Bible Dictionaries
Moon
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Heb. yareah, from its paleness (Ezra 6:15 ), and lebanah, the "white" (Song of Solomon 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; Psalm 72:5,7,17; 89:36,37; Ecclesiastes 12:2; Isaiah 24:23 , etc.), and also by itself (Psalm 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; 44:17-19,25 ).
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.
Bibliography Information
Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Moon'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/m/moon.html. 1897.