Astrology and Astrologers in the Bible
Recently, I was asked about mentions of astrology in the Bible. Being a modern astrologer with a background in Bible studies, I enjoyed the challenge. Here are some quotes, together with my opinions about them.
In the beginning . . . Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divided the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons; and for days and years; and let them . . . to give light upon the earth. Genesis 1: 14-15
Many believe that here, at the beginning of the Judeo-Christian scriptures, an intention that humanity should learn to read the sky is given. If we translate the term light as a metaphor, there is knowledge to be gained from studying the sky.
Various parts of the nation of Israel fell under the domination of such eastern kingdoms as Assyria, Babylon and Medo-Persia, between 700 and 500 B.C. Each time, a significant portion of the Hebrew population was carried back to the homeland of the conquerors. These conquering nations were also the originators of what has become Western Astrology.
The Bible record of that period is largely given in the voices of the Hebrew prophets who were both the political and the religious leaders of the captured people. Read closely, the prophetic books of the Old Testament often reveal that those prophets were preaching sedition right under the noses of their captors. Perhaps the most obvious difference between the captor nation and its captives was that the captors used various divination techniques, especially astrology.
The Hebrew or Jewish nation has always considered themselves set apart, and has tried to preserve the purity of their gene pool. One way to do that, was to demonize their captors. In so-doing, astrology and other types of divination became contaminated by the fact that they were being practiced by a people which the prophets considered to be of impure blood. This is the background of the research which follows.
Isaiah 47:13
Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Daniel(during the period when most Israelites were captive in Babylon)
2:2 –King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, called astrologers, etc for interpretation
4:7–They could not interpret the dream
5-7--King had another dream, again called astrologers, etc.
I looked up astrologers in my Scoffield Bible and found several Old Testament references–all somewhat negative, but clear evidence that astrology has existed for a very long time. So far as we know, the antecedents of Western astrology date back to Babylon. Clearly it was a profession by the time of the Jewish captivity in Babylon around 600 BC and the king had both astrologers and psychics on his staff. Apparently they were not as accurate, or at least not skilled in dream interpretation, as the Jewish psychics, who were sometimes called in. Most notable is Daniel, who seems to have been very good at dream interpretation. This led to a generally snobbish attitude, among the Jews, toward Babylonian astrology. However, it seems likely that some Jews learned Babylonian Astrology.
Meanwhile, the Jewish priesthood developed Kabbalah, another system which, to me, looks suspiciously like astrology, although it may be more elaborate. The Kabbalists and the Magi are probably intellectual peers, and astrology seems to be only one part of their learning.
Another reason for the Old Testament attitude toward astrology is probably derived from the fact that the Hebrew language is based on a system of letter/number-meanings that allows them to use an alphanumeric system to understand the meanings of words and names–not so different from the sister-technique called numerology, which also has roots in Babylon–now Iraq.
In a sermon I once heard, a reference was quoted which suggest that astrology will regain popularity in the end times. (Sorry, I could not find it.) This has been interpreted as the end of the world, but it almost certainly describes those periods near the end of an age–as now, the Piscean (Church) Age is coming to an end. It only makes sense that, in times of change,–times that are often confusing to many–astrology will be revived for it has means and methods for explaining the changes.
Finally, being a student of both astrology and the Bible, and having studied the New Testament book of Revelation, I am convinced that the language is astrological–that it was written by one well versed in astrology. I only wish that I could fully interpret it, because I suspect that it has much to offer modern astrologers.
Old Testament
In the beginning . . . Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divided the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons; and for days and years; and let them . . . to give light upon the earth. Genesis 1: 14-15
Many believe that here, at the beginning of the Judeo-Christian scriptures, an intention that humanity should learn to read the sky is given. If we translate the term light as a metaphor, there is knowledge to be gained from studying the sky.
Various parts of the nation of Israel fell under the domination of such eastern kingdoms as Assyria, Babylon and Medo-Persia, between 700 and 500 B.C. Each time, a significant portion of the Hebrew population was carried back to the homeland of the conquerors. These conquering nations were also the originators of what has become Western Astrology.
The Bible record of that period is largely given in the voices of the Hebrew prophets who were both the political and the religious leaders of the captured people. Read closely, the prophetic books of the Old Testament often reveal that those prophets were preaching sedition right under the noses of their captors. Perhaps the most obvious difference between the captor nation and its captives was that the captors used various divination techniques, especially astrology.
The Hebrew or Jewish nation has always considered themselves set apart, and has tried to preserve the purity of their gene pool. One way to do that, was to demonize their captors. In so-doing, astrology and other types of divination became contaminated by the fact that they were being practiced by a people which the prophets considered to be of impure blood. This is the background of the research which follows.
Isaiah 47:13
Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Daniel(during the period when most Israelites were captive in Babylon)
2:2 –King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, called astrologers, etc for interpretation
4:7–They could not interpret the dream
5-7--King had another dream, again called astrologers, etc.
I looked up astrologers in my Scoffield Bible and found several Old Testament references–all somewhat negative, but clear evidence that astrology has existed for a very long time. So far as we know, the antecedents of Western astrology date back to Babylon. Clearly it was a profession by the time of the Jewish captivity in Babylon around 600 BC and the king had both astrologers and psychics on his staff. Apparently they were not as accurate, or at least not skilled in dream interpretation, as the Jewish psychics, who were sometimes called in. Most notable is Daniel, who seems to have been very good at dream interpretation. This led to a generally snobbish attitude, among the Jews, toward Babylonian astrology. However, it seems likely that some Jews learned Babylonian Astrology.
Meanwhile, the Jewish priesthood developed Kabbalah, another system which, to me, looks suspiciously like astrology, although it may be more elaborate. The Kabbalists and the Magi are probably intellectual peers, and astrology seems to be only one part of their learning.
Another reason for the Old Testament attitude toward astrology is probably derived from the fact that the Hebrew language is based on a system of letter/number-meanings that allows them to use an alphanumeric system to understand the meanings of words and names–not so different from the sister-technique called numerology, which also has roots in Babylon–now Iraq.
New Testament
In a sermon I once heard, a reference was quoted which suggest that astrology will regain popularity in the end times. (Sorry, I could not find it.) This has been interpreted as the end of the world, but it almost certainly describes those periods near the end of an age–as now, the Piscean (Church) Age is coming to an end. It only makes sense that, in times of change,–times that are often confusing to many–astrology will be revived for it has means and methods for explaining the changes.
Finally, being a student of both astrology and the Bible, and having studied the New Testament book of Revelation, I am convinced that the language is astrological–that it was written by one well versed in astrology. I only wish that I could fully interpret it, because I suspect that it has much to offer modern astrologers.
posted by Alice Miller @ 9:45 AM
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