heb. yareah, from its paleness (Ezra 6:15), and lebanah, the "white" (6:10; Isa. 24:23), was appointed by the Creator to be with the sun "for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Gen. 1:14). 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 (Josh. 10:12; Psa 72:5, Psa 72: 7, 17;89:36, 89: 37; Eccl. 12:2; Isa. 24:23, Isa. 24: etc.), and also by itself (Psa 8:3;121:6).
The great brilliance of the moon in Eastern countries led to its being early an object of idolatrous worship (Deut. 4:19;17:3; Job 31:26), a form of idolatry against which the Jews were warned (Deut. 4:19;17:3). They, however, fell into this idolatry, and offered incense (2-Kings 23:5; Jer. 8:2), and also cakes of honey, to the moon (Jer. 7:18;44:17, 44: 25).