1 Enoch 72

Chapter 72 seems to talk about the course of the sun throughout the year.
It describes how the days become longer and shorter and the sun rises and sets
from and to different positions on the horizon called "portals".

Of course, the author has his own system of terms and frame of reference.

The second half of the last verse of the chapter:
"his light is sevenfold brighter than that of the moon; but as regards size they are both equal."
(1 Enoch 72:37)

It is interesting how the author gave a set multiple comparison of how much brighter the sun is to the moon,
I wonder how he calculated that.

As far as size any closed-minded person would agree that this statement is false because the sun
is obviously much bigger than the moon.  But it is much more possible that the author is
referring to the size of these luminaries in relation to how much of the "sky space" they take up;
and is most likely disregarding the actual size of the luminary in outer space.

May 30, 2012