The Hebrew is less contrary to the "skin" of Ps 1 04, having "like a curtain," The word 1 have
202 The Literal Meaning of Genesis must be stated very briefly that our authors knew about the shape of the sky whatever may be the truth of the matter. But the Spirit of God who was speaking through them did not wish to teach people about such things which would contribute nothing to their salvation.
21. But, says somebody, how are these people, who attribute to the sky the shape of a sphere or globe, not contradicted by what is written in our literature: who stretched out the sky like a skin (Ps 104:2)? Certainly let it be contradicted by that, if what they say is false; this, after all, is true which has divine authority behind it, rather than that which is the guesswork of human weakness. But if it should happen that they can prove their case with evidence and arguments beyond any possibility of doubt, then it has to be demonstrated that what is said here among us about a skin is not contrary to those explanations of theirs. Other wise, in any case (if you are going to be crassly literal-minded21) it will also be contrary to another place in these very scriptures of ours where the sky is said to be like a suspended dome.22 What, I ask you, could be so different and opposed to each other as a skin stretched out flat, and the hollow curve of a dome? But if we are obliged, as indeed we are, to understand these two expressions in such a way that they are found to agree with each other and not to be in the least contra dictory, then we are also and equally obliged to demonstrate that neither of them is opposed to those explanations, should they happen to be shown by rational arguments to be true, which inform us that the sky has the shape of a hollow globe all round us—provided, once again, it can be proved.
22. And even if that comparison on our side with a dome is taken literally, it will make no difficulty for those who say the sky is a globe; it is reasonable to assume that scripture wished to talk about the shape of the sky with reference to that part of it which is above us. So if the sky is not a globe, it is in one part—the part which covers the earth—a dome, while if it is a globe, then it is a dome all round. But as for the text about a skin, that is rather more serious, because it may seem to be be opposed, not to the globe, which may just be a human fabrication, but to our own dome. My treatment of this in terms of allegory may be found in the thirteenth book of my Confessions.2* So whether the sky being stretched out like a skin is to be understood allegorically in the way I suggested there, or in some other way, still to satisfy the tiresome people who persist in demanding a literal explanation24 1 will say what in my opinion should be obvious to anyone
21. Translator's parentheses again. 22. See 1s 40:22. according to the Greek Septuagint, which Augustine's Latin version followed. The Hebrew is less contrary to the "skin" of Ps 1 04, having "like a curtain," The word 1 have translated as "dome" is camera, which isjust a slightly incorrect transliteration of the Greek. 23. Chapter 15. section 16. 1n the volume of the Confessions in this series the word 1 have translated "dome" is rendered by "vault," and there is no reference to the text from 1saiah. 24. But he is engaged in a Literal Commentary on Genesis! This remark here is very revealing about his real intentions, and his thoroughly "anti-fundamentalist" understanding of the literal sense. Both these comparisons of the sky, or the heavens, to a skin stretched out and to a dome