Moon 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; Psalms 72:5, Psalms 1:72, Psalms 1:72; Psalms 1:89, Psalms 1:89; Ecclesiastes 12:2; Isaiah 24:23, etc.), and also by itself (Psalms 8:3; Psalms 1:121).
The great brilliance of the moon in Eastern countries led to its being early an object of idolatrous worship (Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 1:17; Job 31:26), a form of idolatry against which the Jews were warned (Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 1:17). 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 1:44, Jeremiah 1:44).