“The sun
Is darkened.
The moon
Is darkened.
The stars withdraw
Their shining.”
The heavens will darken during the day of Yahweh. The sun and the moon will go dark, while the stars will no longer shine.
the moon
The signs that the day of Yahweh was coming (Joel 2:30-2:32)
“I will show portents
In the heavens,
As well as on the earth.
There will be
Blood,
Fire,
Columns of smoke.
The sun shall be turned
To darkness.
The moon shall be turned
To blood.
This will happen
Before the great day
Of Yahweh comes.
Before the terrible day
of Yahweh comes.
Then everyone
Who calls
On the name of Yahweh
Shall be saved.
In Mount Zion,
In Jerusalem,
There shall be
Those who escape,
As Yahweh has said.
Among the survivors
Shall be those
Whom Yahweh calls.”
Yahweh, via Joel, talked about the signs that the day of Yahweh was coming. There would be signs in the heavens and on earth, with blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun would darken and the moon would turn to blood before the great and terrible day of Yahweh. Everyone who called on Yahweh would be saved at Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Some would escape. Others would survive, but they would be called by Yahweh.
A vision of the day of Yahweh (Joel 2:10-2:11)
“The earth quakes
Before them.
The heavens tremble.
The sun is darkened.
The moon is darkened.
The stars
Withdraw their shining.
Yahweh utters
His voice
Before his army.
How vast is his host!
Numberless are
Those who obey
His command.
Truly,
The day of Yahweh
Is great.
It is so terrible!
Who can endure it?”
Thus, there is a fusion of the swarm of locusts with the day of Yahweh. The earth would quake. The heavens would tremble. The sun and the moon would become dark. The stars would not shine. Yahweh would utter his strong voice before this vast numberless army. They all would obey his command. The day of Yahweh would be a terrible, but great day. Who would be able to endure this?
The blessings of the heavenly bodies (Dan 3:40-3:41)
“Bless the Lord!
Sun!
Moon!
Sing praise to him!
Highly exalt him forever!
Bless the Lord!
Stars of heaven!
Sing praise to him!
Highly exalt him forever!”
Just like the heavenly beings with God, so too the sun, the moon, and the stars of heaven were to sing praise to God and highly exalt him forever.
The darkening of the skies (Ezek 32:7-32:8)
“‘When I blot you out,
I will cover
The heavens.
I will make
Their stars dark.
I will cover
The sun
With a cloud.
The moon shall
Not give its light.
I will darken
Above you
All the bright lights
Of the heavens.
I will put darkness
On your land.’
Says Yahweh God.”
Yahweh God, via Ezekiel, said that he was going to blot out the Pharaoh. He was going to close off the heavens also. He was going to make the stars dark and cover the sun with a cloud. Meanwhile, the moon would not give any light. All the bright lights of the heavens would go dark over the land of Egypt.
The weak idols compared to the heavenly bodies (Bar 6:66-6:67)
“These weak idols
Can neither curse
Nor bless kings.
They cannot show signs
In the heavens
For the nations.
They cannot shine
Like the sun.
They cannot give light
Like the moon.”
Once again, this shows the weakness of these false idols, since they can neither curse nor bless kings. They cannot show signs in the heavens for the various nations. They cannot shine like the sun. They cannot give light like the moon. Instead of berating the nature gods of the sun or the moon, this author praises them. His emphasis was on those weak wooden man made false idols. Notice that this author believes that the moon gives light. In fact, we often still speak of moonlight. When in fact, the light from the moon is really a reflection of the sun.
Listen to God (Jer 10:1-10:2)
“Hear the word
That Yahweh speaks to you!
O house of Israel!
Thus says Yahweh.
‘Do not learn
The ways of the nations!
Do not be dismayed
At the signs of the heavens!
The nations
Are dismayed at them.’”
Jeremiah and the house of Israel were told to listen to the word of Yahweh, God. They were not to learn the ways of other nations that followed the heavenly signs, a reference to the worship of stars, the moon, the sun, and comets. Many nations are dismayed by them, and thus worship them.
The bones of the dead people (Jer 8:1-8:3)
“Says Yahweh.
‘At that time,
The bones of the kings of Judah,
The bones of its officials,
The bones of the priests,
The bones of the prophets,
The bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem
Shall be brought out of their tombs.
They shall be spread
Before the sun,
Before the moon,
Before all the host of heaven.
They have loved these heavenly bodies.
They have served them.
They have followed them.
They have inquired after them.
They have worshiped them.
Their bones shall not be gathered.
Their bones shall not be buried.
They shall be
Like dung
On the surface of the ground.
Death shall be preferred
To life
By all the remnant
That remains of this evil family
In all the places
Where I have driven them.’
Says Yahweh of hosts.”
Yahweh, via Jeremiah, speaks in ironic terms about the bones of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. The bones of all the people, whether they were the kings, the officials, the priests, the prophets, or the inhabitants of Jerusalem, would be brought out their tombs. These bones would be spread out before the sun, the moon, and the hosts of heavens. They had followed, loved, served, and worshiped these heavenly bodies. Thus their bones would not be buried, but rather scattered on the ground like dung. People would prefer death over life. This also refers to all the remaining people of this evil family, no matter where they have been driven to. Thus Yahweh has spoken about the disgrace of the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
The everlasting light of Yahweh (Isa 60:19-60:20)
“The sun shall no longer be
Your light by day.
The moon shall give
Light to you by night,
But not for brightness.
Yahweh will be
Your everlasting light.
Your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down.
Your moon will not withdraw itself.
Yahweh will be your everlasting light.
Your days of mourning shall be ended.”
You will not need the sun or the moon because the everlasting light of Yahweh will be bright enough. There still will be a sun during the day and a moon at night, but the brightness would come from Yahweh. He will be your everlasting light and your glory. This sun of Yahweh will never set. The moon of Yahweh will never hide itself. The days of mourning are over, because Yahweh is the new everlasting light.
The punishment of judgment day (Isa 24:21-24:23)
“On that day,
Yahweh will punish
The host of heaven
In heaven.
Yahweh will punish
The kings of the earth
On earth.
They will be gathered together
As prisoners
In a pit.
They will be shut up
In a prison.
After many days,
They will be punished.
Then the moon will be abashed.
The sun will be ashamed.
Yahweh of hosts
Will reign on Mount Zion
In Jerusalem.
Before his elders,
He will manifest his glory.”
The “host of heaven in heaven” seems to be a reference to a bunch of rebellious false idol gods. Obviously Yahweh will also punish the earthly kings, since they will be imprisoned together in a pit. They will stay there many days before they receive any punishment, but this text does not indicate that they will die or how they would be punished. Then the moon and the sun will also be embarrassed and ashamed. Yahweh will then finally rule in Mount Zion in Jerusalem before the elders there. Thus he can manifest his glory.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 