Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ASTROLOGER

Mesopotamian and Egyptian stargazers practiced what moderns would call both astronomy and astrology, and their skill was sophisticated enough to allow accurate predictions of eclipses and construction of calendars. The Neo-Assyrian monarchs (743-612 b.c.e.) in particular were eager patrons of astrologers throughout their empire, and much of their extensive correspondence survives. Priests correlated celestial omens with other types, especially those from the reading of sheep entrails, all for the benefit of their rulers in an effort to predict and control the future.

Biblical texts are aware of the importance of astrology in Mesopotamia (Isa. 47:13; Jer. 10:2 call the practice the “way of the Gentiles,” Heb. dereḵ haggôyim) and predict that its practitioners will share in the disaster awaiting their societies. While no direct evidence of Israelite astrology survives, the Bible does not explicitly repudiate the craft, and lists of forbidden divinatory practices conspicuously omit reference to it (Lev. 19:26-28; Deut. 18:9-13; Zech. 10:1-2; cf. Isa. 3:3). Second Temple texts perpetuate this ambivalence, e.g., by including Daniel among the astrologers (albeit as their superior; Dan. 2:27; 4:7, 10[MT 4, 7]; 5:7, 11) and tracing Abraham’s discovery of God partly to astrology (Jub. 12:16). The magi of Matt. 2 are Iranian priests whose astrology leads them to Jesus.

Bibliography. S. Parpola, Letters from Assyrian Scholars to the Kings Esarhaddon and Assurbanipal. AOAT 5/1 (Neukirchen-Vluyn, 1970).

Mark W. Hamilton

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ASTROLOGER

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)