Psalm 24:2—Is the earth founded upon the seas or on nothing?

Problem: The psalmist declares that the earth was “founded upon the seas.” But Job said, “He hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7).

Solution: The first text speaks about the obvious fact that the earth is situated above the seas so that they cannot overflow and destroy it. The verse in Job may refer to the scientific fact that the earth is suspended in space, something that could have been inferred from observation of other heavenly bodies visible to the eye, and inferences made from eclipses. Indeed, Aristotle (4th century b.c.) concluded that the earth was round in a similar way.

This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Click here to purchase this book.