226 



On the Science of Astronomy 





Hebrew Month. 



Hebrew Sign. 



Sign. 



Esauneem or 



Tishri 



Il'auzneem 



Libra 



Bui 



or 



Cheslivan 



EJcrauv 



Scorpio 







Kisluv 



Kayshess 



Sagittarius 







Tivess 



G'dee 



Capricornus 







Sh'vaut 



B'lee 



Aquarius 







Odur 



Doffim 



Pisces 



Ovio 



or 



Nees'n 



T'lee 



Aries 







lEar 



SJioor 



Taurus 







Sivin 



Tioumim 



Gemiai 







Tomuz 



Sort'n 



Cancer 







Auv 



Aureoh 



Leo 







Mtt.1 



B'sooJaJi 



Virgo 



in tlie months of Septeinber and Octolber. They are as 

 follows : — 



English Month. 

 Sept. and Oct. 

 Oct. and Nov. 

 Nov. and Dec. 

 Dec. and Jan. 

 Jan. and Feb. . 

 Feb. and March. 

 March and April. 

 April and May. 

 May and June. 

 June and July. 

 July and Aug. 

 Aug. and Sept. 



In conclusion, I cannot but observe how much a critical 

 knowledge of the Hebrew language might be made sub- 

 servient to scientific and literary researches ; as not only 

 the names included therein, but even the very words 

 composing the language, appear to have been originally 

 framed on strictly philosophical principles. I will adduce 

 two or three instances : — The word in Hebrew applied to the 

 'Terrestrial Globe (our earth) is airetz, three letters derived 

 from the simple root Rntz, consisting of only two signifying 

 literally a running or rapid motion, proving, as far as analogy 

 of language can prove, that in the most remote period of 

 human history the Jews possessed such a degree of acquaint- 

 ance with the science of astronomy, as to be in possession 

 of the fact that the earth revolved round her axis most 

 rapidly, independent of her movements in her orbit. At an 

 early period of history, it is said by Job, chap, xxvi., verse 7, 

 as already cited, Toidai airetz ol Vlenio, that the earth 

 hangeth on nothing, — or rather, as it ought to have been 

 rendered, in a vacuum — the word B'lemo signifying literally 

 space. Again, there are three words in the Hebrew 



