Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day - Daily Torah Study

1The spheres are called the heavens, the firmament, the habitation, the skies.אהַגַּלְגַּלִּים - הֵם הַנִּקְרָאִים: שָׁמַיִם וְרָקִיעַ וּזְבוּל וַעֲרָבוֹת,

There are nine spheres. The closest sphere is the sphere of the moon. The second sphere, which is above it, is the sphere which contains the planet Kochav.1 The third sphere, which is above it, contains the planet Nogah.2 The fourth sphere contains the sun. The fifth sphere contains the planet Ma’dim.3 The sixth sphere contains the planet Tzedek.4 The seventh sphere contains the planet Shabbtai.5 The eighth sphere contains all the stars which are seen in the sky. The ninth sphere is the sphere which revolves each day from the east to the west.6 It surrounds and encompasses everything. The planets and stars all appear to be in one sphere, even though one is higher than another. This is because the spheres are pure and refined like glass or sapphire. Therefore, the stars in the eighth sphere appear lower than the first sphere.וְהֵם תִּשְׁעָה גַּלְגַּלִּים. גַּלְגַּל הַקָּרוֹב מִמֶּנּוּ - הוּא גַּלְגַּל הַיָּרֵחַ; וְהַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ - הוּא גַלְגַּל שֶׁבּוֹ הַכּוֹכָב הַנִּקְרָא כּוֹכָב; וְגַלְגַּל שְׁלִישִׁי שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁבּוֹ - נֹגַהּ; וְגַלְגַּל רְבִיעִי שֶׁבּוֹ - חַמָּה; וְגַלְגַּל חֲמִישִׁי שֶׁבּוֹ - מַאְדִּים; וְגַלְגַּל שִׁשִּׁי שֶׁבּוֹ - כּוֹכַב צֶדֶק; וְגַלְגַּל שְׁבִיעִי שֶׁבּוֹ - שַׁבְּתַאי; וְגַלְגַּל שְׁמִינִי שֶׁבּוֹ - שְׁאָר כָּל הַכּוֹכָבִים שֶׁנִּרְאִים בָּרָקִיעַ; וְגַלְגַּל תְּשִׁיעִי - הוּא גַּלְגַּל הַחוֹזֵר בְּכָל יוֹם מִן הַמִּזְרָח לְמַעֲרָב וְהוּא הַמַּקִּיף וּמְסַבֵּב אֶת הַכֹּל. וְזֶה שֶׁתִּרְאֶה כָּל הַכּוֹכָבִים כְּאִלּוּ הֵם כֻּלָּם בְּגַלְגַּל אֶחָד, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן זֶה לְמַעֲלָה מִזֶּה - מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַגַּלְגַּלִּים טְהוֹרִים וְזַכִּים כַּזְּכוּכִית וְכַסַּפִּיר, לְפִיכָךְ נִרְאִים הַכּוֹכָבִים שֶׁבַּגַּלְגַּל הַשְׁמִינִי מִתַּחַת גַּלְגַּל הָרִאשׁוֹן.

2Each of the eight spheres which contain the planets and stars are themselves divided into many spheres, one above the other like the layers of an onion. Some of these spheres revolve from the west to the east, and some revolve from the east to the west, such as the ninth sphere, which revolves from the east to the west. There is no empty space between any of them.בכָּל גַּלְגַּל וְגַלְגַּל מִשְּׁמוֹנָה הַגַּלְגַּלִּים שֶׁבָּהֶן הַכּוֹכָבִים, נֶחֱלָק לְגַלְגַּלִּים הַרְבֵּה, זֶה לְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה כְּמוֹ גִּלְדֵי בְצָלִים. מֵהֶן - גַּלְגַּלִּים סוֹבְבִים מִמַּעֲרָב לְמִזְרָח, וּמֵהֶן - סוֹבְבִים מִמִּזְרַח לְמַעֲרָב כְּמוֹ הַגַּלְגַּל הַתְּשִׁיעִי הַחוֹזֵר מִמִּזְרָח לְמַעֲרָב, וְכֻלָּן אֵין בֵּינֵיהֶם מָקוֹם פָּנוּי.

3None of the spheres are light or heavy. They are neither red, black, nor any other color. Though we see them as blue, this is only our perception, because of the height of the atmosphere.גכָּל הַגַּלְגַּלִּים אֵינָן לֹא קַלִּים וְלֹא כְבֵדִים; וְאֵין לָהֶם לֹא עַיִן אָדֹם וְלֹא עַיִן שָׁחוֹר וְלֹא שְׁאָר עֵינוֹת. וְזֶה שֶׁאָנוּ רוֹאִין אוֹתָם כְּעֵין הַתְּכֵלֶת - לְמַרְאִית הָעַיִן בִּלְבַד הוּא לְפִי גֹּבַהּ הָאֲוִיר.

Similarly, they have neither taste nor smell, because these phenomena are present only in matter lower than they.7וְכֵן אֵין לָהֶם לֹא טַעַם וְלֹא רֵיחַ לְפִי שֶׁאֵין אֵלּוּ הַמְאֹרָעִין מְצוּיִין אֶלָּא בַּגּוּפוֹת שֶׁלְּמַטָּה מֵהֶן.

4All these nine spheres which surround the world are spherical like a ball, and the Earth is suspended in their midst.דכָּל הַגַּלְגַּלִּים הָאֵלּוּ הַמַּקִּיפִין אֶת הָעוֹלָם הֵן עֲגֻלִּין כְּכַדּוּר וְהָאָרֶץ תְּלוּיָה בָאֶמְצָע.

Some of the planets have small spheres fixed around them. These spheres do not surround the Earth. Rather, a small sphere which does not surround the Earth is fixed within a large sphere which does.וְיֵשׁ לְמִקְצָת מִן הַכּוֹכָבִים גַּלְגַּלִּים קְטַנִּים שֶׁהֵן קְבוּעִים בָּהֶן; וְאֵין אוֹתָם הַגַּלְגַּלִּים מַקִּיפִין אֶת הָאָרֶץ, אֶלָּא גַּלְגַּל קָטָן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַקִּיף קָבוּעַ בַּגַּלְגַּל הַגָּדוֹל הַמַּקִּיף.

5The total number of spheres which surround the Earth entirely is eighteen,8 and the number of smaller spheres which do not surround the world is eight.המִסְפַּר כָּל הַגַּלְגַּלִּים הַמַּקִּיפִין אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם - שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר, וּמִסְפַּר הַגַּלְגַּלִּים הַקְּטַנִּים שֶׁאֵינָן מַקִּיפִין - שְׁמוֹנָה.

From the movement of the planets and the knowledge of the extent of their revolution each day and each moment, their position either northward or southward, and their distance above the Earth and closeness to it, it is possible to know the number of all these spheres, the manner in which they proceed, and the nature of their orbit. This is the science of calculating the seasons and astronomy. Many books about these subjects were written by the wise men of Greece.9וּמִמַּהֲלַךְ הַכּוֹכָבִים וִידִיעַת שִׁעוּר סְבִיבָתָן בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל שָׁעָה, וּמִנְּטִיָּתָן מֵרוּחַ דָּרוֹם לְרוּחַ צָפוֹן וּמֵרוּחַ צָפוֹן לְרוּחַ דָּרוֹם, וּמִגָּבְהָן מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ וּקְרִיבָתָן - יִוָּדַע מִסְפַּר כָּל אֵלּוּ הַגַּלְגַּלִּים וְצוּרַת הֲלִיכָתָן וְדֶרֶךְ הַקָּפָתָן. וְזוֹ הִיא חָכְמַת חֶשְׁבּוֹן תְּקוּפוֹת וּמַזָּלוֹת; וּסְפָרִים רַבִּים חִבְּרוּ בָהֶן חַכְמֵי יָוָן.

6The ninth sphere, which encompasses all the others, was divided by the Sages of the early generations into twelve sections. They gave each of these sections a name, based on the shapes that appeared to be formed by the stars below it which correspond to it.וגַּלְגַּל הַתְּשִׁיעִי, שֶׁהוּא מַקִּיף אֶת הַכֹּל, חִלְּקוּהוּ הַחֲכָמִים הַקַּדְמוֹנִים לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֲלָקִים. כָּל חֵלֶק וָחֵלֶק הֶעֱלוּ לוֹ שֵׁם, עַל שֵׁם צוּרָה זוֹ שֶׁתֵּרָאֶה בוֹ מִן הַכּוֹכָבִים שֶׁלְּמַטָּה מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁהֵם מְכֻוָּנִים תַּחְתָּיו,

These are the mazalot,10 which are called the lamb, the ox, the twins, the crab, the lion, the virgin, the scales, the scorpion, the bow, the goat, the bucket, and the fish.וְהֵם הַמַּזָּלוֹת שֶׁשְּׁמוֹתָם: טָלֶה, שׁוֹר, תְּאוֹמִים, סַרְטָן, אַרְיֵה, בְּתוּלָה, מֹאזְנַיִם, עַקְרָב, קֶשֶׁת, גְּדִי, דְּלִי, דָּגִים.

7The ninth sphere itself has no division, nor does it possess any of these shapes or any stars. Rather, the larger stars of the constellations of the eighth sphere are seen in the shape of these forms, or in a form resembling them.זגַּלְגַּל הַתְּשִׁיעִי עַצְמוֹ, אֵין בּוֹ לֹא חֲלֻקָּה וְלֹא צוּרָה מִכָּל הַצּוּרוֹת הָאֵלּוּ וְלֹא כּוֹכָב, אֶלָּא בְּחִבּוּר הַכּוֹכָבִים שֶׁבַּגַּלְגַּל הַשְּׁמִינִי הוּא שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה - בְּכוֹכָבִים גְּדוֹלִים שֶׁבּוֹ - תַּבְנִית הַצּוּרוֹת הָאֵלּוּ, אוֹ קָרוֹב מֵהֶן.

These twelve forms corresponded to these divisions only at the time of the flood and then, they were given these names. However, at present, they have already moved slightly, because all the stars in the eighth sphere move, as the sun and the moon do. It is just that these stars move more slowly.וְאֵלּוּ הַשְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה צוּרוֹת לֹא הָיוּ מְכֻוָּנוֹת כְּנֶגֶד אוֹתָן הַחֲלָקִים אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן הַמַּבּוּל, שֶׁאָז הֶעֱלוּ לָהֶן שֵׁמוֹת אֵלּוּ; אֲבָל בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה כְּבָר סָבְבוּ מְעַט, לְפִי שֶׁכָּל הַכּוֹכָבִים שֶׁבְּגַלְגַּל שְׁמִינִי כֻּלָּם סוֹבְבִים כְּמוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵחַ, אֶלָּא שֶׁהֵן סוֹבְבִין בִּכְבֵדוּת.

It would take any of these stars approximately seventy years to move the same distance which the sun and the moon11 move in one day.וְחֵלֶק שֶׁיִּתְהַלֵּךְ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵחַ כְּנֶגְדּוֹ בְּיוֹם אֶחָד יֵלֵךְ כְּנֶגְדּוֹ כָּל כּוֹכָב מֵהֶן בְּקֵרוּב מִשִּׁבְעִים שָׁנָה.

8Among all the stars we see are small ones which the Earth surpasses in size and large ones which are several times larger than the Earth.חכָּל הַכּוֹכָבִים הַנִּרְאִים - יֵשׁ מֵהֶן כּוֹכָבִים קְטַנִּים שֶׁהָאָרֶץ גְּדוֹלָה מֵאֶחָד מֵהֶן, וְיֵשׁ כּוֹכָבִים גְּדוֹלִים, שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶן גָּדוֹל מִן הָאָרֶץ כַּמָּה פְעָמִים.

Our Earth is approximately 40 times larger than the moon, and the sun is approximately 170 times larger than the Earth.וְהָאָרֶץ גְּדוֹלָה מִן הַיָּרֵחַ כְּמוֹ אַרְבָּעִים פְּעָמִים; וְהַשֶּׁמֶשׁ גְּדוֹלָה מִן הָאָרֶץ כְּמוֹ מֵאָה וְשִׁבְעִים פְּעָמִים.

Thus, the moon is approximately one 6800th the size of the sun.נִמְצָא, הַיָּרֵחַ אֶחָד מִשֵּׁשֶּׁת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה מֵאוֹת מִן הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בְּקֵרוּב.

None of the other stars is as large as the sun, nor is there one as small as the planet Kochav, in the second sphere.וְאֵין בְּכָל הַכּוֹכָבִים כּוֹכָב גָּדוֹל מִן הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְלֹא קָטָן מִ'כּוֹכָב' שֶׁבְּגַלְגַּל הַשֵּׁנִי.

9All the stars and spheres possess a soul, knowledge, and intellect. They are alive and stand in recognition of the One who spoke and thus brought the world into being.טכָּל הַכּוֹכָבִים וְהַגַּלְגַּלִּים - כֻּלָּן בַּעֲלֵי נֶפֶשׁ וְדֵעָה וְהַשְׂכֵּל הֵם, וְהֵם חַיִּים וְעוֹמְדִים וּמַכִּירִין אֶת מִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם.

According to their size and level, each one praises and glorifies their Creator as the angels do.12כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, לְפִי גָּדְלוֹ וּלְפִי מַעֲלָתוֹ, מְשַׁבְּחִים וּמְפָאֲרִים לְיוֹצְרָם כְּמוֹ הַמַּלְאָכִים.

Just as they are aware of the Holy One, blessed be He, they are also aware of themselves and of the angels which surpass them.וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁמַּכִּירִין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כָּךְ מַכִּירִין אֶת עַצְמָן וּמַכִּירִין אֶת הַמַּלְאָכִים שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מֵהֶן.

The knowledge of the stars and the spheres is less than the knowledge of the angels, but greater than that of men.13וְדַעַת הַכּוֹכָבִים וְהַגַּלְגַּלִּים מְעוּטָה מִדַּעַת הַמַּלְאָכִים וּגְדוֹלָה מִדַּעַת בְּנֵי אָדָם.

10Below the sphere of the moon, God created a type of matter14 which differs from the matter of the spheres. He created four forms15 for this matter, which differ from the forms of matter of the spheres.יבָּרָא הָאֵל לַמַּטָּה מִגַּלְגַּל הַיָּרֵחַ גֹּלֶם אֶחָד שֶׁאֵינוֹ כְּגֹלֶם הַגַּלְגַּלִּים. וּבָרָא אַרְבַּע צוּרוֹת לְגֹלֶם זֶה וְאֵינָן כְּצוּרַת הַגַּלְגַּלִּים.

Each of these forms was fixed in a portion of this matter as it exists in its totality. The first of these forms is the form of fire. When it became connected to a portion of this matter, from the two there came into being a body of fire.וְנִקְבַּע כָּל צוּרָה וְצוּרָה בְּמִקְצָת גֹּלֶם זֶה: צוּרָה רִאשׁוֹנָה, צוּרַת הָאֵשׁ, נִתְחַבְּרָה בְּמִקְצָת גֹּלֶם זֶה וְנִהְיֶה מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם גּוּף הָאֵשׁ;

The second of these forms is the form of wind. When it became connected to a portion of this matter, from the two there came into being a body of wind.וְצוּרָה שְׁנִיָּה, צוּרַת הָרוּחַ, נִתְחַבְּרָה בְּמִקְצָתוֹ וְנִהְיָה מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם גּוּף הָרוּחַ;

The third of these forms is the form of water. When it became connected to a portion of this matter, from the two there came into being a body of water.וְצוּרָה שְׁלִישִׁית, צוּרַת הַמַּיִם, נִתְחַבְּרָה בְּמִקְצָתוֹ וְנִהְיָה מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם גּוּף הַמַּיִם;

The fourth of these forms is the form of earth. When it became connected to a portion of this matter, from the two there came into being a body of earth.וְצוּרָה רְבִיעִית, צוּרַת הָאָרֶץ, נִתְחַבְּרָה בְּמִקְצָתוֹ וְנִהְיָה מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם גּוּף הָאָרֶץ.

Thus, below the sky there are four different states of matter, one above the other, each one encompassing the one below it from all directions, like a sphere.נִמְצָא לְמַטָּה מִן הָרָקִיעַ אַרְבָּעָה גוּפִין מֻחְלָקִין זֶה לְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה, וְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מַקִּיף אֶת שֶׁלְּמַטָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מִכָּל רוּחוֹתָיו כְּמוֹ גַּלְגַּל.

The first of these bodies, which is closest to the sphere of the moon, is that of fire. Below it is the body of wind, below it the body of water, and below it the body of Earth. There is no empty space without any matter between them at all.הַגּוּף הָרִאשׁוֹן הַסָּמוּךְ לְגַלְגַּל הַיָּרֵחַ הוּא גּוּף הָאֵשׁ; לְמַטָּה מִמֶּנּוּ גּוּף הָרוּחַ; לְמַטָּה מִמֶּנּוּ גּוּף הַמַּיִם; לְמַטָּה מִמֶּנּוּ גּוּף הָאָרֶץ. וְאֵין בֵּינֵיהֶם מָקוֹם פָּנוּי בְּלֹא גּוּף כְּלָל.

11These four bodies do not possess a soul, nor are they conscious or knowing. Rather, they are like dead bodies.יאאַרְבָּעָה גּוּפוֹת הָאֵלּוּ אֵינָם בַּעֲלֵי נֶפֶשׁ וְאֵינָם יוֹדְעִים וְלֹא מַכִּירִים - אֶלָּא כְּגוּפִים מֵתִים.

Each one has its inclinations. However, it is not conscious or knowledgeable of these inclinations, nor can it change them.וְיֵשׁ לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהֶם מִנְהָג שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדְעוֹ וְלֹא מַשִּׂיגוֹ וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְשַׁנּוֹתוֹ.

David’s statement (Psalms 148:7-8): “Praise God from the Earth, sea-monsters and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and vapor” does not contradict the above statement. That verse should be interpreted: Men, praise God for His mightiness which is apparent in the fire, hail, and other creations that can be seen below the sky, because their power is always visible to both the great and the small.וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד: "הַלְּלוּ אֶת יְיָ מִן הָאָרֶץ תַּנִּינִים וְכָל תְּהוֹמוֹת אֵשׁ וּבָרָד שֶׁלֶג וְקִיטוֹר". וּבֵאוּר עִנְיַן הַדְּבָרִים: הַלְּלוּהוּ, בְּנֵי אָדָם, מִגְּבוּרוֹתָיו שֶׁתִּרְאוּ בָאֵשׁ וּבַבָּרָד וּבִשְׁאָר בְּרוּאִים שֶׁתִּרְאוּ לְמַטָּה מִן הָרָקִיעַ, שֶׁגְּבוּרָתָם תָּמִיד נִכֶּרֶת לַקָּטֹן וְלַגָּדוֹל.

Footnotes

In translation, this word means “star” or “planet.” It refers to the planet Mercury.

In translation, this word means “shining.” It refers to the planet Venus.

In translation, this word means “reddening.” It refers to the planet Mars.

In translation, this word means “justice.” It refers to the planet Jupiter.

In translation, this word means “the Sabbatical.” It refers to the planet Saturn.

Sanhedrin 91b states that the Shechinah (Divine Presence) is in the west. Hence, the movement of this sphere in this direction can be considered an act of service to God.

As stated in Halachah 10 and in Chapter 2, Halachah 3, the state of matter of the spheres differs from the state of matter in our world.

These include some of the smaller spheres which are included with the eight larger spheres.

Note the Rambam’s remarks in Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh 17:24: This is the science of the seasons and geometry about which the wise men of Greece composed many books. These are presently found in the hands of the Sages. However, the texts which were composed by the Sages of Israel of the tribe of Issachar in the time of the Prophets have not reached us.
[Nevertheless,] since these concepts have been proven conclusively... we are not concerned about the author, regardless of whether they were authored by the prophets or the gentiles.... We are not relying on the person who states or teaches the concept, but on the proofs.

10.

The term mazal literally means “source of influence.” In the Rambam’s time, it was commonly felt that the position of the stars affected one’s future. For this reason, the word mazal is often translated as “fortune” or “luck.” Many Torah Sages shared these ideas — albeit with the qualification that a Jew always has the potential to rise above these influences. (See the Ra’avad’s comments to Hilchot Teshuvah 5:5; Ramban, Responsum 282; and the Nimukei Yosef, Sanhedrin, Chapter 7).
The Rambam totally dismisses the influence of astrology. In his Commentary on the Mishnah, Avodah Zarah 4:7, he describes it as “empty words and lies,” and in Shemonah Perakim, Chapter 8, he mentions “the madness with which the astrologers attempt to deceive.”

11.

The authoritative manuscripts of the Mishna Torah omit the words “and the moon.” Indeed, their addition is surly an error because the speeds with which the sun and the moon revolve differ.

12.

Thus, Pesachim 2a interprets Psalms 148:3, “Praise Him all shining stars,” simply — i.e., the stars render praise to God. However, note how the Targum and the Midrash Shochar Tov interpret Psalms 19:2, “The heavens relate the glory of God,” as “The heavens cause others to relate”.

13.

Note the differences between this halachah and Chapter 2, Halachah 8.

14.

This refers to primeval, unformed matter. In Greek terminology, it is referred to as hyli.

15.

The word "form" in this context refers to the entity's spiritual qualities and not its physical shape.

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