“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
(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)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/d7e2fef8-1621-4108-bfc6-09b154e0b2c1
- author
- Wikander, Ola LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2020
- 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}}, }