Astronomy

The Hebrews observed the heavens as the work of God and drew theological rather than astrological conclusions from what they saw. The Psalms and Job contain some of Scripture's most eloquent reflections on the stars as declarations of divine glory (Psalm 19:1; Job 9:9; 38:31–33). Named constellations include the Pleiades, Orion, and the Bear with her cubs. Israel's calendar was lunar-solar, dependent on observation of the new moon, but divination from celestial bodies was strictly forbidden (Deuteronomy 4:19). The star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:2) and apocalyptic imagery of darkened sun, moon, and falling stars (Revelation 6:12–13) are the most theologically significant astronomical references in the New Testament.