[Vision2020] Biblical Cosmology

[nickgier at adelphia.net]

To the Editor of the Lewiston Morning Tribune:

Gene Acheson (Letters, Jan. 19) ought to learn some Hebrew before he makes claims about scientific truths in the Bible.

Acheson contends that Isaiah 40:22 refers to a spherical earth, but the Hebrew word for sphere is not found in this verse.  The Hebrew word hug in this verse is the solid sky dome of a three storey universe with a flat earth in the middle.

The Anchor Bible, one of the best translations ever made, reads: "God sits upon the dome (hug) of the earth" (Is. 40:22), and God "walks on the vault (hug) of heaven" (Job 22:14).

The Hebrew word hug can also refer to the circular perimeter of the sky-dome:  God "drew a circle (hug) on the face of the deep . . . and made firm the skies above" (Prov. 8:27-28).

If we go back to the creation we find that there is a "firmament," a solid dome which separates "the waters from the waters" (Gen. 1:6).  The oceans of heaven are also mentioned in Ps. 148:4 and Job 38:13.
 
Someone clever has calculated that there is not enough water fresh or salty on earth to cover the highest mountains, but the Hebrews solved this problem by having God open up "the windows of heaven" so that the "waters of heaven" could pour down on earth, floating Noah's ark but drowning every other living being.

This is very exciting mythology, Mr. Acheson, but it is not science.  For more details see www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/gre13.htm.

Nick Gier, Moscow

Biblical flat Earth?

In referring to Matthew 4:8 on Jan. 15, Tom Henderson asks how Jesus could see all the kingdoms of Earth if it is round.

Please turn to Luke 4:5. You can see that it was in an instant, or moment of time, these kingdoms were revealed to Jesus, insinuating that it was an illusion or vision.

Satan took him to a mountain top only to magnify the effect. Satan uses the same type of tactics today with which he deceives mankind, or they deceive themselves.

The Bible in fact does state the Earth is round in Isaiah 40:22, written long before most of mankind or science acknowledged the fact.

Keep reading your Bible (book of truth) and asking questions. You shall find that truth is not inconvenient, as Al Gore claims. The truth can actually make you free. (John 8:31-32)

Gene Acheson

Craigmont