light is completed.
7 By three quintuples light is put into it, until its light is full in fifteen days, according to the signs of the year, it has three quintuples. There will be to the moon the half of a seventh portion.
8 During its diminution on the first day, its light decreases a fourteenth part, on the second day it decreases a thirteenth part, on the third day a twelfth part, on the fourth day an eleventh part, on the fifth day a tenth part, on the sixth day a ninth part. On the seventh day it decreases an eighth part, on the eighth day a seventh part, on the ninth day a sixth part, on the tenth day a fifth part, on the eleventh day a fourth part, on the twelfth day a third part, on the thirteenth day a second part. And on the fourteenth day it decreases a half of its seventh part. And on the fifteenth day there is an end of all its light.
9 On fixed months the moon has twenty-nine days. It has also a time of twenty-eight days.
10 Uriel also shewed me another regulation, when light is conveyed into the moon, it is conveyed into it from the sun.
11 All the time that the moon advances with its light, it is conveyed into it from the sun, until in fourteen days its light is completed in heaven. And when it is all finished its light is consumed in heaven,
12 and on the first day it is called the new moon, for on that day it has received light.
13 It becomes exactly full on the day that the sun descends into the west, while the moon ascends from the east in the night. The moon then shines all the night until the sun rises before it, and the moon is seen before the sun.
14 When light comes to the moon, there again it diminishes, until all its light is vanished, and the days of the moon pass away. Then its orb remains empty without light.
15 And in three months it performs its course in thirty days, and in three more months it performs it in twenty-nine days each. These are the times in which it makes its decrease in the first time, and in the first gate, in one hundred and seventy-seven days.
16 And at the time of its going forth during three months it appears thirty days each, and during three months it appears twenty-nine days.
17 For each twenty days it appears in the night as a man, and in the day as heaven, for there is nothing in it except its light.
- Recapitulation of several of the Laws.
Chapter 79
1 And now my son Mathusala, I have shewn thee everything, and the account of every ordinance of the stars of heaven is ended.
2 Uriel shewed me all their ordinances, which are on all days, and in every time, which are under every power, and in every year, at its egression, according to its law, in every month, and in every week,
3 and the decrease of the moon, which is effected in the sixth gate, for in that gate its light is ended.
4 I saw seven high mountains higher than all the mountains of the earth, and from them frost goes forth while days, seasons, and years, go on and pass away.
5 They set and come into the western gate, go round by the north, and by the gate of the east go forth over the face of heaven.
6 Such is the appearance and likeness of every light, which Uriel shewed to me, the great angel who is their conductor.