Moon

heb. yareah, from its paleness ( Ezra 6:15 ), and lebanah, the "white" (Cant 6:10 ; Isaiah 24:23 ), was appointed by the Creator to be with the sun "for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" ( Genesis 1:14-16 ). A lunation was among the Jews the period of a month, and several of their festivals were held on the day of the new moon. It is frequently referred to along with the sun ( Joshua 10:12 ; Psalms 72:5 Psalms 72:7 Psalms 72:17 ; Psalms 89:36 Psalms 89:37 ; Eccl 12:2 ; Isaiah 24:23 , etc.), and also by itself ( Psalms 8:3 ; 121:6 ).

The great brilliance of the moon in Eastern countries led to its being early an object of idolatrous worship ( Deuteronomy 4:19 ; 17:3 ; Job 31:26 ), a form of idolatry against which the Jews were warned ( Deuteronomy 4:19 ; 17:3 ). They, however, fell into this idolatry, and offered incense ( 2 Kings 23:5 ; Jeremiah 8:2 ), and also cakes of honey, to the moon ( Jeremiah 7:18 ; Jeremiah 44:17-19 Jeremiah 44:25 ).