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“Go Out from Your Sign” : Rashi to Genesis 15:5 as a Reference to Astrological Primary Direction –Its Background in Rabbinic Literature and Parallels in Abraham bar Ḥiyya

Wikander, Ola LU (2020) In Old Testament Essays p.556-581
Abstract
This article suggests that Rashi’s exegetical commentary to Gen 15:5, in which Abram counts the stars, is meant to invoke an association to the astrological technique known as Primary Directions (based on equating one degree of Right Ascension in the rotation of the earth around its axis with one year of life), which was one of the main methods of prognostication in pre-modern astrology – beginning already in Hellenistic times and quite central in Mediaeval astrological thinking. Rabbinic sources discussing the relevant biblical passage and the idea of Abraham as a supreme astrologer are analyzed, as is parallel material from Abraham bar Ḥiyya and Ibn ʿEzrā. The article discusses both what Rashi kept and what he removed from his Rabbinic... (More)
This article suggests that Rashi’s exegetical commentary to Gen 15:5, in which Abram counts the stars, is meant to invoke an association to the astrological technique known as Primary Directions (based on equating one degree of Right Ascension in the rotation of the earth around its axis with one year of life), which was one of the main methods of prognostication in pre-modern astrology – beginning already in Hellenistic times and quite central in Mediaeval astrological thinking. Rabbinic sources discussing the relevant biblical passage and the idea of Abraham as a supreme astrologer are analyzed, as is parallel material from Abraham bar Ḥiyya and Ibn ʿEzrā. The article discusses both what Rashi kept and what he removed from his Rabbinic sources, and also elaborates on the role of astrological thinking in his milieu. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Rashi, Genesis 15:5, Abraham, astrology, Primary Directions, Bar Hiyya, Ibn Ezra, bShabbat 156 a-b, Genesis Rabbah, divination, ʾiṣṭagnînût
in
Old Testament Essays
pages
556 - 581
publisher
Old Testament Society of South Africa
external identifiers
  • scopus:85110013036
ISSN
2312-3621
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d7e2fef8-1621-4108-bfc6-09b154e0b2c1
alternative location
https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/373
date added to LUP
2020-12-01 21:17:09
date last changed
2022-04-19 02:29:52
@article{d7e2fef8-1621-4108-bfc6-09b154e0b2c1,
  abstract     = {{This article suggests that Rashi’s exegetical commentary to Gen 15:5, in which Abram counts the stars, is meant to invoke an association to the astrological technique known as Primary Directions (based on equating one degree of Right Ascension in the rotation of the earth around its axis with one year of life), which was one of the main methods of prognostication in pre-modern astrology – beginning already in Hellenistic times and quite central in Mediaeval astrological thinking. Rabbinic sources discussing the relevant biblical passage and the idea of Abraham as a supreme astrologer are analyzed, as is parallel material from Abraham bar Ḥiyya and Ibn ʿEzrā. The article discusses both what Rashi kept and what he removed from his Rabbinic sources, and also elaborates on the role of astrological thinking in his milieu.}},
  author       = {{Wikander, Ola}},
  issn         = {{2312-3621}},
  keywords     = {{Rashi; Genesis 15:5; Abraham; astrology; Primary Directions; Bar Hiyya; Ibn Ezra; bShabbat 156 a-b; Genesis Rabbah; divination; ʾiṣṭagnînût}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{556--581}},
  publisher    = {{Old Testament Society of South Africa}},
  series       = {{Old Testament Essays}},
  title        = {{“Go Out from Your Sign” : Rashi to Genesis 15:5 as a Reference to Astrological Primary Direction –Its Background in Rabbinic Literature and Parallels in Abraham bar Ḥiyya}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/90675695/373_Article_Text_2071_2_10_20210113.pdf}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}