Fragments on Astrology

All of this has been recorded in the name of R. Moses ha-Darshan after deep investigation into astrology and astronomy.

If the early rain falls on the 19th of Tammuz, there will be high prices at the beginning of the year and low prices in the middle and end of the year.

And if it occurs on the 22nd, there will be low prices at the beginning, high prices in the middle and low prices at the end.

And if it occurs on the 21st, there will be low prices at the beginning, and very high prices in the middle and at the end.

And if it occurs on the 27th, they will all be equally bad, and there is no doubt about this, only that the last one will be very, very bad, and he who is knowledgeable about this will be blessed.

If the true winter solstice [tekufat Tevet] should fall out between the 1st and the 5th [the correct reading should be 10th], there will be high prices, and if from the 10th to the 15th, the prices will be very high, and if from the 15th to the 20th, they will be middling, and if from the 20th to the 30th, prices will be very low.

In the year 1948 [1812 BCE],¹ our father, Abraham was born.

In the year 1368 [2392 BCE],  Moses, our teacher, was born.

In the year 2448 [1312 BCE],  the Exodus from Egypt occurred.

In the year 2488 [1272 BCE],  Moses, our teacher, died . . . [ . . . ]

Grain prices . . . I also found that if someone desires to know the grain prices, herewith are signs [simanim] that have been tested and are found to be true. When the winter solstice falls in the year you are investigating, it is important that you know the day of the month it falls on. If it falls on the 2nd or 3rd, prices will be low. If from the 1st to the 5th, prices will be high, if from the 3rd to the 5th, they will be middling, if from the 10th to the 16th, prices will be very high. This is an essential matter, and it should not be given over to anyone [but] modest individuals.

We do not know the reasons for these things, but they were copied from the book written by R. Moses ha-Darshan.