41. At that period the night is contracted in its length. It becomes
ten[173] parts, and the day eight parts. Then the sun goes from that
second gate, and sets in the west; but returns to the east, and rises in
the east, in the third gate, thirty-one days, setting in the west of
heaven.
42. At that period the night becomes shortened. It is nine parts. And
the night is equal with the day. The year is precisely three hundred and
sixty-four days.
43. The lengthening of the day and night, and the contraction of the day
and night, are made to differ from each other by the progress of the
sun.
44. By means of this progress the day is daily lengthened, and the night
greatly shortened.[174]
45. This is the law and progress of the sun, and its turning when it
turns back, turning during sixty days,[175] and going forth. This is the
great everlasting luminary, that which he names the sun for ever and
ever.
46. This also is that which goes forth a great luminary, and which is
named after its peculiar kind, as God commanded.
47. And thus it goes in and out, neither slackening nor resting; but
running on in its chariot by day and by night. It shines with a seventh
portion of light from the moon; but the dimensions of both are equal.
Footnote 168:
Paris MS.
Footnote 169:
_the places of their nativity._
Footnote 170:
_And he._
Footnote 171:
_second._ A manifest error. The Paris MS. is correct.
Footnote 172:
_eleven._ A mistake of the transcriber. In the Paris MS. it is
_twelve_.
Footnote 173:
_seven._ Another error.
Footnote 174:
_approaches._
Footnote 175:
That is, it is sixty days in the same gates, viz. thirty days twice
every year.