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Bible Dictionaries
Moon
Morrish Bible Dictionary
At the creation the 'lesser light' was to rule the night. Its brilliancy is seen much more in the east than in the west, and its light is more appreciated in the former, especially when the heat of the day necessitates travelling by night. The NEW MOON among the Israelites was a festival: it was watched for on the hills, and as soon as it was seen, it was ushered in by sound of trumpet. Numbers 10:10; 1 Chronicles 23:31; Psalm 81:3; Ezekiel 45:17; Colossians 2:16 : cf. 1 Samuel 20:5,18,24 .
The Israelites were warned against worshipping the moon as well as the sun and stars. Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:3 : cf. Job 31:26-28 . Of Israel, in the time of Hoshea and of Manasseh it is said they worshipped 'all the host of heaven.' 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3,5 . Jeremiah also states that in Judah and Jerusalem cakes were made to the QUEEN OF HEAVEN, which is commonly supposed to refer to the moon, worshipped as Astarte. Then when the residue of the people had gone into Egypt, they declared that in spite of the prophet's warning they would burn incense to the Queen of Heaven, and pour out drink offerings unto her. Jeremiah 7:18; Jeremiah 44:17-19,25 .
There will be SIGNS IN THE MOON as well as in the sun when the time of God's dire judgement has arrived. Joel 2:10,31; Luke 21:25; Revelation 6:12 . As a symbol the moon is used in prophecy to signify derivative authority, the sun being the supreme source of heavenly rule.
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Moon'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​mbd/​m/moon.html. 1897.