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Moon (2)

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

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MOON.—In the NT the moon (σελήνη) is part of the established natural order. So when Christ prophesies the end of the world, ‘The moon shall not give her light’ (Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24). Twice in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 4:24; Matthew 17:15) σεληνιάζεσθαι (literally to be moonstruck) is used to describe mental derangement, as in our ‘lunacy,’ ‘lunatic,’ from Lat. luna, ‘the moon.’ See above, pp. 91^b, 96^b.

The Passover always took place at full moon, for it was held on the 14th of the month Nisan, and it was the lunar month that was used, as it is still used by the Jews (Josephus Ant. iii. x. 5; cf. Colossians 2:16). Thus there was moonlight in Gethsemane when Christ went there with His disciples, and when He was betrayed. Also, the darkness which lasted for three hours during the crucifixion could not be due to an ordinary eclipse of the sun by the moon. See also art. Time.

T. Gregory.