Jacob of Sarug's Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day 9781463205539, 2016001269, 1463205538

Citation preview

Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day

Texts from Christian Late Antiquity

40 Series Editor George Anton Kiraz

TeCLA (Texts from Christian Late Antiquity) is a series presenting ancient Christian texts both in their original languages and with accompanying contemporary English translations.

Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day

Edited and Translated by

Edward G. Mathews Jr.

9

34 2016

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2016 by Gorgias Press LLC

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC. 2016

‫ܐ‬

9

ISBN 978-1-4632-0553-9

ISSN 1935-6846

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Jacob, of Serug, 451-521, author. | Matthews, Edward G., Jr., 1954- | Jacob, of Serug, 451-521. Homilies on the six days of creation. Second day. | Jacob, of Serug, 451-521. Homilies on the six days of creation. Second day. English. Title: Jacob of Serug’s Homilies on the six days of creation. Second day / edited and translated by Edward G. Mathews Jr. Description: Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2016. | Series: Texts from Christian late antiquity, ISSN 1935-6846 ; 40 | Includes bibliographical references. Identifiers: LCCN 2016001269 | ISBN 9781463205539 (Paperback) Subjects: LCSH: Creation--Sermons. | Sermons, Syriac. | Sermons, Syriac--Translations into English. Classification: LCC BS651 .J33 2016 | DDC 222/.1106--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016001269

Printed in the United States of America

Title of the Book

Do not delete the following information about this document. Version 1.0 Document Template: Template book.dot. Document Word Count: 12772 Document Page Count: 51

For my mother † 26 April 2015 Sunday of the Good Shepherd

‫ܗܒ ܠܢ ܡܪܢ ܕܒܢܘܚܡܐ‬ ܿ ‫ܢܚܙܐ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܒܝܬ ܡܠܟܘܬܐ‬

TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ..................................................................................... v Abbreviations .......................................................................................... vii Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 Outline............................................................................................... 1 Summary ........................................................................................... 4 Text and Translation ................................................................................ 5 I. God is first a ‘Creator’, then a ‘Maker’ (521–548) .......... 6 II. The Firmament divided the upper from the lower waters (549–604) ................................................................ 10 III. The Area above the Firmament is completely still and serene (605–632) ........................................................ 16 IV. Like the Firmament, Man is placed between the waters (633–660) ................................................................ 18 V. The Firmament is a roof over this world, the source of night (661–698) ............................................................. 20 VI. The Firmament was established for the benefit of mankind (699–794) ............................................................ 24 VII. The Firmament was created incomplete, without sun, stars and moon (795–822)........................................ 32 VIII. Day Two was the first moment in the planned progression of Creation (823–842) ................................. 34 Bibliography of Works Cited ................................................................ 39 Primary Texts ................................................................................. 39 Eusebius of Emesa .................................................................. 39 Basil ........................................................................................... 39 Ephrem ..................................................................................... 39 Theodoret of Cyrus ................................................................. 39 Eghishe ...................................................................................... 40 Jacob of Sarug .......................................................................... 40 Narsai......................................................................................... 40 Secondary Works ........................................................................... 40 v

vi

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

Index of Names and Themes ............................................................... 43 Index of Biblical References ................................................................. 45

ABBREVIATIONS P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis (see Bibliography) BETL Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium CBOTS Coniectanea Biblica. Old Testament Series CSCO Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium FOTC Fathers of the Church OCA Orientalia Christiana Analecta OCP Orientalia Christiana Periodica OS L’Orient Syrien OtSt Oudtestamentische Studien PdO Parole de l’Orient PO Patrologia Orientalis S Sobornost SC Sources Chrétiennes TFCLA Texts from Christian Late Antiquity Bedjan

vii

INTRODUCTION INFORMATION ON THIS HOMILY Homily Title: Homily on the Fashioning of Creation, The Second Day Source of Text: Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, edited by Paul Bedjan (Paris-Leipzig: Harrassowitz, 1907, 2nd ed. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2006), vol. 3, pp. 27–43. [Homily 71b] Lines: 322 [521–842]

OUTLINE As was the case with our previous translation of Day 1, 1 the text translated here is not a complete integral homily. What is here translated rather constitutes the second part of Jacob’s very long Mêmrâ 71: On the Fashioning of Creation, 2 which is entirely concerned with Day 2 of creation as found in Genesis 1:6–8. The complete Mêmrâ 71 is the longest of all Jacob’s mêmrê, far longer than even his famous Mêmrâ on the Parrot who squawked out the Trisagion. 3 While a partial English translation of Day 1 had already existed before our complete translation, there are no modern language translations of any other day; thus, this is the first translation of Day 2 from Jacob’s Mêmrâ 71: On the Fashioning of Creation. Although it was preceded by Ephrem’s Commentary on Genesis, which work Jacob clearly follows in his own exposition, this long Mathews, Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day; it is hoped that the rest will also appear much more quickly than these two fascicules have appeared. 2 Bedjan, III.1–151; cf. summary and study in T. Jansma, “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarug”. 3 Bedjan, I.84–174. 1

1

2

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

Mêmrâ 71: On the Fashioning of Creation nonetheless constitutes the first Syriac Hexaemeron, or commentary on the six days of creation, as set forth in Genesis 1. 4 As such, Jacob’s Mêmrâ 71 occupies a similar position to Basil’s Homilies on the Hexaemeron in the Greek patristic tradition, which too was preceded by commentaries on Genesis (Origen, Didymus, et al.). 5 Curiously, it was not until the late VIIth or very early VIIIth century before another Hexaemeron was composed in either of these two great traditions. 6 While Basil’s Homilies on the Hexaemeron certainly existed in Syriac translation before Jacob began to compose his mêmrâ, 7 there is still no clear evidence that he made any use of it or had even consulted it. In his discussion of the Genesis account of what was created on the second day as found in the part of Mêmrâ 71 translated here, Jacob, following the biblical account, exposits on the creation of the firmament: what it was, where it was, what—as far as can be determined—was placed above it and what below it, its purpose and utility for humanity, and the importance of its place in the Genesis account of the six day progression of creation. Jacob uses several words to describe the physical structure of this firmament that covers the entire earth, the “great house of mankind”: tent Although, technically, Jacob’s mêmrâ is a Heptaemeron, as the last section treats the seventh day, the day of the Sabbath rest; cf. Bedjan, III.129-151. On the Syriac Hexaemeral tradition in general, see ten Napel, “Some Remarks on the Hexaemeral Literature in Syriac.” 5 The Greek tradition is much fuller; other relatively contemporary compositions include the Commentary of Eusebius of Emesa and the Questions on Genesis of Theodoret. In the Syriac tradition, the Commentary of Ephrem, and the Homilies on Creation of Narsai are essentially the only other such works; cf. bibliography below, for specific references. 6 Both Jacob of Edessa (d. 708) and Anastasius of Sinai (d.c. 700) wrote extensive commentaries on the six days of creation. 7 The text of Homilies 8 and 9 have survived in a Vth century manuscript; cf. Thomson, Syriac Version of the Hexaemeron by Basil of Caesarea, vol. 550, pp. v–vi. The work was apparently popular enough to require a second translation in the middle of the seventh century, though whether it was an entirely new translation or a revision of the first is unknown; cf. Barsoum, Scattered Pearls, 332. 4

INTRODUCTION

3

(Syr., ‫ )ܡܫܟܢܐ‬ll. 552, 665, 791; roof (Syr., ‫ )ܡܛܠܬܐ‬l. 664; ceiling (Syr., �‫ )ܬܛܠܝ‬ll. 667, 794; vault (Syr., ‫ )ܟܦܬܐ‬l. 669; and dome (Syr., ‫ )ܩܘܒܬܐ‬l. 683. 8 Unlike the light and the other elements that were created on day one, the firmament was not something created but was something made; that is, it was not made ex nihilo but was fashioned or composed from previous existing elements, in this case—most likely—from water (see note 11, below). It was positioned as a roof (or dome, etc.) above the earth but it served also as a dividing wall that maintained a permanent separation between the lower waters below and the upper waters above. Above this firmament God set that realm that is one entirely of light and in which there is no movement of time. It is also a realm that is completely without motion or movement and which has only rarely been even glimpsed. The realm below, on the other hand, is the realm where mankind lives and dwells and which is familiar to all; it is rather a realm of interchanging light and darkness, of days, months and seasons and other movements of time, not to mention varying climates characterized by such things as winds, storms, earthquakes, etc. Beginning on this very second day, this just-named darkness first appeared. Unlike the first day when the darkness was produced by the presence of clouds, this newly formed firmament now became the cause for all subsequent darkness. According to Jacob, this was neither a bad thing nor a punishment, it rather provided the occasion for rest and reinvigoration for the work of the next day. This second day thus established a new pattern from the first day, and this new pattern then became the model for all subsequent days. As he does throughout this entire long Mêmrâ 71, Jacob follows the biblical text fairly closely, that is, literally. Which is to say, that he tends to expostulate on what the text gives him, even if he seems to the modern mind to spin off into speculations not clearly 7F

Ephrem uses no such analogy in his Commentary on Genesis, while Jacob’s contemporary and theological antagonist Narsai confines himself to a single analogy: ceiling (Syr., �‫ ;)ܬܛܠܝ‬cf. Homélies de Narsaï sur la création, I.55, II.296, III.145, 155. Curiously, neither employs the word found in the Peshitta of Psalm 104:2: curtain/tent (Syr., ‫)ܝܪܝܥܬܐ‬. 8

4

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

found in the text. But he does not, like some of his contemporaries, speculate here on such questions as why the creation of water and the creation of darkness received no mention at all here, or when the angels were created or how many heavens there are.

SUMMARY I.

II.

God is first a ‘Creator’, then a ‘Maker’ (521–548)

III.

The Area above the Firmament is completely still and serene (605–632)

IV. V. VI.

The Firmament divided the upper from the lower waters (549–604)

Like the Firmament, Man is placed between the waters (633–660)

The Firmament is a roof over this world, the source of night (661–698)

The Firmament was established for the benefit of mankind (699–794)

VII. The Firmament was created incomplete, without sun, stars and moon (795–822) VIII. Day Two was the first moment in the planned progression of Creation (823–842)

TEXT AND TRANSLATION

5

6

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

HOMILY 71B: ON THE FASHIONING OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY 521

525

530

I.

GOD IS FIRST A ‘CREATOR’, THEN A ‘MAKER’

“And the Lord said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters and let it separate the waters [below] from the waters above.’” 1 Day one arose and came forth without any progression for it did not move until it went off to yield its place. But the Lord appointed and ordained that day and made it to be the measure and the model for its fellow days: The east did not give it birth when it arose, nor did the west give it burial when it set. That Maker appointed and ordained it just as He willed; He summoned and brought forth that second day that it too should “come to be.” 2 He made it the pattern for evening and dawn, and He established them that they might always be opening and closing a great gate. This [day] was a step down from that height of creation; it was lower and existed on a different level – that of ‘making’.

Genesis 1:6, with the addition of “above” at the end, presumably to fulfill the requirements of the poetic line. 2 The Syriac word ‫ ܢܗܘܐ‬used here is the first word in the Peshitta text of Genesis 1:6, just cited; “let there be”, however, just does not fit the English grammatical construction here, hence the necessity here of the slightly altered translation “come to be”. 1

‫‪7‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܽ ܳܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒ�ܝܳܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܬܘܩܢܐ‬ ‫ܝܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫‪521‬‬

‫‪525‬‬

‫‪530‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܶܡܨܥܰܬ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ܀‬ ‫ܘܢܗܘܐ ܦܪܫ ܒܝܢܬ ܡܝܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܗܘܐ ܘܐܙܠ ܗܘ ܚܕ ܝܘܡܐ ܕ� ܡܪܕܝܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ܀‬ ‫� ܶܓܝܪ ܰܗ ܶܠܟ ܥܰܕ ܳܢ ܶܦܩ ̱ܗܘܐ ܕܢ‬ ‫�ܗܘ ܐ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܩܠܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳܣ ܶܡܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫�� ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ ܐ ܰܚ ̈ܘ ̱ܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕܗ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܡܫܘܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢܚܐ ܝܺܠܕܬܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ ܰܟܕ ܐܬܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܘ ܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪܒܐ ܥܦܝܬܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ ܰܟܕ ܐ ܙܶܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ܥܒܘܕ ܐ ܣܡܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܩܠܗ ܐܝܟܢ ܰܕܨܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܳܕܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܬܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܩܪ ܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܨܝ�ܬܐ ��ܡܫܐ ܘܨܦ� ܐ ܘܐܩܝܡ ܐܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܚܕܝܢ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ ܳܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܚܝܢ ܳܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܝܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬ� ܰܚ ̣ܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܢ ܗܘ ܪܘܡܐ ܕܒܪ‬ ‫ܺܳ ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܚ ̣ܬ ܳܩܡ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܪܓܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ ܢܐ ܕܥܒ‬

‫‪B 71‬‬

‫‪27‬‬

‫‪28‬‬

8 535

540

545

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

When creating the heavens and the earth He is ‘Creator’, whereas when fashioning various created things He is ‘Maker’. 3 He created creation with a signal 4 and His hidden power established it, and from that He began to make beautiful things in six days. Before everything He was Self-Existent 5 with no need for created things and His Existence 6 has no name except “He is.” 7 When He condescended and created things from nothing He received the name ‘Creator’ because He created. Then when He began to make those beautiful things that came to be He consented to be called ‘Maker’ as well. He is ‘Maker’ when He makes a thing from another thing, but ‘Creator’ when He creates from nothing.

Bou Mansour, La théologie de Jacques de Saroug, I, 33–45, discusses this distinction in Jacob’s thought under the headings “creatio ex nihilo” and “creatio continua”. The same distinction can also be found in his contemporary Narsai; see, for example, Homélies de Narsaï sur la création, II.325ff. 4 As noted in many previous fascicules in this series, this ‘signal’ – or ‘nod’ – is a key concept in Jacob’s notion how God created the world without working; see especially K. Alwan, “Le ‘remzo’ selon la pensée de Jacques de Saroug.” 5 Syr., ’îtyâ. 6 Syr., ’îtûtâ. 7 Syr., ’îtawhy. This name, of course, derives from that which God revealed of His name to Moses at Exodus 3:14; the text of the Peshitta at Exodus 3:14 simply transliterates the Hebrew phrase which RSV translates “I am who I am”. The words just translated “Self-Existence” and “Existence” both derive from the same root as the word translated here “He is”; for our translation see Mathews, Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day, 70, 89–134, and notes ad loc., especially n. 11. 3

‫‪9‬‬ ‫‪535‬‬

‫‪540‬‬

‫‪545‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪ ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܒ�ܝܳܢ ܶܒ�ܝܳܢ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܥ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ ܰܘ ܺܐܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ̇ܗ ܰܚ ܳܝ� ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܪ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܰ ܰ ܶܳ̇ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܪܝ ܘܥܒܕ ܡܢܗ ܫܘܦ� ܐ ܒܫܬܐ ܝܘܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ�ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܳܕ� ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܶܕܡ ܐ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܢܝܩ ܥܰܠ ܒ�ܝܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܐܺܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܫܡܐ �ܝܬ‬ ‫ܘܬܗ ܐ� ܺܕܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܬܝ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܶܡܢ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܐܬܬ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܡܢ ܗܪܟܐ ܫܡ ܒܪܘ�ܐ ܡܛܠ ܕܒܪ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬܘܒ ܰܟܕ ܰܫ ܺܪܝ ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳܕܐܦ ܳܥ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ ܢܶܫܬ ܰܡܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܩ ܶܒܠ ܥܠ ̱‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܶܓܝܪ ܳܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܥ ܽܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܢ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܳܥ ܶܒܕ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪ ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡܢ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܀‬

10

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

He created the earth unformed and desolate, 8 but He began to form it and to build it up by ‘making’ it. 9

II.

550

555

THE FIRMAMENT DIVIDED THE UPPER FROM THE LOWER WATERS

God said, “Let there be a firmament between the waters;” 10 this is something made, it was not a creation from nothing. 11 From that thing which the signal of His creative activity established He made the firmament on the second day as a tent for a dwelling place. He commanded the wind that was hovering over the flood waters 12 and it rose up between those waters in order to separate them. At His command He divided them and put them in balance, He also established them in their own places just as He willed. He set the firmament in their midst as the boundary between the two sides and He separated them so that each would stand within its own boundary. He summoned the upper [waters] and raised them up to a high place, Genesis 1:2. Jacob’s definitions here for “tohu and bohu” seem to be exceptional in Syriac literature; they are neither the definitions of his usual source Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.3 (“void and desolation”) nor of later Syriac tradition. 9 Or, “by His making”, or even “by His capacity to make”; Syr., ‫ ܥܒܘܕܘܬܗ‬to be distinguished from “His creative activity” or “His capacity to create” Syr., ‫ܒܪܘܝܘܬܗ‬. 10 Genesis 1:6. 11 He nowhere makes it explicit, but Jacob presumably follows Ephrem in maintaining that the firmament was actually made from the waters (Commentary on Genesis, I.17), particularly since Narsai seems also to hold to the same teaching; cf. Homélies de Narsaï sur la création, I.51–52, II.297–298. III.142–143, and the discussions in T. Jansma, “Investigations into the Early Syrian Fathers on Genesis,” 114–116, and idem., “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarûg,” 17, n.55, where he provides names of a number of others who also held this teaching. 12 Genesis 1:2, and cf. note 20, below. 8

‫‪11‬‬

‫‪550‬‬

‫‪555‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܝܬܒܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ � ܡܬܩܢܬܐ ܘ�‬ ‫ܒܪ ̇ܗ ̱ܗܘܐ �‬ ‫ܳܽ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܩܢ ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܝܬܒ � ̇ܗ ܒܥܒܘܕܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ̱ ܰܡܪ ܐ ܳܠ ܳܗܐ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܶܡܨܥܰܬ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܐ ܶܡܢ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܥܒ ܰܕ ܐ ̱ܗܘ � ̱ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܳܽ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܝܘܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܗܘ ܡܕܡ ܕܐܩܝܡ ܪܡܙ ܐ ܕܒܪ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥ ܰܒܕ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕܬܪܝܢ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ � ̇ܗ �ܪܘܚܐ ܕܡܪܚܦܐ ̱ܗܘܬ ܥܠ ܡܡܘ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܳܩ ܰܡܬ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܝܢܬ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܳܪ ܶ ܽܫܘ܀‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܠܶܓ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܰܠ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܩ� ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܳܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟܢ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܰܓ ܺܒ ̈ܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܣܡ ܒܡܨ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶܪܫ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܕܢܶܗܘܘܢ ܩܝܡܝܢ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܐܣܩ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ܐ �ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܶܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬

‫‪29‬‬

12 560

565

570

575

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

and they hastened there as if they were being poured into a lower place. As if into a deep place the upper waters looked to ascend into a high place speedily and with great haste. As if through wadis they bore themselves off as they ascended, that they might reach the place where the upper waters were sent. They hastened to go up for the voice of the command impelled them; although these [waters] were rising up it was like a cascade. 13 They directed themselves to the height but as if they had found a deep cavity, they were dragged there to go up and be still in that high place. The apex of that high place was elevated like a cistern, He drew them up and they remained there as if in a sea. They did not abate as they rose up to that high place, but they raced up there with great force as if into a chasm. There they stood in that lofty dwelling above, as if in a cavern surrounded by high mountains. Behold, these waters were placid there upon that crest 14 of the firmament, and did not flow down into the hollow place round about them. As soon as He gave the command, “Let there be a firmament between the waters,” 15 the upper waters hastened to a high place without delay. Just as those lower [waters] gathered into a low place

Or even, ‘waterfall’; literally, “a descent”. Our translation is clearly justified by the description of the force of the water’s ascent[descent] as described by Jacob throughout this section. 14 Syr., ‫ܓܓܘܠܬܐ‬, literally means “ambo, pulpit” (it is also the word for Gogoltha), but the underlying Greek word ἄμβων has an older definition of “rim”, or “crest”; this older definition seems to better capture Jacob’s meaning here. 15 Genesis 1:6. 13

‫‪13‬‬ ‫‪560‬‬

‫‪565‬‬

‫‪570‬‬

‫‪575‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܐܝܟ ܳܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܓܪܝܢ ܶܨܝܕ ܰܡ ܰܚܬܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ܳܚܪܘ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܩܘܢ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܰܩܠܝ�ܝܬ܀‬ ‫�ܬܪ ܐ ܪܡܐ ܒܪ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܢ ̈ܚ� ܓܪܦܘ ܠܚܕ ܕ ܐ ܟܕ ܡܬܥܠܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺܕܢ ܽܐܙ ̱ܠܘܢ �ܬܪ ܐ ܶܕܐܫܬ ܰܕܪܘ ܶܠܗ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ܀‬ ‫ܪܗܛܘ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܩܘܢ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܗܒ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܳܩܠ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ ܰܟܕ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܩܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܡ ܰܚܬܬܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ܀‬ ‫ܣܒܟܘ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܘܐܝܟ ܳܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ܚܠ ܺ ܳܝ� ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚܘ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܩܘܢ ܢܶܫܠܽܘܢ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܓܠܘ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܨ ܐ ܕܪܘܡܐ ܗܘ ܥ�ܝܐ ܐܝܟ ܩܒܝܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܢܓܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܡܘ ̱ܗܘܘ ܬܡܢ ܐܝܟ ܕܒܝܡܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܩܝܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺܗܝܘ ܰܟܕ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܐ‬ ‫̱ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫ܠܦܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܪܗܛܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܐܝܟ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܩܡܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܥܰܠ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܕ� ܳܪ ܐ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܟܝܢ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܛܘ� ܐ ܳ� ܶܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕܒܗ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܫܠܶܝܢ ܬ ܳܡܢ ܥܰܠ ܳܓ ܽܓܘܠܬܐ ܳܗܝ ܰܕ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܶܡ ܰܙܕ�ܥܺܝܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܶܡܨܥܰܬ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܗܛܘ ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܶܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ ܳܕ� ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܚܬ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܰܕܠܬܚܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܐܝܟܢ ܕܩܒܝܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܕ‬

‫‪30‬‬

14 580

585

590

595

600

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

these too gathered into a high place without any effort. And just as the path to the upper heights was difficult for them, so too was the path difficult for the [lower waters] to descend to a hollow place. If someone were to go and bring the waters above down from their station, they would not slip down to the face of the deep. Just as the lower waters run continuously downward, so too do the upper waters always remain firmly in the heights. Just as these waters were sent to their respective places by the Maker, they move quickly but there is nothing that can change the path He [laid out]. 16 There is no way the upper [waters] can go down to the depth, nor can the lower [waters] change the place in which they are confined. No nature can do anything of its own accord, unless it is commanded by the Creator. For it is easy for Him if He were to will to make fish fly or if He were to command birds to dive into the water. A nature is something made, it has a Lord and He commands it, and there is never any way to oppose His command. It is not possible for fire to burn unless He were to command it, nor is it possible for water to be poured out unless He were to will it. There is a path in the sea and the hosts travel along it, and wherever He wills He immerses companies in the sea. Dry land in the waters and rivers from flint! 17 No nature can govern itself without [His] command. He established the deep as a nature and it exists just as He gave it that nature, and the Lord who established it can, however He wills, also destroy it. Literally, “His path”. Jacob is alluding here to two of the great events of the Exodus: the crossing of the Red Sea, and the water that God brought forth from the rock in Rephidim; cf. Exodus 14:21 and 17:6, respectively. 16 17

‫‪15‬‬ ‫‪580‬‬

‫‪585‬‬

‫‪590‬‬

‫‪595‬‬

‫‪600‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܝܩܝܢ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܩܒܝܢ ܳܐܦ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܟܕ ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ܀‬ ‫ܥܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩܐ ܐ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܬܘܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܥܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܝܩܐ �ܗܠܝܢ ܐܘܪܚܐ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܠܘ ܰܙܪܒ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܰܢ ܶܚ ̣ܬ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܳ� ܳܫܪܥܺܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ� ܰܦ ̈ܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܚܬ ܳܪܗܛܺܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܝܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܬܚܬ�ܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܟܝܢ ܳܐܦ ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܡܡܬܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܕܪܘ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܬ� ܳܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܳܥ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ ܪܗܛܝܢ ܘ� ܐܝܬ ܕܡܨ ܐ ܢܚܠܦ ܐܘܪܚܗ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ� ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ܢܶܚܬܘܢ ܐܺܝܬ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܽܦܘܪܣܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܦܘܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬ�̈ܶܐ ܰܢܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ� ܬ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܶܕܐܬܬ ܰܚܡܘ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܟ� ܳܢܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܡ ܶܕܡ ܗܘ ܡܢ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ܡܨܶ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܟܢ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫�ܚܘܕ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܝܕ ܶܡܢ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܦܫܝܩ ܽܗܘ ܶܠܗ ܶܓܝܪ ܶܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܠܘ ܳܒܥܶܐ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܦܪܚ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܶܐ ܽܠܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܥ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܠܦ�‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܺܘܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܳܡ ܳܪ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܟ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ܥܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܦ ܶܩܕ ܶܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܶܗ ܳ� ܐܺܝܬ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܐ ܢܶܥܨܶ ܐ ܶܡܡܬܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶܳ‬ ‫�ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ� ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܐ� ܳܦ ܶܩܕ‪:‬‬ ‫ܦܫܝܩ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܕܬ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦ� ܡܝܐ ܦܫܝܩ ܢܬܐܫܕܘܢ ܐ� ܒܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ܒܝܡܐ ܘܡܗܠܟܝܢ ܒܗ ܚܝ�ܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳܡܐ ܛ ܰܒܥ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܝܟܐ ܕܨܒܐ ܠܟ�ܘܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܫܐ ܒܡܝܐ ܘܡܢ ܛܪ ܢܐ ܢܗ�ܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟ� ܳܢܐ ܰܢܕ ܰܒܪ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܳܕ� ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ܡܨܶ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܝܟܢ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܐܶܡ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܟ� ܳܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܣܡ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܒܐ ܐܦ ܳܫ ܶܪ ܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܪ�ܐ ܕܣܡܗ ܐܝܟܢ ܕ‬

‫‪31‬‬

16

605

610

615

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

III. THE AREA ABOVE THE FIRMAMENT IS COMPLETELY STILL AND SERENE

On the second day [God] said, “Let there be a firmament in the waters;” 18 He laid down a command, divided the waters and set their boundaries. For the lower [waters] He set off a place in which they might stand, and for the upper [waters] He fashioned a spot in which they might be confined. The firmament was set in the midst and is established between the two sides; according to His command, the waters remained still within their boundaries. The wind, about which it is written “it was hovering over the flood waters,” 19 was not hovering over where the upper waters were standing. The wind that “was hovering” stood between the waters; it remained below while the upper [waters] remained above without any “hovering”. For this reason, neither fish nor creeping things were produced by the waters above for there was no wind blowing there. 20 For the[se waters] were neither stirring nor moving, nor were they were producing, for they were not placed there to produce but to remain still. For no wind was blowing in those seas above, Genesis 1:6. Genesis 1:2. 20 Jacob expands slightly on the teaching of Ephrem here. Jacob follows Ephrem who insists that this is a natural wind and not the Holy Spirit, arguing that the proof is in the fact that nothing new was produced in the waters (Commentary on Genesis, I.7); cf. discussion in T. Jansma, “Investigations into the Early Syrian Fathers on Genesis,” 104–106, and for Ephrem, T. Kronholm, Motifs from Genesis 1–11, 43–44. Jacob here further clarifies by saying that above the firmament it is not even an issue as in that upper realm there is to be found no wind, not even any movement or motion of any sort. 18 19

‫‪17‬‬ ‫‪605‬‬

‫‪610‬‬

‫‪615‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐ ܰܡܪ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ̱ ܽ ܳ ̱ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܣܡ ܦܘܩܕ ܢܐ ܦܠܓ ܡܝܐ ܘܬܚܡ ܐܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ�ܶܐ ܰܦܠܶܓ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܰܕ ܽܢܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܘܢ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܠܬܚ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܥ�ܝܐ ܐܬܩܢ ܕܘܟܬܐ ܢܬܚܒܫܘܢ ܒ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣܝܡ ܒܡܨܥܬܐ ܪܩܝܥܐ ܘܩܐܡ ܒܝܢܬ ܓܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܶܗ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘܫܠܶܝܢ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܬܝܒ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܦܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ ܥܰܠ ܳܡ ܽܡܘ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܘܚܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܥܠ � ܡܪܚܦܐ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܩܝܡܝܢ ܡܝܐ ܕ�ܥܠ܀‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܡܨܥܰܬ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܳܩ ܰܡܬ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܦܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܚܬ ܰܩܘܝܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܫܘ ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܶܐ ܳܕ� ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܦܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܐܦ� � ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ̈ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܡܝܐ ܕ�ܥܠ ܕܐܦ� ܪܘܚܐ ܢܫܒܐ ܬܡܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܟܝܢ ܐܦ� ܰܡܦܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܓܝܪ ܙܝܥܝܢ ܐܦ� ܡܗ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶܳ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܕ� ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܕܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܢ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܬܣܝܡܘ ܬܡܢ ܐ� ܕܢܫܠܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫� ܶܓܝܪ ܢܫܒܐ ܪܘܚܐ ܒܝܡܡܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܕ�ܥܠ‪:‬‬

‫‪32‬‬

18 620

625

630

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

nor does any ministering wind ever enter that place there. There are no clouds moving in that tranquil place, nor do thunder or lightning arise within its confines. There are there no winds, no breezes, no storms, nor any disturbance as there are in the lower waters. They are still and calm and they remain there serene, there is no movement, breeze or wind there. The light is hidden and the waters are confined in that tranquil place, their color is so beautiful that even the sun is not as beautiful. Along their lower side is the firmament, a solid body and below it are movements, breezes and a place in commotion. Along their upper side is a magnificent light and a great peace, and the places of the hosts are within their boundaries.

IV. LIKE THE FIRMAMENT, MAN IS PLACED BETWEEN THE WATERS

635

640

Direct your mind here, O you who want to learn, if you are discerning; be amazed and wonder, look and marvel at where you were placed. In the midst of the waters, between the upper and the lower, above you and below you, the waters were placed. The abyss is below you, while the flood waters are above you; while they are collected and stand there, you are in their midst but do not marvel! Between the seas you are confined, you of little consequence, in the place that is between those waters that have been separated. Behold, the upper [waters] are above your head in a high place, and lo, the lower are beneath your feet, a great abyss. Both the upper and the lower [waters] are bound to the signal, lest they breach and overwhelm you, you of little significance.

‫‪19‬‬ ‫‪620‬‬

‫‪625‬‬

‫‪630‬‬

‫‪635‬‬

‫‪640‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܺܢܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܕ� ܡܬܘܡ ܳܥܐ� ܠܬܡܢ ܪܘܚܐ ܡܫ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܬܙ ̈ܝ ܳܥܢ ܶܒܗ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ� ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܶܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦ� �ܥܡܐ ܘܒ�ܩܐ ܦܣܥܝܢ ܒܫܒܒܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܫ ܶܒܐ ܰܐܘ ܺܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ܐܺܝܬ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܽ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡ ̈ܘܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕܠܬܚܬ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܫܓܝܓ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܠܝܢ ܘܡܫܝܢܝܢ ܘܩܒܝܢ ܩܝܡܝܢ ܒܣܝܡܐܝܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܐܺܝܬ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ܘܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܐ ܽܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܶܡܡܬܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܝ� ܐ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܐ ܺܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܓܘܢܐ ܦܐ�ܐ ܕܐܦ� ܫܡܫܐ ܦܐܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܐ ܺܚܝܨ ܐ‪ܳ:‬‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰܘܠܬܚܬ ܪܩܝܥܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܫ ܶܒܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܚܬ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܙ ̈ܘܥܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܓܝܫ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܗܘܢ ܰܘ�ܥܠ ܽܢܘܗܪ ܐ ܰܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳܝܢܐ ܪ ܳܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܘ̈ ܳܬܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܳܘ ܳܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܛܺܝܪ ܰܗ ܳܘܢܟ ܰܒܪ ܰܡ ܽܪܕܘܬܐ ܐܢ ܳܦ ܽܪܘܫ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܕ ܰܡܪ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܡܗ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗܪ ܽܚܘܪ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܟܐ ܺܣܝܡ ܐܢ̱ܬ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܡܨܥܰܬ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܶܒܝܬ ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܐ ܰܘܠܬܚܬ�̈ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܚܬ ܶܡ ܳܢܟ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܺܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܡܢܟ ܘ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܚܘܬܝܟ ܰܘ�ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܳܢܟ ܳܗܐ ܳܡ ܽܡܘ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܗܘܡܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܩܒܐ ܘܩܐܡ ܘܐܢ̱ܬ ܒܡܨܥܬܐ ܘ� ܬܗܪ ܐܢ̱ܬ܀‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒܝܫ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܐܘ ܰܚ ܳ�ܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܒ ܳܝܢܬ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ �ܝܡܡܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܶܡܨܥܰܬ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܦܠܰܓܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܒܐܬܪ ܐ ܕ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܐ �ܥܠ ܶܡܢ ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܟ ܰܒܐܬܪ ܐ ܪ ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬ�̈ܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܚܝ ̣ܬ �ܓܠܝܟ ܗܐ ܬ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙܝܩ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܐ ܰܘ�ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܐ ܰܘܠܬܚܬ�̈ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢܟ ܰܒܪ ܰܕ ܺܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚܐ܀‬ ‫ܕ� ܢܬܬܪܥܘܢ ܘ‬

‫‪33‬‬

20 645

650

655

660

If you were to notice how small and trivial your place is, you would swoon at how numerous are your perils. If you would consider how you are preserved between these dangers, you would be unable to keep yourself from giving praise. Lift up your eyes and see who it is who created you, which even this scripture demands from the discerning. Know where you are and consider that place where you have been set, and in wonder render thanksgiving for His ability to make. 21 Between the seas He enclosed you when He created you, like something wild so that you not become rebellious. Yet you fret, you stir up trouble, and you cause dispute; you are puffed up, haughty and put yourself on a pedestal. You are a lump of clay and were placed in the flood waters of the sea; Look upon yourself, marvel and give thanks to the Godhead who bent down the heights, stretched out the depths and gathered the seas, and directed His signal to these places and their boundaries.

V.

665

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

THE FIRMAMENT IS A ROOF OVER THIS WORLD, THE SOURCE OF NIGHT

The firmament stood between the waters on the second day, just as the Lord had commanded by the signal of His ability to make. 22 There is a boundary between the [lower] and the upper waters, and it serves as a roof for this enclosed place below. It is a tent for that troubled dwelling of the whole world, and in its shade all creation has its beginning and its end. It is a ceiling for the great house of mankind which the signal of the Godhead built from nothing. It is like a suspended vault that stands with no foundations, 21 22

See note 9, above. See note 9, above.

‫‪21‬‬ ‫‪645‬‬

‫‪650‬‬

‫‪655‬‬

‫‪660‬‬

‫‪665‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܒܨܝܪ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܳܚ ܰܐܪ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܙ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܪܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܐ ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܣ ܽܩ ̈ܘܒ� ܰܣ ܺܓܝܐܝܢ ܳܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܳܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛܝܪ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܶܒܝܬ ܢܶ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܟ�ܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܐܢ ܪ ܢܐ ܐܢܬ ܕܟܡܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ̱ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܬܫ� ܠܓܡܪ � ܡܫܟܚ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܡܢ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܡ ܽܢܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ̈ܝܟ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܺܪܝܡ ܥܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܟܬ ܳܒܐ ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܳܬ ܰܒܥ ܶܡܢ ܳܦ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܳܕܐܦ ܽܗܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܐܝܟܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܘܪܢܝ ܒܐܝܢܐ ܐܬܪ ܐ ܣܝܡ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܪ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܕܝܬܐ �ܥܒ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܥ ܬ‬ ‫�ܝ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܳܝܢܬ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܫܟ ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪ ܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܳܝܪ ܳ�ܐ ܳܕ� ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪܕ ܳܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܳܫ ܶܚܩ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܳܗܐ ܳܫ ܶܓܫ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܳܗܐ ܳܕ ܶܪܫ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ ܶ ܰܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܦܝܚ ܘܚܬܝܪ ܘܒܪܡܘܬܐ ܡܫܬܩ�ܢ̱ܬ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܽܡܘ� ܕܝܰ ܳܡܐ ܺܣܝܡ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܩܘ�ܥܐ ܐܢܬ ܘ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܽ ̱ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܘܪ ܒܩܢܘܡܟ ܘܬܗܪ ܘܐܘܕ ܐ �ܠܗܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܫܛܬ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܩܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܒ ̣ܬ ܝܡܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܟܦ ̣ܬ �‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܘܦ ܳ ̣‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘܛܥܺܝܢ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ̇ܗ �ܬ� ܳܘܬܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܩܡ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡܨܥܰܬ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ̱ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳܽ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕܦܩܕ ܠܗ ܡܪ�ܐ ܒܪܡܙ ܐ ܕܥܒܘܕܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ܬܚܘܡܐ ܒܝܢܬ ܡܝܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܡܛܠܬܐ �ܗܢܐ ܐܬܪ ܐ ܚܒܝܫܐ ܕܠܬܚܬ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܟܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܩܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܡܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܐ ܽܟ ܳ� ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܛܠܠܗ ܫܪ�ܐ ܘܫ�ܝܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܬܛܠܝ� ܠܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܐ ܰܕܐܠܗܘܬܐ ܡܢ � ܡ ܶܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܐܝܟ ܟܦܬܐ ܕܬ�ܝܐ ܘܩܝܡܐ ܕ� ܫܬ‬

‫‪34‬‬

‫‪35‬‬

22 670

675

680

685

690

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

nor are there any pillars holding it up other than [His] signal. The firmament came into existence to bring night to the earth, for its shadow is the night and this is obvious. That first night came to be from a shadow, namely, that of the clouds by which the depths were hidden. 23 For there was no firmament on that first day from which any darkness might rise or settle over creation. For the darkness on that first night arose from the clouds before the firmament even came into existence. On this second night that subsequently came to be, the shadow came to be from this firmament which you can see. It shaded the house, there were no openings to the height above, and by its cover night settled over its inhabitants. It was set like a dome and above it is a great light, the pure waters and the places of the heavenly beings. Above it there is neither night 24 nor shadow, whereas this place below has no lack of darkness. There are no lights that at one time rise and at another set, only the light of a single day that never changes. In that place there are no evenings, no mornings, no seasons, nor are there days, nights or any passage of time. 25 A great light was gathered into that place like the flood waters, as Paul, 26 Ezekiel 27 and Stephen 28 all bear witness. 29 Every one who has attained a vision of the heavens opened, saw there a great light with great intensity. Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.4, also posits the creation of these clouds that produced the darkness on the first day. 24 The text here reads ‫‘ ܐܬܪܐ‬place’, but I have chosen the alternate reading, ‫‘ ܠܝܐ‬night’ which seems to make better sense here. 25 Literally, “swift course [of time]”. 26 Cf. Acts 9:3; this citation alone of the following three explicitly mentions light. Cf. also Acts 22:6, 26:13. 27 Cf. Ezekiel 1:26–28. 28 Cf. Acts 7:55–56. 29 Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.4, cites these same three biblical figures as witnesses of the light above the firmament. 23

‫‪23‬‬ ‫‪670‬‬

‫‪675‬‬

‫‪680‬‬

‫‪685‬‬

‫‪690‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܰܘܛܥܺ ܺܝܢܝܢ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܰܠܘ ܥܰ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ܶܕ ܐ ܶܐ ܳ� ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܪܩܝܥܐ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܛܠܠܗ ̱ܗܘ ܘܗܕ ܐ ܰܓ�ܝܐ ̱ܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܶܓܝܪ ܠ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ ܶܡܢ ܛ ܳ��‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܦܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܗܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ� ܶܓܝܪ ܐܺܝܬ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܢܶܗ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܘܢܓܢ ܚܫܟܐ ܥܠ ܒ�ܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܶܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܳܩܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ ܥܰܕ ܳܐܬܶܐ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܢܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܟܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܳ ܺ ܳ ܳܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚܐܪ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܛܠܠܗ ̱ܗܘ ܕܗܢܐ ܪܩܝܥܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܳܘ� ܐܺܝܬ ܰܟ ̈ܶܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛܠܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܰܬܛܠܺܝܠܗ ܡ ܶܓܢ ܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܥܠ ܥܡܘ� ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܬܐ ܰܘ�ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܣܝܡ ܐܝܟ ܩ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ̈ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܘܡܝܐ ܢܩܕ ܐ ܘܐܬ�ܘܬܐ ܕܫܡ�ܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢܗ ܘ�ܥܠ � ܐܝܬ ܐܬܪ ܐ ܘ� ܛ��‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܶܒ ܳܨܪ ܐ ܶܡܢ ܶܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܕܠܬܚܬ܀‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܰܢܗܝ� ܐ ܕܒܙܒܢ ܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܚܝܢ ܘܒܙܒܢ ܥܪܒܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܕ ܐ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܳܡܐ ܕ� ܶܡܫܬܚܠܰܦ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ� ܐ ܘ� ܶ� ̈ܕ ܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܐܝܬ ܬܡܢ �ܡܫܐ ܘܨ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܺܐܝ ̈ ܳܡ ܶܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳܬܐ ܘܪܗܛܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܗܝܒ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܐܝܟ ܳܡ ܽܡܘ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܘܗܪ ܐ ܪܒܐ ܩܒܐ ܒܗ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܗܕ ܰܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܘܣ ܐܦ ܚܙܩܝܐܝܠ ܘܐܣܛܦܢܘܣ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܟ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ܰܕܡܛܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܚܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܶܡܢ ܬ ܳܡܢ ܰ� ܺܙ ܳܝܙ ܐܺܝܬ܀‬

‫‪36‬‬

24 695

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

Because no openings are permitted into that place, our place is dark and we live half of our life in the night. If that Maker had not put this borrowed light in our place, then our place would have been entirely dark.

VI. THE FIRMAMENT WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE

700

705

710

715

BENEFIT OF MANKIND

The great light concealed from us the firmament that came to be; lo, our place is enclosed and nights take their turns 30 within it. The firmament that came to be on the second day, as we said, produced the night by its shadow over creation. The Maker also established it for the sake of the world, that below it there might be a house for all sorts of things, that both nights and days might occur within it, as well as months, weeks, years and other revolving periods of time, so that in the day the activity of humankind might take place, and at night there be rest for those who work and toil. There was in it a light that hastens everything to its task, as well as a darkness to be a set time for the greedy to cease. [God] perfectly constructed the course of the night and of the day in this house that is full of tedium for those that are in it. For if there had been no night for the industrious who would do the tedious chores or the tiresome work? And if there were no evening to admonish the greedy to cease, it would kill their companions in their overexertion. That one who is concerned for His creatures would arrange them, measure the times and put in place aids for all that they do. He provided a world for one to be active at times and idle at other times,

Reading ‫“ ܡܫܬܢܝܢ‬change, take turn”, instead of ‫“ ܡܫܬܥܝܢ‬play, sport; narrate, tell” with Bedjan, p. 36, n. 3; the confusion of ‫ ܢ‬and ‫ ܥ‬in Syriac manuscripts is a fairly common one. 30

‫‪25‬‬ ‫‪695‬‬

‫‪700‬‬

‫‪705‬‬

‫‪710‬‬

‫‪715‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬ ܳܡܢ ܶܚ ܽܫܘܟ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳܕ� ܺ‬ ‫ܬܪܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܒ ̈ܝ ܳܩܢ ܳܟ ̈ܘܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܓܘܬ ܰܚ ̈ܝܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈ܝ ܰ�ܘ̈ܬܐ ܳܗܐ ܳܚܐ ܰܝܢܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳܳ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝ� ܳ� ܳܣܡ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܪܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܐܠܘ ܗܢܐ ܫܪܓܐ ܫ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ ܽܟܠܶܗ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܗܘ ܳܥ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪܢ ܚܫܘܟܐ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܓܢܝ ܶܡ ܰܢܢ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܫܬܥܶܝܢ ܶܒܗ ܰ� ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܚܒܝܫ ܐܬܪܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰܕܬܪܝܢ ܐܝܟ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡ ܰܪܢܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܕ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܡܢ ܛܠܠܗ ܥܰܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ�ܣܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܳܥ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܣ ܶܡܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܚ� ܰܦܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܡܢܶܗ ܰܘܠܬܚܬ ܢܗܘܐ ܒ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܢܗܘܐ ܐܝܬ ܒܗ �ܝ�ܘܬܐ ܐܦ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܡ ̈ܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ̈ܝܐ ܰܘܙܒܢ̈ܐ ܰܟܕ ܶܡܬܟܪܟܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܝ�ܚܐ ܘܫܒܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܕܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܡ ܳܡܐ ܢܶܗܘܐ ܪܗܛܐ ܕܒ��ܢ ܳܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܥ ̈ܡ ܶ� ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܳܢܝ ܳܚܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܒܠ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ� ̈ܶܚܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܐܺܝܬ ܶܒܗ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܽܟܠ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܶܕܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܶܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܢܐ ܕܢܶܫ�܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܛܗ ܺ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܳܐܦ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܡ ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫܦܝܪ ܡܬܩܢ ܪ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗܢܐ ܒܝܬܐ ܕܡ� ܫܚܩܐ ܠܕܗܘܝܢ ܒܗ܀‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܥܰܠ ܰܟ ܺܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܽܠ ܳܘ� ܶܓܝܪ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ�� � ܳ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܡܢ ܥܒܕ ܗܘܐ ܐܓܝܪ ܐ ܫܚܝܩܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ̱ ܳ ̱ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܠܘ ܪܡܫܐ � ܓܥܪ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܝܥܢܐ ܢܫ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܩ ܶܛܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܠ ̈ܟ ܳ� ܳܘܬܶܗ ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܚ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܗܘ ܰܕܒܛܝܠ ܶܠܗ ܥܰܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܗ ܢܛ ܶܟܣ ܐܢܶܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܟܠ ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܡ ܶ� ܳ ̈ܕ ܢܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܰܫܚ ܰܙܒܢ̈ܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܝܰܗܒ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒ ܰܙܒܢ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰܙܒܢ ܢܶܫ�‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬

‫‪37‬‬

26 720

725

730

735

740

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

to be wearied at times and to rest from labor at other times. With measures, numbers, and with calculations, let all the affairs of mankind continue. There is a beginning and there is an end to their actions, a morning for girding oneself, an evening for unwinding and a night to sleep, summer for being active and winter to cease from one’s labor, and of everything may its proper time be known. For this reason the Maker established evenings and mornings with their limits that they might occur at their proper times. He commanded and this firmament came to be on the second day, that by its cover there might be night just as you have heard, and that it may stand between the waters [below] and the waters above, and that by it mankind’s sight might be limited and not wander all over it. It is stretched out like a garment beneath the habitation of the Godhead, and like a ceiling above the dwelling-place of mankind. The firmament is by name the sky but it is a firmament, for who is capable of [describing] those heavens above? Apart from Moses and the great Paul who spoke of them, who is as able to speak of them as they are? Moses said, “The Lord created the heavens and the earth,” 31 and a day later, “Let there be a firmament” 32 was said. The firmament came to be and the heavens above were hidden by it, for the human eye is unable to endure them, due to their brightness, their glories and their beauties, and to that great sea of light that is without limit.

31 32

Genesis 1:1. Genesis 1:6.

‫‪27‬‬ ‫‪720‬‬

‫‪725‬‬

‫‪730‬‬

‫‪735‬‬

‫‪740‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܘܒ ܰܙܒܢ ܢܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܰܙܒܢ ܶ��ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܚ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܚ ̈ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡ ̈� ܳ�ܢܶܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܒܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܒܡܘܫܚ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܳܪ ܶܕܝܢ ܟܠ ܣܘܥ� ܢܝܢ ܕܒ��ܢܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳ�ܐ ܺܘܐܝܬ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܳܡܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܰ ̈ܕ ܽܝܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙܩ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡܫ�܀‬ ‫ܡܢܝܚ ܘܠ�ܝܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܘܐ ܕܢܶܫ� ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܚ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܩܝܛܐ �ܪ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܶܕܡ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽܕܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܐܺܝ ܺܕܝܥ ܰܙܒܢܶܗ ܐ ܰܝܢܘ܀‬ ‫ܘܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܣܡ ܳܥ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܳܪܗܛܺܝܢ ܥܰܡ ܰܙ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܦ ܰܩܕ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܡܥܬܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܒܛܠܠܗ ܢܗܘܐ ܠ�ܝܐ ܐܝܟ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܢܗܘܐ ܩܐܡ ܒܝܢܬ ܡܝܐ‬ ‫ܠܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳܳ ܳܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܣܬܝܟܐ ܒܗ ܚܙܬܐ ܕܐ̱ܢܫܐ ܕ� ܬܦܗܐ � ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܳܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܠ ܽܗܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡܕ�� ܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܦܪܝܣ ܐܝܟ ܢ‬ ‫ܬܚ ̣‬ ‫ܰ ܺܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܬܛܠܝ� �ܥܠ ܡܢ ܝܬܒܐ ܕܒ��ܢܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܶܐ ܳ� ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܩܝܥܐ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܶܓܝܪ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܳܣ ܶܦܩ܀‬ ‫ܰܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܠܠܘ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܠܘܣ ܪܒܐ‬ ‫ܰܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܐܝܟ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܡܢܘ ܡܫܟܚ ܢ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܘܐܪܥܐ‪ܳ:‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܬܪ ܝܘܡܐ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܪܩܝܥܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܚ ܺܦܝܘ ܶܒܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܕ� ܡܨ�ܐ ̱ܗܘܬ ܥܝܢܐ ܕܐ̱ܢܫܐ ܬܣܝܒܪ ܐܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܺܙ ܰܝܘܝ ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܶܗ ܰܕ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܽܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ܽܝܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰܳ ܰܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܕ� ܶܡܣܬܝܰܟ܀‬ ‫ܡܢ ܗܘ ܝܡܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܢ‬

‫‪38‬‬

28 745

750

755

760

765

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

There is no sun in the heavens above for it is completely sun, and its light is gathered up at that gate of the firmament. Whenever it does go out from that light to our place, it excites, rouses and makes the one who saw it marvel. At one time Paul, 33 and before that Ezekiel, 34 were witnesses of that light that the heavens above possess. And at the first signal it stood in a high place, and the firmament came to be on the second day that [this light] be hidden by it, so that the firmament might also be the sky for mankind, and the heavens for the house – for this house which is full of people. The heavens above are honored by [the light]’s being concealed there, and no one sees it except the perfect and the divine. The firmament is a body and therefore there is also a shadow with it, whereas in those heavens above there is no body. But [the firmament] is a great thing that stands there spiritually, for it is full of light and there it never turns to night. There is no shadow in those heavens above, from which shadow there would be a night on that day. In the place of the shadow lights pour forth; thus, they call those who dwell there in that place above ‘children of light’. And this firmament that the Lord made on the second day is like a land below them for those above. It is the sky 35 for us and a land for those above it, for the signal shaped it to be a land for those above it. For us, the Creator made material vessels as bodies,

Cf. Acts 9:3, 22:6, 26:13; and see note 26, above. Cf. Ezekiel 1:26–28. 35 Or, ‘heaven’. 33 34

‫‪29‬‬ ‫‪745‬‬

‫‪750‬‬

‫‪755‬‬

‫‪760‬‬

‫‪765‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܽܕܟ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܰܠܝܬ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܝܠ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ̇ܗ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳܗܢ ܰܕ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦ ̈ܝ ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܶܡܢ ܰܗܘ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܺܕܝܠܰܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܺܙܝܥ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳܝܢܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܗܒ ܘܥܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ̱ܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܒܕܗ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܰܙܒܢ ܰܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢܐ ܬܘܒ ܰܚ ܺܙܩܝܐܝܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܠܘܣ ܘܩܕܡ ܙ‬ ‫�ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܰܚ ܳܙ�̈ܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰܕܩ ܳܢܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ܀‬ ‫ܡܙ ܐ ܳܩ ܰܡܬ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܑ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܕܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܶܦܐ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܳܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܛܽ ̈‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܫܡܝ ܒܝܬܐ ܕܗܢܐ ܒܝܬܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܕ ܡܬܝܩܪ ܐ ܫܡܝܐ ܕ�ܥܠ ܒܓܢܝܙܘܬ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܚ ܶܙܝܢ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܐ� ܓܡܝ� ܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܐܠ ܳܗ�̈ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܐ ̱ܗܘ ܘܥܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܽܓ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܝ ܐܺܝܬ ܶܒܗ ܐܦ ܛ ܳ��‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܐ � ܐܺܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܶܓܝܪ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܓ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܐܝܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ� ܥܒܕ ܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܩܐܡ ܪ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܳ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕܡ� ܽܢܘܗ� ܐ ܘ� ܶܡܬܗܦܟ ܠ�ܝܐ ܬܡܢ܀‬ ‫ܰܠܘ ܶܛ ܳ� ܳ� ܐܺܝܬ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܡܢ ܶܛ ܳ� ܳ� ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܗܘ ܐ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܳܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܡܢ ܶܛ ܳ� ܳ� ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܳܢܒܥܶܝܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܟ ܺܢܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢ̈ܝ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ܀‬ ‫ܠ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܢܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚܘܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܐܡܬ ܐܪܥܰܐ ̱ܗܘ ܕ‬ ‫�ܗܠܝܢ ܕ�ܥܠ ܟ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܺܕܝܠܰܢ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܕܗܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܠ ܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܐ ܰܕ�ܥ ܶ ܳ� ̈ܝܶܐ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܥ ̇ܗ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܢ̈ܐ ܳܡܐܢ̈ܐ ܓܫ‬ ‫ܠܢ ܓ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ‪:‬‬

‫‪39‬‬

30 770

775

780

785

790

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

while for spiritual beings whatever is made there is spiritual. The firmament is a sky for us for it has a body, and makes night for us below by its shadow. For us corporeal beings it is fitting that this thing be corporeal, while for those who are incorporeal everything be spiritual. For this reason when the heavens above were created, its construction existed spiritually along with spiritual beings. And the hosts by the spirit of the mouth of the Godhead exist there spiritually within their boundaries. In that place there is no dense body nor shadow, nor such a night that exists here in our place. All this creation is [made up] of bodies and of shadows; like a sphere it is set entirely within nothing. There is no body – not above it, not below it, nor within its confines – except that power which supports it. It is suspended and stands there like a bird within nothing, and in its midst is a disorderly world full of motion. Above this wheel which is supported on bodies is a desert of light in which the hosts dwell. And beneath them this firmament is like a sphere in which are concealed those corporeal bodies. It is fixed like a tent for the habitation of families and nations, and in it dwell various sorts of things in their natures. And the wisdom of the Most High spread it out on the second day, like a ceiling for the entire world of mankind.

‫‪31‬‬ ‫‪770‬‬

‫‪775‬‬

‫‪780‬‬

‫‪785‬‬

‫‪790‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܽ ܳܶ ܳܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܬ ܳܡܢ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ� ܰܝܐ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܘ��ܘܚܢܐ ܥܒܕ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܫܡ ܰܝܐ ̱ܗܘ ܕܝܠܢ ܕܐܝܬ � ̇ܗ ܽܓܘܫܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܶܒܕ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܡܢ ܛܠ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܰܠܢ ܬܚܬ�̈ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܓܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܢ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܢ̈ܶܐ ܳܚ ܰܫܚ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܳܕ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܓܫ ̈ܝ ܶܡܐ ܽܟܠܶܗ ܳ‬ ‫�� ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܳܕ ܐ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ� ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܕ�ܥܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܐܝܬ ܳܩܡ ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܢ̈ܶܐ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܰܡ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳܢ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠ ܽܗܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚܝ�ܘܬܐ ܒܪܘܚܐ ܕܦܘܡ ̇ܗ ܕ‬ ‫ܳܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢ ܺܐܝܬ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝܐ ܘ� ܛ ܳ��‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܐܝܬ ܬܡܢ ܓܘܫܡܐ ܥ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܳܕܩܐܶܡ ܰܗ ܳܪܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ܀‬ ‫ܐܬܪ‬ ‫ܒ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܟ� ̇ܗ ܒܪܝܬܐ ܳܗ ܶܕ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܓܘܫܡܐ ܰܘܕܛ��‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܦ ܳܪ ܐ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܽܟ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܐ � �ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ܘ� ܠܬܚܬ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܐܝܬ ܓ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܒܚܕܪ ̇ܝܗ ܐ� ܚܝ� ܕܡܣܡܟ � ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܬ�ܝܐ ܘܩܝܡܐ ܐܝܟ ܦܪܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܕܡ� ܰܙ ܘܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܒܡܨ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘ�ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ܳܕܗ ܶܕ ܐ ܺܓܝܓ� ܛܥܝܢܬ ܓ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ ܐ ܽܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܶܒܗ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܚܝܬ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܦ ܳܪ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚܒܝܫܝܢ ܒܗ ܗܠܝܢ ܓ‬ ‫ܬܓ ̈ܫ ܳܡܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܢܩܝܫ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܢܐ �ܝܬܒܐ ܕܛܘܗܡܐ ܘܕܫ�ܒܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܣܝܢ ܶܓ ܺ̈‬ ‫ܡܕ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܶܒܗ ܶܓ ܺ̈‬ ‫ܢܣܝܢ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܰ� ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܗ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚܟܡܬ ܪܡܐ ܪܩ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܬܛܠܝ� �ܥ�ܡܐ ܟܠܗ ܕܒ��ܢܫܐ܀‬

‫‪40‬‬

‫‪41‬‬

32

795

800

805

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

VII. THE FIRMAMENT WAS CREATED INCOMPLETE, WITHOUT SUN, STARS AND MOON

He created the firmament without the lights arrayed upon it, and without a sun or a moon that circulate on it. He wove a great garment and He spread it out with no embroidery, until He formed it and then painted it with His skillfulness. And because it was lacking those lights [soon] to be arrayed upon it; it is not written “The Lord saw that it was good” when He made it. Whoever is attentive understands this teaching in all the passages of prophecy and in their words. On every [other] day it is written “The Lord saw that it was good,” 36 but on this second day it is not said. The firmament had come to be, but because it [still] required embroidery the phrase “The Lord saw that it was good” was left out and was not written. 37 Although He was soon to adorn it with ornaments and with lights, He kept this for when it was finished; then it would be said. For it was evident that He made no error when He created it, Genesis 1:12, 19, 21, 25 and 31. Again, Jacob follows Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.20, on this explanation for the lack of the phrase in the Peshitta text (which follows here the Hebrew text). While one finds this same explanation in contemporary Jewish literature as well, the more predominant explanation there is that the reason that Moses did not call this day good was because hell had also been created on the second day; cf. L. Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, I.15, and the accompanying note 54 in V.18–19. This phrase does occur, however, in the majority of Greek biblical texts, so see discussion of it in, for example, Basil, Hexaemeron, III.10; Theodoret, Questions on Genesis, X. The phrase is found in the early Armenian bible as well; see Eghishe, Commentary on Genesis, p. 22–25, though without comment or explanation. Narsai, however, no doubt due to his acquaintance with Theodore Mopsuestia and other Greek commentators, seems to have had this phrase in his text; cf. Homélies de Narsaï sur la création, III.168. 36 37

‫‪33‬‬ ‫‪795‬‬

‫‪800‬‬

‫‪805‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܒܪܝܗܝ ܰܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܳܕ� ܰܢ ܺܗ ܶܝ� ܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܘ ܳܕ� ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳܕ� ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܝܢ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܫܛܗ ܕ� ܽܨ ܳܘ�ܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܢܚܬܐ ܪܒܐ ܙܩܪܗ‬ ‫ܶ ܳܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܰܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ܶܠܗ ܘܟܢ ܨ ܐܪ ܠܗ ܒܡܗܝܪܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܰܠ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܢܝܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܥܰܠ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܶܝ� ܐ ܢܶܣܬ ܽܕܪܘܢ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܬܝܒ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܰܟܕ ܥܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܕܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܰܟܠ ̱ܗܘ‪ܽ:‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܕܒܛܝܠ ܠܗ ܥܠ ܝܘܠܦܢܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ ܳܺ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܰ� ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܩ��ܢܝܢ ܕܢܒܝ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܬܝܒ ܽܗܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܺܦܝܪ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܳܗ ܶܕ ܐ ܳ� ܶܐ ܰܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܗܘ ܝܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ̣ܬ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܘܥܰܠ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܢܝܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܥܰܠ ܽܨ ܳܘ�ܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܬܝܒ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܺܦܝܪ܀‬ ‫ܦܫ ̣ܬ ܡܠܬܐ ܘ�‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܺܗܝ� ܐ‪ܶ:‬‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕܡܛ ܰܝܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ܢܗܕܪܗ ܒܨܒ‬ ‫ܳܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܛܪ ̇ܗ �ܗܕ ܐ ܕܡܐ ܕܐܫܬܡܠܝ ܟܢ ܡ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܠܘ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܬ ܰܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܥܐ ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪ ܐ ܶܠܗ‪:‬‬

34 810

815

820

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

for He would soon create on it the sun, the moon and all the lights. But because He is skillful and full of wisdom, He delayed it so that its complete formation would exist in its time. He did not wish to make the sun and the moon on the second day, and if you are troubled you will learn this clearly enough. He created the firmament between the waters and He divided them, and He set the upper things and the lower things within their own boundaries. Although it was not complete he made the firmament when He made it, just as the earth was created without being formed. Because another beauty was kept back to be added to it, “He saw that it was good” was not said on the second day. And the firmament was between the waters just as He had commanded: “And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.” 38

VIII. DAY TWO WAS THE FIRST MOMENT IN THE PLANNED PROGRESSION OF CREATION

825

830

The world took hold of a path that it might come out from “tohu and bohu,” 39 and the various periods began to proceed one after another. Evenings and mornings proceeded to come forth within their own limits, and He distinguished and took these times with their designations, so evening took hold of the gate where night enters the world, and morning, its brother, the gate that opens up onto the day. And they stood and watched carefully over their posts, they are not stolen nor do they steal one from the other.

Genesis 1:8. Genesis 1:2; these “tohu and bohu” are the Hebrew words of this verse, which are transliterated – not translated – in the Peshitta version; they are translated “without form and void” in the RSV. 38 39

‫‪35‬‬ ‫‪810‬‬

‫‪815‬‬

‫‪820‬‬

‫‪825‬‬

‫‪830‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܰ ܶܡܗ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܺܝ�ܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܶܳ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ� ܡܛܠ ܕܡܗܝܪ ܘܡ� ܚܟ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܗ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܰܓܪ ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳܕ ܢܶܗ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܬܘܩܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܨܒܐ ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܳܐ� ܺ‬ ‫ܪܗܝܒ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܝܳܠܦ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܳܝܪܐܺܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܠܓ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܩܝܥܐ ܒܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܨܥ ̣ܬ ܡܝܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܬ�̈ܶܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣܡ ܥ�ܝܐ ܘܣܡ ܬ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܡܠܺܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܠܪܩܝܥܐ ܟܕ ܥܒܕ ܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܬܐ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒܪܝܰܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ܀‬ ‫ܪܥܐ � ܡܬܩ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕܐܦ ܐ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥܰ ܑܠ ܰܕܢܛܝܪ ̱ܗܘܐ ܫܘܦܪ ܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ ܢܐ ܕܢܘܣܦ ̱ܗܘܐ ܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܳ� ܶܐ ܰܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ̣ܬ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܺܦܝܪ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܶܡܨܥܰ ̣ܬ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܶܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪ ܐ ܝܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ܀‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܺܕܢܐܬܶܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܬܘܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܒܟ ܐ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܘܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܳܪܗܛܺܝܢ ܽܟܠ ܶ� ܳܕ ܺ� ̈ܝܢ ܰܚܕ ܳܒܬܪ ܰܚܕ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܬܘܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܕܘ ܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܠܶܓܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩܠܘ � ܳܕ ܰ� ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܚܕ ܰ� ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܥܶܠ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒܟ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽܐܚܘܗܝ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪ ܐ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܦܢܶܐ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܳܡܐ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩܡܘ ܟܕ ܥܝܪܝܢ ܥܠ ܡܛܪܬܗܘܢ ܟܫܝܪܐܝܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒܝܢ ܰܚܕ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܦ� ܳܓ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ܀‬ ‫� ܡܬܓܢܒܝܢ ܐ‬

‫‪42‬‬

36

835

840

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

He measured and each one of them took hold of all its own hours, that each might keep what is its and it not be apportioned to its counterpart. Night was designed not to overstep the day, nor day to draw near to the watch of night. With justice and with proportion and with equality they would continue and not be greedy toward one another. Lo, they take hold of their path and come one after the other, evenings and mornings according to the limits set down by the Creator. The world proceeded, a first day and a second day, and they began quickly to progress along their course. The first [day] came and the second day followed in its footstep, and then they gave way to the third that it too may come.

‫‪37‬‬

‫‪835‬‬

‫‪840‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ̈ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܒ‪.‬‬

‫�ܚܕ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܰܫܚ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܽܟ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܳܫ ܰ� ̈ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܽܛܘܪ ܺܕܝܠܶܗ ܘ� ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܦܠܰܓ ܥܰܠ ܰܒܪ ܰܙ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܐܬܚܫܒ ܠ�ܝܐ ܕܢܦܣܥ ܥ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܳܡܐ ܥܰܠ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ�ܬܶܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܐ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܠ�ܝܐ ܢܩܪܘܒ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܝܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܒܟܐܢܘܬܐ ܘܒܬܪܝܨܘܬܐ ܘܒܫ‬ ‫ܳܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܠܗ ܳܘ� ܶܡ ̣ܬܝܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܢܝܢ ܰܗܘ ܥܰܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܝܢ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ܳܘܐܬܝܢ ܰܚܕ ܳܒܬܪ ܰܚܕ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܬ ܰܚܡܘ ܶܡܢ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ܀‬ ‫�ܡܫܐ ܘܨܦ� ܐ ܐܝܟ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܪܕ ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܝܰܘܡܐ ܩܕܡܐ ܘܝܘܡܐ ܕܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܬܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳ� ܽܝܘ܀‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܳܪܗܛܺܝܢ ܥܰܠ ܡܥܒ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܒܗ ܝܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܘ ܳܪܕ ܐ ܒܥ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܐ̱ ܰܙܠ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܳ ܳ ܽ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܝܰ ̱ܗܒܘ ̱ܗܘܘ ܕܘܟܬܐ ܠܬܠܝܬ�ܐ ܕܐܦ ܗܘ ܢܐܬܐ܀‬

‫‪43‬‬

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CITED PRIMARY TEXTS Eusebius of Emesa Petit, Françoise, Lucas Van Rompay and Jos. J.S. Weitenberg, trs., Eusèbe d’Émèse, Commentaire de la Genèse. Traditio Exegetica Graeca, 15; Louvain: Peeters, 2011. Basil Giet, Stanislas, ed., Saint Basile, Homélies sur l’Hexaméron. Sources Chrétiennes, 26bis; Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1968. English translation in Blomfield Jackson, tr., The Hexaemeron of Saint Basil. A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Second Series. Grand Rapids, 1976. Vol. 8, pp. 52–107.

Thomson, Robert W., ed. and tr., The Syriac Version of the Hexaemeron by Basil of Caesarea. CSCO 550–551; Louvain: Peeters, 1995.

Ephrem Tonneau, Raymond M., ed. Sancti Ephraem Syri in Genesim et in Exodum commentarii. CSCO 152-53. Louvain: Peeters, 1955. English translation by Edward G. Mathews, Jr. in Edward G. Mathews, Jr. and Joseph P. Amar, St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works. Fathers of the Church, 91; Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 1994. Pp. 67– 213. Theodoret of Cyrus Hill, Robert C., ed. and tr., Theodoret of Cyrus, The Questions on the Octateuch. Volume 1: On Genesis and Exodus. Library of Early 39

40

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY Christianity, 1; Washington: Catholic University Press, 2007.

Eghishe Khachikyan, Levon, ed. and Michael Papazian, tr., Commentary on Genesis by Eghishe. Yerevan: Magaghat Publishing House, 2004. Jacob of Sarug Bedjan, Paulus, ed., with additional material by Sebastian P. Brock. Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug. 6 vols.; Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2006 [original publication Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, 5 vols. Paris and Leipzig: Harrassowitz, 1905– 1910]. Mathews, Jr., Edward G. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day. Texts from Christian Late Antiquity, 27; Metrical Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug, 29. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2009.

Narsai Gignoux, Philippe. Homélies de Narsaï sur la création. Patrologia Orientalis, 34.3–4 [161–162]. Turnhout: Brepols, 1968.

SECONDARY WORKS

Alwan, Khalil. “Le ‘remzo’ selon la pensée de Jacques de Saroug.” Parole de l’Orient 15 (1988–1989), 91–106.

Barsoun, Ignatius Aphram I. The Scattered Pearls: A History of Syriac Literature and Sciences. Second Revised Edition. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2003.

Bou Mansour, Tanios. La théologie de Jacques de Saroug. Tome I: Création, Anthropologie, Ecclésiologie et Sacraments. Bibliothèque de l’Université Saint-Esprit, 36; Kaslik: l’Université SaintEsprit, 1993.

Ginzberg, Louis. The Legends of the Jews. Volumes I, V. New York: Jewish Publication Society, 1909, 1913. Jansma, Taeke. “Investigations into the Early Syrian Fathers on Genesis.” Oudtestamentische Studiën 12 (1958), 69–181.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

41

Jansma, Taeke. “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarug.” L’Orient Syrien 4 (1959), 3–42, 129–162, 253–284.

Jansma, Taeke. “Une homélie anonyme sur la création du monde.” L’Orient Syrien 5 (1960), 385–400.

Kronholm, Tryggve. Motifs from Genesis 1–11 in the Genuine Hymns of Ephrem the Syrian with particular reference to the influence of Jewish exegetical tradition. Coniectanea Biblica. Old Testament Series, 11. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1978.

ten Napel, Erik. “Some Remarks on the Hexaemeral Literature in Syriac.” In Hans J.W. Drijvers, Rene Lavenant, Collie Molenberg and Gerrart J. Reinink, eds., IV Symposium Syriacum: Literary Genres in Syriac Literature. Orientalia Christiana Analecta, 229. Rome: Pontificium Institutum Studiorum Orientalium, 1987. Pp. 57–69.

INDEX OF NAMES AND THEMES 678, 680, 699, 701, 729, 735, 740, 741, 746, 752, 753, 757, 759, 765, 771, 789, 795, 805, 815, 817, 821 Godhead 658, 668, 733, 777 heavens (see also ‘sky’) 535, 693, 736, 741, 745, 750, 754, 755, 758, 761, 775 light 627, 631, 683, 687, 688, 691, 694, 697, 699, 709, 744, 746, 747, 750, 752, 755, 760, 763, 764, 788, 795, 799, 807, 810 limit (see also ‘boundary’) 728, 732, 744, 825, 838 Lord 525, 595, 604, 800, 803, 806 Maker 529, 536, 544, 545, 697, 703, 727 making 534, 548, 652, 662 moon 796, 810, 813 morning 689, 724, 822, 825, 828, 838 Moses 737, 739 Most High 793 nature 591, 595, 602, 603 night 671, 672, 673, 679, 682, 685, 690, 696, 700, 702, 705, 708, 711, 713, 724, 730, 760, 762, 772, 780, 833, 834 Paul 692, 737, 749 roof 664

abyss (see also ‘deep’) 637, 642 Being 539 boundary (see also ‘limit’) 557, 558, 606, 610, 632, 660, 663, 778, 816 ceiling 667, 794 cloud 621, 674, 677 command 555, 565, 577, 594, 596, 597, 602, 606, 610 creation 533, 537, 550, 666, 676, 702, 781 Creator 535, 542, 546, 592, 769, 838 dark 695, 698 darkness 676, 677, 686, 710 dawn 531 day 523, 525, 526, 538, 688, 690, 705, 711, 762, 833, 834 second day 530, 552, 605, 661, [679], 701, 729, 752, 765, 793, 804, 813, 820, 832, 839, 841 deep (see also ‘abyss’) 584, 589, 603, 674 dome 683 earth 535, 671 Essence 540 evening 531, 689, 715, 724, 822, 825, 827, 838 Ezekiel 692, 749 firmament 521, 549, 552, 575, 577, 605, 609, 629, 661, 671, 675,

43

44 sea

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SECOND DAY

570, 599, 600, 619, 639, 653, 657, 659, 744 shade 666 shadow 672, 673, 680, 685, 702, 757, 761, 762, 763, 772, 779, 781 signal 537, 551, 660, 662, 670, 751, 768 sky (see also ‘heavens’) 735, 753, 767, 771 Stephen 692 sun 628, 745, 796, 810, 813 tent 552, 665, 791

vault 669 water 521, 522, 549, 553, 554, 559, 561, 564, 566, 575, 577, 578, 579, 582, 583, 585, 586, 587, 589, 590, 594, 598, 601, 605, 606, 607, 608, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 616, 617, 624, 627, 635, 636, 637, 640, 641, 642, 643, 657, 661, 663, 683, 691, 731, 815, 821 wind 553, 611, 613, 616, 619, 620, 623, 626 wisdom 793, 811

INDEX OF BIBLICAL REFERENCES Genesis 1:1 1:2 1:6 1:8 1:12 1:19 1:21 1: 25 1: 31

Exodus 3:14 14:21 17:6

Ezekiel 1:26–28

739 547, 553, 611, 823 521–522, 530, 549, 577, 605, 740 822 803 803 803 803 803 540 601 601 692, 749

Acts of the Apostles 7:55–56 692 9:3 692, 749 22:6 692, 749 26:13 692, 749

45