NOTE. Page 13.
In the book of Job, עש, בסיל, בימה, מזרת, Ash, Kesil, Kimah, Mazzaroth, are by most commentators considered to be the names of constellations or stars. It would have been far better under this impression for the translators of our bible to have retained the Hebrew names, Ash, Kesil, and Kimah, as well as Mazzaroth. The Septuagint translators of the book of Job, in Ch. ix. 9, render עש, בסיל, בימה, Ash, Kesil, Kimah, Πλειάς, Pleias, Ἕσπερος, Hesperus, Ἀρκτοῦρος, Arcturus; and in Ch. xxxviii. 31, 32, the same words are rendered Ἕσπερος, Hesperus, Ὡρίων, Orion, Πλειάς, Pleias. In Amos v. 8, ובסיל כימה עשה ("who made Kimah and Kesil"), is rendered "ὁ ποιῶν πάντα καὶ μετασκευζάσων," "who made and fashioned all things." In like manner the Vulgate, in Job ix. 9, renders these three words, Arcturus, Orion, Hyades; and in xxxviii. 31, 32, Vesperus, Arcturus, Pleiades. The interpretations of the rabbinical and other commentators upon these words are various. Ramban says: they are the names of superior stars, that is, stars of great influence and power. R. Salomo and Ralbag, that Kesil and Kimah are constellations. R. Aben Esra, that Ash is a constellation of seven stars not far from the north pole, and that Kesil and Kimah are stars of first magnitude in the Zodiac. R. Perizolides and others, that Ash is one of the stars in the tail of the Ram, Kesil and Kimah the stars that occasion cold and heat: Kesil, the cold; and Kimah, the heat. Mercer, with others, renders the three words, Arcturus, Orion, Pleiades. Cocceius maintains that Ash is Ursa minor: Kesil, Cor Scorpionis: Kimah, Oculus Tauri. Parkhurst rejects the notion of these words being the names of stars, and renders עש, Ash, Blight: בסיל, Kesil, Cold: כימה, Kimah, Heat. There is the same diversity of opinion respecting מזרת, Mazzaroth. R. Levy conjectures that it was a star which seldom appeared in the land of Uz, and hence the words: "Num educes Mazzaroth tempore suo?" Others consider this word a title for the twelve signs of the Zodiac: others again, that Ash, Kesil, Kimah and Mazzaroth are the four cardinal points. Schmidt remarks on Job ix. 9: "Insuperabilem, ut existimo, versus habet difficultatem, dum continet astrorum ejusmodi nomina de quibus nihil nisi conjectura nobis relicta est. Nos nihil audemus definire: sed cum Rambane in hoc potius acquiescimus, quod insignia astra sint, a quibus ad reliqua omnia valeat collectio." Bochart (Hierozoic. Vol. ii. p. 113, 114) gives an explanation of Job xxxviii. 32, בניהעל־ עיש, "Aish cum filiis
