Re: [asa] The moon rules...

> Or, if the whole passage is taken as a literary account, and/or a typical
> Ancient Near East creation account, then what purpose does the part about
> the sun and moon play in the narrative?  I know the section is said to be a
> polemic against or alternative to the pagan concept of heavenly deities
> being in control, but what does the part about the "ruling the day and
> night" have in the ancient cultural understanding?  Collins and Blocher
> don't comment too much on this, except to suggest it has to do with seasons
> in the Hebrew liturgical calendar.

Not only liturgical seasons, but a general calendar function is
probably in view. A framework-type interpretation would see the days
4-6 filling and providing "rulers" for the the three regions
demarcated in days 1-3. Thus, "formless and void"-initial problem
Days 1-3: form given to heavens, sea and sky, land
Days 4-6: occupants, rulers given to heavens, sea and sky, land

The polemic is seen both in the fact that everything is asserted to be
created by God and therefore not a rival god, monster, etc. and in the
fact that it does not actually say "sun" or "moon" (given the pagan
use of the names for gods) but merely calls them lights.

-- 
Dr. David Campbell
425 Scientific Collections
University of Alabama
"I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"
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