Anon asked Staff ago It can be seen in Tractate Berachot 32 that Chazal knew the precise number of stars, and according to their calculations the number is 10 to the 18th power. Scientific research has reached this number only recently. How did Chazal know this?
In addition, we see in the Yam Shel Shlomo and in Tractate Sukkah that Chazal also knew the precise number of pi. How can that be explained?
Similarly, Rabban Gamliel knew the precise time of the molad. How did he know that?
I would be very happy if you would give me an explanation for this knowledge of Chazal’s.
Thank you,
Shira
jsadmin Staff answered 22 years ago
Dear Shira,
From your words and the title you chose it seems that you rely upon science, that for you science (and not the Torah) is the source of authority and your confirmation of the veracity of reality and the physical functions of the world. But when you think you see accord between the primary authority (science) and the questionable authority (the Oral Torah) you get excited by the knowledge and accord.
In other words: you are not nourished and do not learn about the world from the Torah and the sages, but from scientific researchers.
Now onto your words, which make it sound as though the Holy Spirit rested upon Chazal and they knew scientific facts without research or examination:
About Chazal’s “knowledge” of the stars, please carefully read the essay What the Sages Knew About the Shape of the Earth.
About their errors on the value of pi (Chazal thought it was 3, and this is an error. The correct value is 3 and one seventh), see the essay What the Sages Knew About Pi.
About the “knowledge” of Rabban Gamliel about the time between one molad of the moon and the next, see Pamphlet 5.
N.B. Why are you not interested in our words, which clearly show that not only did the Holy Spirit not rest upon our sages, even the human spirit of research did not stick to them. They acted with scientific information like a baby who makes up his own world, rich in imagination.
Sincerely,
Daat Emet