THE ASTRONOMY OF THE BIBLE.
The Astronomy of the Bible. By E. Walter Maunder. (T. Seeley Claik. 5s. net.)—It is to be regretted that Mr. Maunder was not content with allowing that the Bible is not intended to teach us science. Something of the temper which has made a certain class of apologists for Scripture into a byword seems to cling to him. Take, for instance, the word " firmament." He writes :—" The word raid, translated firmament,' properly signifies ' an expanse' or ` extension,' something stretched or beaten out." The Septuagint has stereoma, a solid construction, but this was because the writers "were naturally influenced by the views of astronomical science then held in Alexandria, the centre of Greek astronomy." But what says Dr. Driver ?—" something pressed down firm, and so beaten out (the cognate verb means to stamp; applied to metals, to beat out) [Mr. Maunder
gives this sense] a firm and solid expanse capable of supporting the masses of water confined above." According to Mr. Maunder, "the word does not necessarily convey this mean- ing." Few readers will doubt which they should follow. Thera is much in the book that is interesting and valuable ; when the author gets outside the supposed necessities of his apologetic he is well worth attention.
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