326

CHAPTER VI. THE CYCLES OF DANIEL

The Jubilee Cycle possessed only by the Hebrews--High Estimation
of Daniel and his Companions entertained by Nebuchadnezzar--Due
possibly to Daniel's Knowledge of Luni-solar Cycles--Cycles in
Daniel's Prophecy--2300 Years and 1260 Years as Astronomical
Cycles--Early Astronomical Progress of the Babylonians much
overrated--Yet their Real Achievements not Small--Limitations of
the Babylonian--Freedom of the Hebrew 337

BOOK IV

THREE ASTRONOMICAL MARVELS

CHAPTER I. JOSHUA'S LONG DAY

METHOD OF STUDYING THE RECORD--To be discussed as it stands--An
early Astronomical Observation. BEFORE THE BATTLE--Movements of
the Israelites--Reasons for the Gibeonites' Action--Rapid
Movements of all the Parties. DAY, HOUR, AND PLACE OF THE
MIRACLE--Indication of the Sun's Declination--Joshua was at
Gibeon--And at High Noon--On the 21st Day of the Fourth Month.
JOSHUA'S STRATEGY--Key to it in the Flight of the Amorites by the
Beth-horon Route--The Amorites defeated but not surrounded--King
David as a Strategist. THE MIRACLE--The Noon-day Heat, the great
Hindrance to the Israelites--Joshua desired the Heat to be
tempered--The Sun made to "be silent"--The Hailstorm--The March
to Makkedah--A Full Day's March in the Afternoon--"The Miracle"
not a Poetic Hyperbole--Exact Accord of the Poem and the Prose
Chronicle--The Record made at the Time--Their March, the
Israelites' Measure of Time 351

CHAPTER II. THE DIAL OF AHAZ

The Narrative--Suggested Explanations--The "Dial of Ahaz,"
probably a Staircase--Probable History and Position of the
Staircase--Significance of the Sign 385

CHAPTER III. THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM

The Narrative--No Astronomical Details given--Purpose of the
Scripture Narrative--Kepler's suggested Identification of the
Star--The New Star of 1572--Legend of the Well of Bethlehem--True
Significance of the Reticence of the Gospel Narrative 393

A TABLE OF SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE 401

INDEX 405

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM (_Burne-Jones_) _Frontispiece_

THE RAINBOW (_Rubens_) 2

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