- No; the cosmology and representations of the world in the biblical texts match the human cultural contexts of the time. There is not really a systematic presentation anywhere, but throughout texts in the Hebrew Bible as an example, the earth is presented as a flat circle, is covered by a solid firmament (Genesis 1), with floodgates opening to let the water flood the earth in Genesis 7:11, and with pillars supporting it in other texts. Astral objects are either described as lights in the sky, in Genesis 1, or beings, as in Job 38:
- Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? 6On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone,d 7while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Who enclosed the sea behind doors
Clines OTL commentary on Job (discussing Job 38).
Pope’s Anchor Bible Commentary on Job: commentary on Job 26.
Goldingay’s commentary: section on Isaiah 40:22-23.
See also: https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/the-first-creation/
- Genesis 1 describes God’s ordering of primeval chaos, not creation “out of nothing.”
- A focus on Sabbath rest in Genesis 1 suggests it was written during the exile of Jews in Babylon, when observance of the Sabbath became an important cultural and religious marker.
- Genesis 1 contrasts with other ancient creation stories in its inclusion of human rest and not just human work.
- Genesis 1 is the first part of a “Priestly source” that existed earlier in separate form before most of it was embedded in the books of Genesis–Deuteronomy as we have them now.
Leave a Reply