THE PLANETS; THE COURSE OF THE SUN ON the fourth day He connected together the two luminaries, of which one was not greater (in size) than the other. They were equal as regards their height, || qualities, and illuminating powers, as it is said, "And God made the two great lights" (Gen. 1:16). Rivalry ensued between them, one said to the other, I am bigger than thou art. The other rejoined, I am bigger than thou art. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do, so that there should be peace between them? He made the one larger and the other smaller, as it is said, "The greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars he also made" (ibid.). All the stars minister to the seven planets, and their names are: Sun, Venus, Mercury, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars. The mnemonic of their service is KZNSh ChLM, by night; ChLM KZNSh by day and KLSh ZMChN for the hours of the night; ChNKL ShZM for the hours of the day. On the first day Mercury and the Sun, on the second day Jupiter and the Moon, on the third day Venus and Mars, on the fourth day Saturn and Mercury, on the fifth day the Sun and Jupiter, on the sixth day the Moon and Venus, on the seventh day Mars and Saturn. All of them minister to the twelve constellations which correspond to the twelve months. The constellations are: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. All the constellations minister to the days of the sun. Now the days of the solar month are 30 days, 10 hours and a half, and each constellation ministers to the || days of the solar month for two days and a half, so that two constellations (minister for) five days. The chief which begins at the beginning of the solar month is the same chief which completes at the end of the solar month; the one which opens is the one which closes. The great cycle of the sun is 28 years, and therein are seven small cycles each of four years. The number of days of the solar year is 365 and a quarter of a day. The seasons of the solar year are four, each season (consisting of) 91 days 7½ hours. The beginnings of the cycles of the seasons are the 4th, 2nd, 7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st, and 6th (days). Between each cycle there are 5 days and 6 (hours). The Teḳuphoth (i.e. seasons) of the small cycle are four in each year, some of them (last) 91 days 7½ hours and some last 92 days. The first year of the cycle (of four years) has its Teḳuphah in Nisan at 6 p.m.; in the second year at 12 p.m.; in the third year at 6 a.m.; in the fourth year at 12 a.m. The four beginnings of the Teḳuphah of the four months of Nisan commence at the beginning of the night, at midnight, at the beginning of the day, and at noon (respectively). The rest of the other (days of the) || Teḳuphoth are as follows: ẒCh; GYCh; VACh; ṬDCh. The first Teḳuphah of Nisan took place at the beginning (of the hours) of Saturn. The Teḳuphah of Tammuz (took place) at the middle (of the hours) of Saturn. The Teḳuphah of Tishri (occurred) at the beginning of the hours of Jupiter. The Teḳuphah of Ṭebeth (took place) at the middle (of the hours) of Jupiter. And thus with all the other Teḳuphoth, which occur at the beginning of the hours or at the middle of the hours. The first cycle took place at the beginning of the hour of Saturn, (and the names of the Planets of the hours are) Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. The second cycle occurred in the hour (of the Planet) which is in front of it, (i.e.) at the beginning of the hour of Jupiter. The third cycle occurred at the beginning of the hour of Mars. The fourth cycle entered at the beginning of the hour of the Sun. The fifth cycle entered at the beginning of the hour of Venus. The sixth cycle entered at the beginning of the hour of Mercury. The seventh cycle entered at the beginning (of the hour) of the Moon. (At) the end of seven hours, at the end of seven cycles, at the end of 35 days of the great cycle of 28 years, the Teḳuphah cycle returns (i.e. begins again) at the beginning of the fourth day in the hour of Saturn in the hour when it was created. In 366 (degrees) the sun rises and declines, it rises 183 (degrees) || in the east, and it declines 183 (degrees) in the west corresponding to the 365 days of the solar year. (The sun) goes forth through 366 apertures and enters by the east; 90 days it is in the south (east) quarter, 91 days in the north (east) quarter and one aperture is in the middle and its name is Nogah. (At) the Teḳuphah of Tishri (the sun) begins from the aperture of Nogah and goes through its revolutions towards the south quarter, through one aperture after another until it reaches the aperture of Bilgah. (At) the Teḳuphah of Ṭebeth (the sun) begins from the aperture of Bilgah and continues its course, returning backward through one aperture after another until it reaches the aperture of Ta'alumah, through which the light goes forth, as it is said, "And the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light" (Job 28:11). (At) the Teḳuphah of Nisan (the sun) begins from the aperture of Ta'alumah, and it goes to the north quarter through one aperture after another until it reaches the aperture No'aman. (At) the Teḳuphah of Ṭammuz (the sun) begins from the aperture No'aman and goes on its course, returning backwards through aperture after aperture until it reaches the aperture Cheder whence the whirlwind goes forth, as it is said, "Out of the chamber cometh the storm and cold out of the scattering winds" (Job 37:9). Through these apertures which are in the east (the sun) || goes forth and opposite to them in the west (the sun) sets. The Shekhinah is always in the west. (The sun) sets and worships before the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: Lord of all worlds! I have done according to all that Thou hast commanded me. The aperture which is in the midst of the firmament is named M'zarim and (the sun) does not go forth or set therein except once in its great cycle; (thereon) it goes through it as on the day when it was created. At night the sun is in the west. At the Teḳuphah of Tishri and at the Teḳuphah of Ṭebeth the sun goes on its course in the south quarter and in the waters of the Ocean (which are) between the ends of the heavens and the ends of the earth where it is submerged. For the night is long and the way is long until (the sun) reaches the aperture which is in the east, (even) the aperture through which it desires to go forth, as it is said, "It goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north" (Eccles. 1:6). It goes to the south at the Teḳuphah of Tishri and at the Teḳuphah of Ṭebeth, and turns to the north at the Teḳuphah of Nisan and at the Teḳuphah of Tammuz. It goes on its course for six months in the south quarter, and for six months in the north quarter, and owing to its circuits the sun returns to the aperture which is in the east. The sun has three letters of (God's) Name written upon his heart, and the angels lead him; such || as lead him by day do not lead him by night, and such as lead him by night do not lead him by day. The sun rides in a chariot and rises, crowned as a bridegroom, as it is said, "Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course"⁠a (Ps. 19:5). The sun's rays and face, which are turned downwards (to the earth), are of hail; and were it not for the hail which quenches the flames of fire the world would be consumed by fire, as it is said, "And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof" (Ps. 19:6). In winter (the sun) turns the upper (half of) his face downwards, and were it not for the fire which warms the face of hail the world could not endure because of the ice (cold), as it is said, "Who can stand before his cold?" (Ps. 147:17). These are the ends of the ways of the sun.