Astrology and the Bible
by Leslie Marlar, March ’18
On gets the impression from the messages coming to us in Western Society that Astrology is not accepted. Since the Bible is the foundation of much of Western culture, it seems that the negative treatment of Astrology comes from this. To my surprise, the Bible makes many positive references to Astrology and I would like to share them with you.
The format is simple. I will note the quote and explain it from the astrological perspective. The Bible in use is St. Jerome’s Vulgate, unless otherwise noted.
Genesis, Chap. 1, verses 14 to 18. Creation of our Symbols.
14 And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years:
15 To shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the earth. And it was so done.
16 And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day; and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars.
17 And he set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the earth.
18 And to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
This reference is on the first page of the Bible where creation is the topic. These lights rule time periods, are for signs and seasons, shine on the earth, and separate light and dark. Figuratively they are working for God in many ways including shining on us, or giving us understanding or light. Some refer to the night sky as God’s writing. Kepler referred to God as the geometricising God.
Also, these quotes are referred to by astrologers as the basis for the timing of secondary progressions, a day for a year.
Genesis, Chap 35, verses 22 through 26. The 12 Tribes.
22….Now the sons of Jacob were 12.
23 The sons of Lia: Ruben the first born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Juda, and Issachar, and Zabulon.
24 The sons of Rachel: Joeseph and Benjamin.
25 The sons of Bala, Rachel’s handmaid: Dan and Nephtali.
26 The sons of Zelpha, Lia’s handmaid: Gad and Aser: these are the sons of Jacob that were born to him in Mesopotamia of Syria.
We associate the 12 sons of Jacob, Israel with the 12 tribes. And the 12 tribes with the 12 signs. Later we will see the breastplate of the head priest with 12 gems representing the 12 tribes. And it is our job to figure out which gem goes with which sign. Things are sounding Kabalistic already. We are looking at one of the world’s scriptures and we are finding subtle messages.
Genesis Chapter 37 verses 9 & 10. Joseph’s Dream.
9 He dreamed also another dream, which he told his brethren, saying: I saw in a dream as it were the sun, and the moon, and eleven stars worshiping me. 10 And when he had told this to his father and brethren, his father rebuked him , and said: What meaneth this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother , and thy brethren worship thee upon the earth?
It is interesting to me that the father, mother, and 11 brothers, who together with Joseph represent the 12 sons of Jacob, the 12 tribes of Israel are symbolized as Sun, Moon, and stars. How about Sun. Moon, and signs?
As we see astrology and metaphysics in the Bible, let’s remember that Moses was from Egypt and Abraham from Ur. Astrology was practiced in both.
Genesis, Chapter 44, Verses 5 & 15. Joseph’s Cup
5 The cup which you have stolen is that in which my lord drinketh. And in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.
15 And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that there is no one like me in the science of divining.
Divining is not treated well in Leviticus and it surprised me that beloved Joseph divined.
Genesis Chapter 49, Verses 1 through 28. Jacob’s prophetical blessing for his 12 sons, the 12 tribes, the 12 signs.
And Jacob called his sons, and said to them: Gather yourselves together that I may tell you the things that shall befall you in the last days.
2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, harken to Israel your father:
3 Reuben my firstborn, though art my strength, and the beginning of my sorrow: excelling in gifts, greater in command.
4 Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not: because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed, and didst defile his couch.
5 Simeon and Levi brethren: vessels of iniquity, waging war.
6 Let not my soul go into their counsel, nor my glory be in their assembly: because in their fury they slew a man, and in their selfwill they undermined a wall.
7 Cursed be their fury, because it was stubborn: and their wrath because it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and and will scatter them in Israel.
8 Juda, thee shall thy brethren praise: thy hands shall be on the necks of thy enemies: the sons of thy father shall bow down to thee.
9 Juda is the lion’s whelp: to the prey my son, thou art gone up: resting thou has couched like a lion, as a lioness, who shall rouse him?
10 The scepter will not be taken away from Juda, nor a ruler from his thigh, till he come that is to be sent, and he shall be the expectation of nations.
11 Tying his foal to the vineyard, and his ass, O my son, to the vine, and his garment in the blood of the grape.
12 His eyes are more beautiful than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.
13 Zabulon shall dwell on the sea shore, and in the road of ships, reaching as far as Zidon.
14 Issachar shall be a strong ass lying down between the borders.
15 He saw rest that it was good: and the land that it was excellent: and he bowed his shoulder to carry, and became a servant under tribute.
16 Dan shall judge his people like another tribe in Israel.
17 Let Dan be a snake in the way, a serpent in the path, that biteth the horses heals that his rider may fall backward.
18 I will look for thy salvation O Lord.
19 Gad, being girded, shall fight before him: and he himself shall be girded backward.
20 Aser, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield dainties to kings.
21 Nephtali, a hart let loose, and giving words of beauty.
22 Joseph is a growing son, a growing son and comely to behold; the daughters run to and fro upon the wall.
23 But they who held darts provoked him, and quarreled with him, and envied him.
24 His bow rested upon the strong, and the bands of his arms and his hands were loosed, by the hands of the mighty one of Jacob: thence he came forth a pastor, the stone of Israel.
25 The God of thy father shall be thy helper, and the Almighty shall bless thee with the blessing of the heavens above, with the blessings of the deep that lieth beneath, with the blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of thy father are strengthened with the blessings of his fathers: until the desire of the everlasting hills shall come; may they be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite among his brethren.
27 Benjamin a ravenous wolf, in the morning shall eat the prey, and in the evening shall divide the spoil.
28 All these are the 12 tribes of Israel: these things their father spoke to them, and he blessed every one, with their proper blessing.
Of course, the question is, which son/tribe is which sign?
Fortunately Rabbi and Astrologer Joel Dobin in his book, “To Rule Both Night and Day” matches up the sons in the order of their birth and the signs in their order. Back in Jacobs day, Taurus was the first sign and Aries the last sign. That is, the vernal equinox was in Taurus. So, we have: Taurus Reuben, Gemini Simon, Cancer Levi, Leo Juda, Virgo Zebulun, Libra Issachar, Scorpio Dan, Sagittarius Gad, Capricorn Asher, Aquarius Naphtali, Pisces Joseph, and Aries Benjamin. I’m looking forward to seeing the gems associated with the tribes and as a result, the signs.