A Further Fragment on Astrology from the Genizah

Author(s): Richard J. H. Gottheil

Source: Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 49 (1929), pp. 291-302
Published by: American Oriental Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/593007 .
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A FURTHER FRAGMENT ON ASTROLOGY FROM THE
GENIZAII
RICHARD J. H. GOTTHEIL
COLUMBIA UNIERSITY

IN Vol. XLVII, pp. 302-310, I published a small Arabic frag-

ment coming from the Genizah, dealing with astrology. I shall not
repeat what I said there (p. 304) concerning the value of studying
what may seem to be the absurdity of the foolish. The whole sub-
ject, since I wrote my previous article, has been discussed with
much consequent illumination by Professor Alexander Marx, in the
Hebrew Union College Annual, Vol. 3, pp. 311 et seq.
I have gone to the trouble of having certain leaves photographed
which are the remnant of another work on astrology, and which are
to be found in Bodleian MS. Heb. D. 36. Even among these leaves
a few pages are missing. The script is good, square Hebrew; the
language, of course, Arabic. These pages are probably part of a
larger work. The letters AX of the article are in nearly every case
written as one character. Occasionally a point is used, to mark off
a sentence, and a small circle in which is a dot, to mark off a para-
graph. The Arabic is not always classic; and, at times, one wonders
at the manner in which Arabic words and forms are transcribed;
e. g. , l Ps - . 15f =

(though, in one place, this is written rv1zk8; ,i9, d; ;

lts ; ,nrnin - Y-unless in all these cases and in similar ones,
the writer is thinking in the ordinary spoken Arabic of his day,
and adds the letter , merely for form's sake. Cfr. IZN in the
fragment published by Hirschfeld in the JQR., XVI 279-though
this has to do with a proper name only.
I am certain that I have gone wrong in translating many sen-
tences and words. At times, however, we are confronted with a
veritable jumble; and it is not easy to render such into readable
English. It is much more trivial than the Book of Augury-also
from the Genizah-published and explained by the late Professor
I. Friedlaender in the JQR., XIX, 84 et seq. But the whole subject
is of historic importance, as Loth suggests that astrology was born
291
292 Richard J. H. Gottheil

in Persia and carried by the Jews to the Arabs. See Morgeniund-

ische Forschungen (Leipzig 1875), p. 267.

fol. 43 recto. iN rKNI '11Pli CNi:5N line -pNP- minnamn rvNA18

nelQ:t7KDIN
VNK2l "INT Ni iKDl Inn^Dl ON: *2
0
nl:noiN MNEi3 'piyj iLK~MK v nlj p .
*3

Inym,Kt Npi:iK 91Vw tf:: m:tm IC ni8n 1v .4

pzv p nm
N:Dt m0Ks II: 1m11K in"I~wn .1
Inn InK8INlvNiK 9iNnl njmv5K -iKn Iv1
IC .6

-AlKenp~ nN:
pv %0jp'p:rN Vow Iln .8
::8 0
,-Dst: *9
IDCK1
"NlD:
'%,N Iv 1,nCIjZO PN f
= ip IC n5Kwn
'I nlZ l' .11
N+ "I
KC CNln Iv: 0Kp
~N=l IID= 11:: ,*^1-:N *10
'I
iK iNK I
*+N IN:) INI DINKP1 llo
II: lpiK .11
jlpKoiK pip-1 pjj- In KN5 -jj:nC .12

"inNin
[til pn rn'znIDN:1 -"z IIZI .14
[ P CK~nlD*m D P: nm:l: .15
minnn1pr n mK: , rw In p',
l118 C~IN -:15
0,: EPIC IN .16

fol. 43 verso. ,: 0 .1

D *3
,INln n mKl ipS l: KI1
Lil IC 0 pKV~l-JM1 1=l:1
IC pi v fl .2
C5K N rivy le n-i ni : o
pn ive if : ni: l: *

0
p~~~~~on ~

oNi mimm, ?
,Nl~ Ni .12
:n~n'1s1"~sIY
"I~Nml1mi'r nrminN iNZIn11288.13
-n: m-Vnin
1- 1 p i .14
ii ignnn
i :Nlin n-mn
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pr nn iria mic:
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 A Further Fragment on Astrology from the Genizah 293

fol. 44 recto.
IM li:)11 1:l 1ln -6wnl r~rim, lsnN
IN:
Ivz .1

iN *Emimwbzxyi rnlZn 'w rnnxilp rogwmwrn.4

0
nin n-n
w .*5
Ion Ion n'vfl ri:Nx
r 'li inm m-nyn-wl mrim, .Nvi6 IN: Iv *6
nnnN nS nmiF -rryn il mwi
n i: l i~y8pw *n 7
rinibnm rivivi miln D:
:N= im n Hil- mnigwmw .8

ny mim)nl .1i2Nn vinNS i mvwni .12

Orinnnine NP.l I-NIN q~i IINIM .13
13 lin!
,nwrDn
jiDl'r?#Nnn J1~stfrl rii1, Iv' no is wrv:
ri IN
riipN
: j .16
.14 -1C:n:N

fl nnnr mD n .17
nwri flZ'n rv~m
D-5 x Xn~ -ntpx m:R s8 .16

fol.46recto. -iRwn mim5N nm le, IN: 1w1 iNnp II:, -iwnNs .1

ji:, im~N1npm5N
IN:0 1.2 NeoN nNv Ns l1:1 .2
N1" -5 'n .3
rinnra
.v mDn E' -n
iNuop II1D'rm6x "&N .4
"I llwlNi-i- mN-ivimn-rl .5
inrwi z:NsV irvinn mpb D1' le -iSwn -,NG:S *6
bsNt: neNJ m: n 'v obi
-1r1
In.71 N
-6w:nI8e uwyniN1n:,i~tN *b qs1\2 Iv inp
:ji .8
onwiN le,6 INInp *e
niceine n* 1r
nnp9N 9

-
11")lintwnw =K:5N npi le IN: 1Kw joD I1:, l
ICOND M^s 11, IIMMNs IN: 1K1*?Nsv .11
l e np

0 -l 1
.lvK : rrriK nim E IN: INI *12
* ruintipies Io:, -IKm! e -isnn* p6K .13
im~nsi
IRe
inrNsi m!e,
npi Eisn n1:wn rv:Nrynn .14
- -
J-in8 9,,v liz, rrimr5N n1 E) IN:) 1w a liz i .15
* innv lz% inwniw nnN:iK np. e IN: 1w *16
1"11-11:N
-117n 'ED fil ~Nnp 1l:, -iswn im nm in IN:)1Kw.17
294 Richard J. H. Gottheil

fol. 46 recto. MIMS :clD II:, -6wn cnw.N r

ni *t
E : .1
0 Nin g rwuv
1flND:Z rpwn 16Ni .2

0m?:AN mpgy 1n:nrn' II: mrsb IN: 1w .4

11V 11,
^n18n111)"on ji:'i nm~Nsi npisN IN: 18i
npi5N IN: *in: 1l:, N5i vzn
1w: ~~~.6
1l:, imnl~~~~~
njmiN IN: 1wl .6

INE) 51ipw I=A 91-Ito II:" ri5N oil le -i~wlD lniN .8

IN: I8i ."Z:
rip3 *pwfZ '8nnwniY nprip IN: .9
-
IN: Isi *:ll21oil: Iz nnN:. npisN .10
4.N5npm5N

-)N= inrl npisN 1I: Im Sir -il: 1l:, rrvv .12

rV
"ViKm!lg~p z1 stnj75 nplt? ''IN: 1w 'pm tVe'i .13
mnmsi mNi: mnri 1l:, np~iK
mnw/5 1N: 1w *n .14
-lntn '8 v,
leD! mvw~N
I):, ')V -)I .15
1w *-mirml vilnn II:' r,-6l njmiK IN: IKe n) .16
lnnivn5 np)N IN: 1w: .m8:*
8n p' nm~Ns npisN .17

fol. 46 verso. mnmnll :) ini vi: 1:), =N:2N .1

np)iN IN: 1w
-
lgsp 1):, -angr np*Ni IN: INI -iN 11:1inmti] *2

nni gets n>:iscnw! njmisNIN: mgi 4~ ).

TMNIn: n=sv w15N 1P-, -iwnl7 1.48
in.-IN n::
nNi
u1U80onh
PI-II DO5
,S~CIO11- 1 8 .6
.7
pMbnn!-N!:
. . . . 18K 8D bK:5j jpjiN IN: R5 .~ 8

*tIrp) -)NMIII:' nnpii rpliN IND K8 .10

-IMN -Jj '111;I ~
jin .12

INE) ^nlj! ibnpl 1 ':UW 11:',1 -J :K~NE)jjj) .13

Wr oyl nDS 11111ni1 E) mrn -InMNN IN: *14
nnmND?SNlDtnUw? IN: INI qlliDtNm inplll *1,5
INs U> : INI * 17-IKMI , .16

ms~pMl sII N-INM s N

ri n 'E .17
 A Further Fragment on Astrology from the Genizah 295

TRANSLATION
(fol. 43 r)
1. pain and he is filled 1 with fine things 2 and sweet speech. He
will decide the necessities of
2. all men. He will be ashamed to ask; for if he asks, he will
receive no answer.3 He will be a
3. righteous man, hating that which is false, a man of knowledge
and understanding that which is secret.
4. He that is born 5 in the middle of the month will be short of
stature and afraid of
6. everything. He that is born at the end of it will be kept to
his bed.6
6. He that is born in the sign of Scorpio will be acquainted 7 with
things and will trust anyone
7. who says anything to him, even a murderer or one that is near
death.8 He will be dark of countenance and brilliant-
8. eyed, broad-shoulderedand thin-legged. Now, whoever
9. is born in the middle (of the month) will be intelligent and
rich. He who is born at
10. its end will be poor and a murderer. He that is born in the
sign of
11. Sagittarius, will be a mighty man and unmerciful. Should he
belong to the people (in power)9
1 Literally "and they cover him ". None of the dictionaries cite the
third conjugation of this verb; but the writer may write in this manner
either the first or the second conjugation.
2i. e. ( i which I am forced to render somewhat freely here.
v .
=

0 }y <JU-,t bed-ridden?

S _7y15g; but the translation is most doubtful.

9A pure conjecture; all that can be read is the article
296 Richard J. H. Gottheil

12. he will govern a province.10 He will fear no man."1 He will

be thin-legged
13. brilliant-eyed and dark of countenance. He that is born at the
(end of it)
14. will be good 12 and will do good to others. He that is born
at the
15. beginning of the Sign of Capricorn will become rich; his
ears 13 will be large. His death
16. will be by means of a sword or the hangman.14 He that is
born (at the middle 15 of it)

(fol. 43 v)
1. will be rich and fat of body. He that is born at the end of it
will be
2. poor and he will be squint-eyed.16 He that is born at the
beginning of Aquarius
3. will be tall and long-legged. He will not be clever, but
scornful 17
4. he will be, and sickness will repeatedly come upon him18 in
his eyes every year. He that is born
5. at the beginning of Pisces, will be a braggart 19 and a thief;
there will appear in his eyes

12

C "generous" or " religious "; pi .

c, car
13 6.

14o (-.

16 This ought to be DISK-as the author would put it M

but the remaining letters look like -KN, which, however, follows in the
next line.

17 R

18 Reading CLj; though the nun looks like a gimel.

 A Further Fragment on Astrology from the Genizah 297

6. defects, and a bad 20 smell in his nose. But he that is born at

its end
7. will have a long life.
8. Here follows another chapter.
9. He whom Aries protects, he will become a tiller of the soil
and gain from it.21
10. He will have four sisters, and trouble in his left side.22
11. He will have three children or seven. He will suffer much
illness and will marry
12. three wives. He will die a peaceful death,23 and those that
comeafter him 24 will have ease in obtaining
13. animals.25 The rich will love him; but the poor will hate him.
14. He whom Taurus protects, there will be born after him 26 a
daughter.
15. He will be fatigued 28 of body. He will eat much hay29 as
do animals.
16. He will suffer from much illness. He will marry seven wives.
He will make money and,
17. at the end, he and his companions will suffer and the people
of his house will become poor.

20

21Reading uncertain. Text looks like rnet I read njjz. On the

margin and coming, as they seem, after -^-lrn are the words
ma~nna
2r2v'.

23Between the words n1t3 and Xjn there is the same sign that is
found in the heading of this section between the words > and Add.
What does it signify?
24 His descendants.
265 p1
P. of ...
26 After his death.
27

CJ
28

29A plural of means, also, a glutton.

298 Richard J. H. Gottheil

(fol. 44r)
1. He whom Gemini 30 protect will have a male child after him.
He will be
2. dark-handed31 and clever 32 and powerful; but his accom-
plishments will be small and he will not
3. inherit anything of the wealth of his father. He will have
three sisters and three children or five.
4. His sicknesses will be few. He will marry twice. His affairs
will become important 33 at
5. the end of his life. His life will be pleasant and he will die
a pleasant death.34
6. He whom Cancer protects, there will be born after him a
daughter.35 He will become
7. rich and wise. He will walk and not become tired. He will
beget many daughters.
8. His illnesses will be bad. He will marry many wives. His
friends will obey him.
9. His ways will be pleasant, but his enemies will be strong-
stronger 36 than he, and his death
10. will be a lingering one. He whom Leo protects, there will be
born after him
11. a male, whom he will kill. He will be eating (and) drinking
all the days of his life.
12. lIe will lead a pleasant life.87 He will not have 88 money,
and for others he will tire himself. All
a The text seems to read here but I am unable to translate
this word here.
31The text has D (so punctuated). I take it as standing for

2 Read , which word occurs further on.

so See note 23.

85 Under the letter n are three dots.
a6Reading = though the first letter is uncertain.
a
Reading OU.. ,; the last letter might also be a sameklh; i. e.
Q 0
" weak".
88 Text has arinwith a non-final kaf.
 A Further Fragment on Astrology from the Genizah 299

13. his friends will be in good estate, his enemies lowly. He will
die suddenly.39
14. He whom Virgo protects, there will be born after him a
daughter.40
15. He will reward goodness,41 will discharge the duties of all
men. There will be to him
16. three brothers stronger than himself in his father's house. He
will be troubled and there will be
17. to him two children or four. He will suffer from sicknesses
and will marry twice.
(One folio is lost here, referring to the other six signs of the
Zodiac.)

(fol. 45 r)
1. is born 42 will be a slayer, and if he is born in the time 48 of
Venus
2. he will be happy and the owner of good things.44 But if the
time be that of Saturn he will be
3. powerful and scornful, but he will not be rich.
4. He that is born on a Monday will be .. . . . . P45 at one time
he will be rich
5. at another time he will be wanting. He will frighten the
people of his place, but they will pay no attention to him,46
6. because he was born on the day of the Full Moon. Now this
is the guide-post 47 for (each) month.
7. From the beginning of the month until its middle one is in
good condition,48for one comes (to life) at the fullness
So co
39

"I Cfr. note 35. Do the three dots differentiate from , ?

42 Text riwn; but, evidently, = j I

43
i. e. under the auspices.

What
45 means, I do not know. From that which follows one
would guess that it means " of uncertain state " or the like.
'6v9.
41O de One would expect -pij
300 Richard J. H. Gottheil

8. of the Moon. From the middle until the end he will tremble(?).
If he is born
9. when the moon is shining 49 he will become a Cadi. But if
he is born when the sun is shining
10. he will be a poor man. If he is born while Mercury is shining
or Jupiter he will be
11. happy, if when Mars is shining, he will be the owner of good
things; if at the time of Venus, he will
12. be rich and kind-hearted,50but small of body.
13. He that is born on Tuesday will be impudent-faced and will be
14. proud because he was born on Mars' day, for the time that is
under Mars
15. is horrible.51 If he is (born)52 in the time of Venus he will
be small of body.
16. If in the time of Mercury and Jupiter, he will be a righteous
man.
17. If he is born in time of Saturn, he will be a fighter and at
the end of his days he will be grieved.
(fol. 46 r)
1. If he is (born) at the time of the Sun he will be secure
(and) in good condition.
2. He that is born on Wednesday, will be a man of dignity and
sound and a Cadi.
3. If the season is under Mercury and Jupiter, he will be intelli-
gent and rich.
4. If the season be under Venus, he will be rich and generous,
but his sickness will be diarrhea.53
5. If the season be under Mars, sometimes he will be generous,
sometimes evilly-inclined.
6. If the season be under Saturn, he will be wise, but he will
not be rich; if the season is

49 Text has simply " at the time of the moon."

60 One would expect -ji:!
61 Q J)1
<2| are X) s Does this mean that anything done
under the influence of Mars is so qualified?
52 Or "his birth is ".

53.
 A Further Fragment on Astrology from the Genizah 301

7. under the Sun, he will be noble but not rich.54

8. He that is born on Thursday will be noble and rich and intelli-
gent. Now if
9. the season is under Jupiter, he will be noble, rich and kind-
hearted; but if
10. the season is under Mercury, he will be clever and rich 55 and
good; if the season is
11. under Mars, at times it will be well with him, at times evil;
if the time is under
12. Venus, he will be good and rich; if the time is under Saturn,
he will be a powerful man
13. and will walk in the right path. If the season is that of the
Moon, he will be a Cadi and a doer
14. of right. If the season is that of the Sun, he will be a man
of words,56and a man
15. of ecstasy and fear.7 He that is born on Friday, will be good
16. and rich. If the season is that of Venus, he will have pains
in his body. If
17. the season is that of Mars, he will be good and rich. If the
season is that of Jupiter
(fol. 46 v)
1. or 58 Mercury he will be clever, rich and kind and beloved. If
the season
2. be that of Saturn, he will be a powerful man. If the season
be that of the Moon, he will be a Cadi,
3. in the place in which he lives.59 If the season be that of the
sun, he will be a braggart and a bad fellow.
4. He that is born on Saturday, he will smell from
5. his body.60 If the season be that of Saturn, he will be arrogant
and a scornful fellow.
54 An

56 This word may be crossed out in the text.

56 Or "of his word".

57
3 c-

58 Reading 1.
59

60
302 Richard J. H. Gottheil

6. If the season be that of Venus he will drive people away, and

then return and placate them.
7. If the season be that of Jupiter, he will be righteous and
beloved
8. of men. If the season be that of Mercury .
9. If the season is that of Mars, he will be strong
10. If the season is that of the Moon, he will be strong and a
Cadi.62
11. Genesis 63
12. Anyone who will have placed 64 one of these shining stars 65 in
13. his Zodiac sign, will be honored and his favors accepted. If,
now,
14. Mars has finished its course at his birth, he will live for a long
time,
15. but (finally) will be killed by the sword. If the Sun and Mars
are present at the time
16. of his birth, he will be burned in fire. If the Sun and Mars
17. are in the house . . .66 he, also, will be burned in fire.

81 The rest of the line is blotched in the text.

62Reading igtpj.
83
Before this, and on the same line, are the letters, n
which, evidently, go back to Rashi on Shabbat 156a:
a, if

mwr brn nmyo, nN IlivninD 1; neoin 'i

i. e. = Sun, ,1-m Venus, MZ1: Mercury, n Moon, nz
Saturn, pn1 Jupiter, ni-Rt Mars. Cfr. also, Rashi to Erubhin 56a, and
see Efros in JQR., XX, p. 128, note 11. The word following is either
rniUV} or mnlivR; unless the last circle is merely a sign of punctuation.
64

a3 <5tl~h p1. of

66 What nrn means, I do not know. If it has any con-

NMNpN
nection with "father ", it will make no sense; though in the letter
sent by the Rabbis of Southern France to Maimonides, and fortunately
published by Marx (Zoo. cit., ? 11), they ask whether the fate of the other
members of the family can be learned through astrology. We should then
read here sjjJ) -