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Cosmology of the Old Testament

Cosmology is a type of worldview. It is a theory or doctrine describing the natural order of the universe (the cosmos).

We think of the earth as a round planet that is part of a solar system in a larger galaxy. People in Bible times thought the earth was flat. That's two different worldviews.

Ancient Worldview of Near Eastern Peoples

The picture below is a representation of the cosmology of the people of the Bible during Old Testament times.

The universe is three-tiered:

• Heaven -- Here live the gods
• Earth -- The fragile abode of the human
• Underworld -- World of Death

The world is flat. A canopy holds up with pillars covers the earth. Chaotic waters surround the earth.

The sun travels across the canopy to the underworld then returns to its rising point.

Click here to see a similar image that has labels describing each part of the cosmology you see on the picture on this page.

What does this have to do with the Bible?

1. Read Psalm 19:4-6.
How does this ancient worldview influence the writer?

Worldviews and the belief of people surrounding them influenced the record of God's people in the Bible. Read some of the following stories.

• Joshua 9 -- The story of worn-out woodcutters and water carriers
• Genesis 31 -- Rachel steals the gods and fools her father
• Judges 11:6-17 -- The Israelites worship the Baals and the Astartes, who were believed to be gods over the land and were especially important to farmers whose livelihood depended on their crops.

Representation of the ancient god Baal

2. What other stories show the influences and worldviews of Old Testament authors?

3. What other customs and beliefs influenced the writer?

4. Are there similarities in things that affected the world of the Old Testament that continue to affect our lives at the present time?

Take the Highway

Learn about New Testament World Views. People in Jesus' day experienced their world different from those who lived in Old Testament times.

Choose a Byway

Explore these outside links for more information on worldviews that affected people of the Old Testament. Make sure you click the BACK button to return to our site.

• The Edinburgh Ras Shamra Project
  The Ras Shamra tablets, discovered in 1929, give information on the Canaanite religion. This web site is based on a project of the Hebrew and Old Testament Department, New College, at the University of Edinburgh. It provides information about the Ras Shamra, digital images of some of the texts written in the alphabetic cuneiform script developed at the ancient city of Ugarit, as well information on matters Ugaritic in general.
• Egyptian Antiquity Information
  As we explore the Bible, this site offers resources and educational material on Egypt.

Next Page: The World of the New Testament

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