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Astrology in Jewish antiquity () is the belief that celestial bodies can influence the affairs of individuals and of entire nations upon the earth. This involves the study of the celestial bodies' respective energies based on recurring patterns that change by the hour, by the week, month, year or by several years (time categories). In each of these time categories one of the seven planetary spheres, or what are known as the seven classical planets: the Sun, Venus, Mercury, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, or Mars, along with the month's current Zodiac constellation, come into play and influence the sublunary world. At times, it involves a complex combination of several of these factors working together. In Judaism this belief is expressed by the biblical affirmation: "Do you know the laws of heaven / Or impose its authority on earth?" (Job 38:33), from which statement the Sages of Israel have inferred, "There is no single herb below without its corresponding star above, that beats upon it and commands it to grow."
Complementary to the records of past civilisations, the corpus of Jewish literature has preserved many of the details instructive of the determining factors involved in rendering any astrological forecast, although astrology in terms of modern science is understood to be a pseudoscience.
In the Babylonian Talmud, a controversy is presented among the sages of Israel as to whether the changing signs of the zodiac affect a person's destiny. The supportive opinions are of Joshua ben Levi, who lists the types of people according to their various zodiac signs, and of Hanina bar Hama, who believes that the astrological constellations ( mazzal) can make a person wise and can even make a person wealthy. Conversely, Johanan bar Nappaha held the view that "Israel is not bound by the effects of the changing horoscopes."Babylonian Talmud ( Shabbat 156a) He assayed to bring proof from a verse taken from the prophet Jeremiah: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them."
The opinions of Abba Arikha, of Samuel of Nehardea and of Rabbi Akiva, however, seem to be supportive of applied astrology, even though the people of Israel are not bound by the influences of the constellations. Other rabbis have vaunted their knowledge of applied astrology. Said Samuel of Nehardea, "I know the pathways of heaven as I do the pathways of Nehardea, excepting the comet, about which I know nothing."Babylonian Talmud ( Berakhot 58b)
In several places in the Talmud it is stated that every man has a celestial body ( mazzal), i.e. a particular star which is his patron from conception and birth ( Shabbat 53b; Baba Kama 2b) and which perceives things unknown to the man himself ( Megillah 3a; Sanhedrin 94a). Two people born under the same star are also said to have a bodily and spiritual kinship ( Nedarim 39b; Baba Metzia 30b).
Rava says, "Duration of life, progeny, and subsistence are dependent upon the constellations."Babylonian Talmud ( Moed Katan 28a)
The great men of Israel in the Middle Ages, viz., Saadia Gaon, in his commentary on the Sefer Yetzirah; Solomon ibn Gabirol in his Keter Malkhut, and Abraham bar Hiyya, ha-Nasi and Abraham ibn Ezra considered astrology to be true wisdom and even expressed this belief in their works.Abraham ibn Ezra once wrote, "The orb and constellations of the Zodiac are in their stations. / They have inclined in their circuit because of my nativity. // I have wearied myself to become successful, but to no avail, / for the stars of my heavens have dealt perversely with me!" Original. Judah Halevi also acknowledges in his magnum opus, the Kuzari, that the celestial bodies have an influence on earthly affairs, but does not admit that the astrologers have the ability to determine the mode of operation of the star systems on human beings and other living creatures in the terrestrial world.
Maimonides, who lived in the late twelfth century, took a more critical approach to the topic of astrology, ruling that man was entirely incapable of foretelling futurities by observing the celestial bodies, especially if those same astrological formulae were faulty. He, therefore, cancelled its practice altogether. Among the rabbis of the Middle Ages, Maimonides was the sole antagonist of such practices. One of his contemporaries and disputants, Abraham ben David, in his glosses to Maimonides' Mishneh Torah (Hil. Teshuvah 5:5), asserts the influence of the stars upon destiny, while contending that by faith in God man may overcome this influence.Marcus Jastrow, Ludwig Blau, Kaufmann Kohler (eds.), "Astrology," in: The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906)
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, during the Age of Enlightenment and although never actually having used his knowledge of the occult to foretell futurities, speaks about the influences of the stars in his book, Derekh Hashem (II, chapter 7 – The Influence of Stars).
The Midrash HaGadol (on Deuteronomy 4:19) clarifies what is meant by, " And lest you raise your eyes to heaven, etc." It is hereby inferred that you are not to say, 'since these stars and constellations govern the world, and they provide light unto the entire universe, and they serve before their Creator on High, it is fitting that we serve them and bow down unto them, just as the king would want all human beings to behave with respect towards his servants and ministers.' For this reason it says, lest you raise your eyes to heaven, beware that you do not err in this manner, on account of what is, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations. They (i.e. the astrological horoscopes) have been delivered into the hands of the nations, so that they may live thereby and their beings be sustained thereby, without suffering loss, as is the custom of the world. But you (i.e. the nation of Israel) have been given over to me, and I do not behave towards you as is customarily practised with all the world, as it says, But the Lord has taken you (Deut. 4:20), etc. Likewise he says, Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens; for the gentiles are dismayed at them (Jer. 10:2). The nations of the world are alarmed by them, but Israel is not alarmed by them."
A similar theme is found in other rabbinic literature concerning Abraham, who, although wise in the astrological sciences, and who saw thereby that he would not beget any children, was reprimanded by God who said to him: "Break away from your astrological speculations, for the Israel are not bound by the influences of the horoscope."Babylonian Talmud ( Nedarim 32a; Shabbat 156a); Rashi on Genesis 15:5 By this Rashi learnt that through prayers, repentance and meritorious deeds (sometimes also through a change of name), they are able to alter what has been determined for them.Babylonian Talmud ( Shabbat 156a, Rashi's commentary, s.v. )
The people of Israel are prohibited by Jewish law to consult the astrologers and star-gazers for guidance, but are commanded to be perfectThe Hebrew word used in Deuteronomy 18:13 is , which is translated by Targum Onkelos as , = "perfect," but which word has also the connotation of being "naïve", based on Rabbi Saadia Gaon's Judeo-Arabic translation of the same word ( = ) in their awe of God and to consult him for guidance, even when they are told by astrologers what might happen.Nachmanides, on Deuteronomy 18:13 ( P. Shoftim), p. 74
To each hour of the day and night is assigned one of the Classical planet or spheres, which same planet governs the world during that hour. The names of these planets are: Saturn ( shabtai), Venus ( nogah), Jupiter ( tzedek), Mercury ( kokhav), Mars ( ma'adim), Moon ( levanah) and the Sun ( ḥamah). Note:. The star or planet that begins the first hour of a particular weekday, or the first nocturnal hour of a particular weeknight, it is the same star or planet that broadly governs that entire day or night.Adani (1997), chapter 17 (Introduction)
| represented by 13 starsAdani (1997), chapter 17 (p. 93a) |
| represented by 33 stars |
| represented by 18 stars |
| represented by 9 stars |
| represented by 60 stars |
| represented by 25 stars |
| represented by 8 stars |
| represented by 21 stars |
| represented by 31 stars |
| represented by 28 stars |
| represented by 42 stars |
| represented by 34 stars |
Accordingly, it was believed that God determined that each of the seven planets be subordinate to the twelve Zodiac, and work in conjunction with them. For example, the Sun is directly subservient to the influences emanating from the constellation known as Leo, while the Moon is subservient to the influences emanating from the constellation known as Cancer. Mars is subservient to the influences emanating from two constellations, namely, Aries and Scorpio. The planet Venus is also subservient to the influences emanating from two constellations, namely, Taurus and Libra. The planet Mercury is, likewise, subservient to two constellations, drawing its influences from them, namely, that of Gemini and Virgo. The planet Saturn is subservient to two constellations, those being Capricorn and Aquarius, whence it draws its influences. Finally, the planet Jupiter is directly subordinate to the influences emanating from Sagittarius and Pisces.
Weekly nocturnal duties: Each of the seven planets takes turn governing one day of the week, with the active involvement of all the planets on that same day working in concert, hour after hour, day by day, night by night, such that on the evening that commences Sunday (i.e. Saturday night),In Jewish tradition, nightfall ushers in a new day, as is written (Gen. 1:5): "And the evening and the morning were the first day." the night is governed by Mercury ( kokhav), which begins its turn of duty in the first hour of the night, followed by all the other planets one after the other. On the evening that commences Monday (i.e. Sunday night), the night is governed by Jupiter ( tzedek), which begins its turn of duty in the first hour of the night, followed by all the other planets one after the other. And so it is in this manner all throughout the week, the evening that commences Tuesday (i.e. Monday night) is governed by Venus ( nogah); the evening that commences Wednesday (i.e. Tuesday night) is governed by Saturn ( shabtai);Babylonian Talmud ( Berakhot 59b, Rashi s.v. ) the evening that commences Thursday (i.e. Wednesday night) is governed by the Sun ( ḥamah); the evening that commences Friday (i.e. Thursday night) is governed by the Moon ( levanah); the evening that commences Saturday (i.e. Friday night) is governed by Mars ( ma'adim). The mnemonic used to denote this order is .
Hourly nocturnal duties: Since each planet takes its turn of duty in the 12-hour night, the order taken in their hourly rotation is as follows: When Mercury ( kokhav) finishes the 1st hour of the night, it is joined by the Moon ( levanah) who takes up the 2nd hour of the night, followed by Saturn ( shabtai) who takes up the 3rd hour of the night, followed by Jupiter ( tzedek) who takes up the 4th hour of the night, followed by Mars ( ma'adim) who takes up the 5th hour of the night, followed by the Sun ( ḥamah) whose influence takes up the 6th hour of the night, followed by Venus ( nogah) who takes up the 7th hour of the night, and in this order it is repeated until the 12-hour night has concluded for each of the seven nights. This hourly rotation is denoted by the mnemonic .Cf. Babylonian Talmud ( Eruvin 56a, Rashi, s.v. ) who brings down this same teaching. Fixing their rotation in such a way, hour by hour, was seen as vital in order to determine the character of the child who is born at any given hour of the night, based on the hour's acting "mazzal" (astrological influence), in accordance with the principle laid out by Rabbi Hanina: "Not the constellation of the day but that of the hour is the determining influence."Babylonian Talmud ( Shabbat 156a)
Weekly diurnal duties: As in the night, so, too, each of the 12-hour weekdays has a set order pre-determined for it, while each of the seven planets rotating and serving in its respective hour. However, the planet that began to serve in the first hour of the night is not the same planet that begins in the first hour of the day. During the weekdays, the first hour of the first day of the week (Sunday), starts with the influences of the Sun (hence: Sunday); the first hour of the second day of the week (Monday) starts with the influences of the Moon (hence: Monday); the first hour of the third day of the week (Tuesday) with Mars, and the first hour of the fourth day of the week (Wednesday) with Mercury, while the first hour of the fifth day of the week (Thursday) with Jupiter, and the first hour of the sixth day of the week (Friday) with Venus, and lastly, the first hour of the seventh day of the week (Saturday) with Saturn. The mnemonic used to denote this order is .Cf. Babylonian Talmud ( Eruvin 56a, Rashi, s.v. ), where Rashi mentions this same order, with the acronym : The first hour of the day on the first day of the week (Sunday) being commenced by "ḥamah" (= Sun), the first hour of the day on the second day of the week (Monday) being commenced by "levanah" (= Moon), the first hour of the day on the third day of the week (Tuesday) being commenced by "ma'adim" (= Mars), the first hour of the day on the fourth day of the week (Wednesday) being commenced by "kokhav" (= Mercury), the first hour of the day on the fifth day of the week (Thursday) being commenced by "tzedek" (= Jupiter), the first hour of the day on the sixth day of the week (Friday) being commenced by "nogah" (= Venus), and the first hour of the night on the seventh day of the week (Saturday) being commenced by "shabtai" (= Saturn).
Hourly diurnal duties: When the Sun finishes the 1st hour of the day on Sunday, it is joined by Venus who takes up the 2nd hour of the day on Sunday, followed by Mercury who takes up the 3rd hour of the day on Sunday, followed by the Moon whose influence takes up the 4th hour of the day on Sunday, followed by Saturn who takes up the 5th hour of the day on Sunday, followed by Jupiter who takes up the 6th hour of the day on Sunday, followed by Mars who takes up the 7th hour of the day on Sunday, and in this order it is repeated until the 12-hour day has concluded. Again, fixing their rotation in such a way, hour by hour, was seen as vital in order to determine the character of the child who is born at any given hour of the day. The mnemonic used by the Sages of Israel to remember their order of rotation is = Sha Tza M Ḥa NKa L ( shabtai = → tzedek = → ma'adim = → ḥamah = → nogah = → kokhav = → levanah =).
Although each of the seven planets will rotate one after the other on an hourly basis, whether by day or whether by night, it is only the planet or orb that began to serve in the first hour, whether by day or whether by night, that is considered the principal planet and master of that entire day (if it began its turn of duty in the first hour of the day), or the principal planet and master of that entire night (if it began its turn of duty in the first hour of the night). The participation of all the other planets on that same day or that same night is inconsequential to the fact that the mazzal (= astral influences) for that day, or what is called mazzal yom, belongs to the planet that began serving in the first hour of the day, or in the first hour of the night, while the other planets are only concerned with their specific hour, or what is called mazzal sha'ah.Babylonian Talmud ( Shabbat 156a, Rashi's commentary, s.v. )
Since the Moon begins its turn of duty in the first hour of every Monday morning, and Jupiter begins its turn of duty in the first hour of every Thursday morning, and since both these planets are considered planets possessing good influences, it follows that Monday and Thursday are considered auspicious days in the Jewish calendar. Arba'ah Turim ( Orach Chayim, section 134, commentaries of Rabbi Moses Isserles and the Mishnah Berurah (ibid.))
| Cold and humidity are under its influences. Its virtue is to act with its light on the trees and plants; tidal waves of the sea controlled by moon's waning and waxing; preserves moisture in plants and animals towards the end of its synodic month, during which time women are best able to conceive |
| Awakens in the world strife and contentions and enmities, as well as gossip, but also gives strength to do virtuously and to heap up wealth and riches, as well as provisions. Its influences work both good and bad. |
| Cold is under its influences. Awakens in the world tranquility and calm, happiness and rejoicing, carols and joyful songs, the merriment associated with weddings, while binding together all fruitful produce and other flora, its influences being utterly good. |
| Renews wonders in the world, whether for abundance or for privation; whether for peace or for war; occasionally working to bring down and to depose of kingdoms, while at other times working to establish and to raise up others. |
| Heat and dryness are under its influences. Awakens in the world wars and killings and desolation, as well as a multitude of other troubles; the burning of cities and bloodshed. Its influences are bad and harmful, as if to rid the unwanted thorns from the vineyards. |
| Awakens in the world heat and humidity. Awakens probity and repentance and good-will and love, as well as every good virtue, while bringing an end to wars and hostility and conflict, and allowing for the increase of the earth's fruits. Its influences are utterly good. |
| Coldness and dryness are under its influences. Awakens wars and captivity, plundering and famine, while also destroying countries and quickly uprooting kingdoms, insofar that its influences are bad and bring harm, as if it were to bring an end to the wicked of the earth. |
{ cellspacing=0 align=center cellpadding=5px width=50% style="background: lightyellow; border: 1px solid black;" | + '''Table no. 1''' | |
| ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" >Sunday (hours of night) ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" | Sunday (hours of day) | |
| '''1'''st hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''1'''st hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''2'''nd hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''2'''nd hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''3'''rd hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''3'''rd hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''4'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''4'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''5'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''5'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''6'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''6'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''7'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''7'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''8'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''8'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''9'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''9'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''10'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''10'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''11'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''11'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''12'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''12'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') |
| >+ '''Table no. 2''' | ||
| ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" >Monday (hours of night) ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" | Monday (hours of day) | |
| '''1'''st hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''1'''st hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''2'''nd hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''2'''nd hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''3'''rd hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''3'''rd hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''4'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''4'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''5'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''5'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''6'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''6'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''7'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''7'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''8'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''8'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''9'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''9'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''10'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''10'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''11'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''11'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''12'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''12'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') |
| >+ '''Table no. 3''' | ||
| ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" >Tuesday (hours of night) ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" | Tuesday (hours of day) | |
| '''1'''st hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''1'''st hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''2'''nd hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''2'''nd hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''3'''rd hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''3'''rd hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''4'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''4'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''5'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''5'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''6'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''6'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''7'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''7'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''8'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''8'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''9'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''9'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''10'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''10'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''11'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''11'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''12'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''12'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') |
| >+ '''Table no. 4''' | ||
| ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" >Wednesday (hours of night) ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" | Wednesday (hours of day) | |
| '''1'''st hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''1'''st hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''2'''nd hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''2'''nd hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''3'''rd hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''3'''rd hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''4'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''4'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''5'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''5'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''6'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''6'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''7'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''7'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''8'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''8'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''9'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''9'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''10'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''10'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''11'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''11'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''12'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''12'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') |
| >+ '''Table no. 5''' | ||
| ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" >Thursday (hours of night) ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" | Thursday (hours of day) | |
| '''1'''st hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''1'''st hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''2'''nd hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''2'''nd hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''3'''rd hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''3'''rd hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''4'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''4'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''5'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''5'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''6'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''6'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''7'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''7'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''8'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''8'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''9'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''9'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''10'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''10'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''11'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''11'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''12'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''12'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') |
| >+ '''Table no. 6''' | ||
| ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" >Friday (hours of night) ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" | Friday (hours of day) | |
| '''1'''st hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''1'''st hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''2'''nd hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''2'''nd hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''3'''rd hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''3'''rd hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''4'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''4'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''5'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''5'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''6'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''6'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''7'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''7'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''8'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''8'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''9'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''9'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''10'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''10'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''11'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''11'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''12'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''12'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') |
| >+ '''Table no. 7''' | ||
| ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" >Saturday (hours of night) ! style="background:blue;color:white;border-bottom:1.5px solid black" | Saturday (hours of day) | |
| '''1'''st hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''1'''st hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''2'''nd hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''2'''nd hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''3'''rd hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''3'''rd hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''4'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''4'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''5'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''5'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | |
| '''6'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | '''6'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | |
| '''7'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | '''7'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | |
| '''8'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | '''8'''th hour = [[Saturn]] , (''shabtai'') | |
| '''9'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | '''9'''th hour = [[Jupiter]] , (''tzedek'') | |
| '''10'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') | '''10'''th hour = [[Mars]] , (''ma'adim'') | |
| '''11'''th hour = Mercury , (''kokhav'') | '''11'''th hour = [[Sun]] , (''ḥamah'') | |
| '''12'''th hour = [[Moon]] , (''levanah'') | '''12'''th hour = [[Venus]] , (''nogah'') |
Hayyim Vital, when speaking of their relative influences, wrote: "It has already been explained in the books on the science of astrology that all the changing occurrences which take place and which appear anew in the world, they are in accordance with the encounter of one of the Seven Planets standing in proximity to a certain star ()Here explained like the word in Rabbi Saadia Gaon's translation and commentary of Job 38:32, where the word is explained as = "stars." of the twelve astrological constellations () located in the Eighth Sphere, or else in accordance with the encounter of some of those planets which belong to the Seven, when they are found together in one place. Moreover, any encounter of the Seven Planets with the other celestial forms found in the vast open space of the Eighth Sphere will cause a little of the instructions relegated to surge, although not with the same vigor as in the place of those twelve astrological constellations that are synchronous with the Eighth Sphere."
One of the more arcane and mystical writings on the subject, Sefer Yetzirah "Book of Creation", a book that endeavors to show the interconnection between all things, says that God created the classical planets by means of seven Hebrew alphabet, which are בג"ד כפר"ת (being the sole double-sounding consonants in the Hebrew alphabet), and that the 12 constellations of the Zodiac were also created by means of 12 ordinary Hebrew letters. The author of this work, without divulging the influences of the horoscopes, names simply those things created by means of the letters, naming also the weekdays, seven groupings of words and their opposites (life and death; peace and evil disturbances; wisdom and foolishness; wealth and poverty; fertility and desolation; beauty and ugliness; governance and servitude), among other things. According to Judah Halevi, the seven planets and the 12 constellations, and the various other examples mentioned in the book, are the means by which man is capable of understanding the unity and omnipotence of God, which are multiform on one side and, yet, uniform on the other.Rabbi Judah Halevi, Sefer Kuzari, section 25, translated by Hartwig Hirschfeld (1905) at Wikisource
In some instances, a person can alter what has been seen by an astrologer concerning his fate, simply by performing a charitable deed. The Jerusalem Talmud relates a story where two men were saved by giving a portion of their bread to a hungry man. In other cases, a person's fortune may be altered by a change of place or by a change of name. Rabbi and philosopher Joseph Albo (c. 1380–1444) wrote in his Sefer HaIkkarim that "the stars determine the destiny at some point, but can be changed by free will or merit."
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