מִֽי־יְסַפֵּ֣ר שְׁחָקִ֣ים בְּחָכְמָ֑ה וְנִבְלֵ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם מִ֣י יַשְׁכִּֽיב׃
װער צײלט איבער די װאָלקנס מיט חכמה? און די לאָגלען פֿון הימל װער גיסט אױס?
Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot
Samuel said: If that ziqa would pass by Kesil96Ibn Janaḥ defines kesil as the star that in Arabic is called suhail, “Canopus”. Ibn Ezra identifies the word as meaning “Pleiades”. Since the Pleiades are seen only during summertime in the Northern Hemisphere, this might justify the characterization of kesil as “hot” in the Babli (58b).
The statement of Samuel and his qualifications are also quoted in the Babli (58b). The text of the Yerushalmi is quoted in slightly changed form in Arukh, s. v. ככב., it would destroy the world. They objected to Samuel: Do we not see that it passes by it? He said to them: It is impossible; either above or below it. Samuel said: I know the places97Derivative of שוּק “market place,” [maybe a pun on שחקים “skies” (E. G.)]. of heaven like the places of my city Nahardea; except for that ziqa, I do not know what that is. Did Samuel ascend to heaven? No, following (Job 38:37): “Who may discourse about heaven in wisdom98I. e., be an astronomer.?”
The statement of Samuel and his qualifications are also quoted in the Babli (58b). The text of the Yerushalmi is quoted in slightly changed form in Arukh, s. v. ככב., it would destroy the world. They objected to Samuel: Do we not see that it passes by it? He said to them: It is impossible; either above or below it. Samuel said: I know the places97Derivative of שוּק “market place,” [maybe a pun on שחקים “skies” (E. G.)]. of heaven like the places of my city Nahardea; except for that ziqa, I do not know what that is. Did Samuel ascend to heaven? No, following (Job 38:37): “Who may discourse about heaven in wisdom98I. e., be an astronomer.?”