Also, by using the word asah ("made" or "had made," since it's in the imperfect form y'as) to describe the making of the stars rather than bara ("created"), Genesis makes an interesting prediction: To bara is to create something the likes of which has never existed before, while to asah is to make or work something that is another of an existent kind. (See, for example, the Theological Workbook of the Old Testament.) This is why on day 5, God "created" the animals while on day 6, He "made" more of them.
Therefore, Genesis contains a subtle hint that the sun, moon, and stars (and by extension, planets, asteroids, and comets) that we can see with our naked eyes are not the first stars and planets that God ever created. This again fits perfectly with a Big Bang model, but not so much for Young-Universe Creationism.
Shalom.
Very cool. Thanks.
RIGHT. Please see post 63.