Why Moses Warned Israel the Sun and Moon Are Not Gods

Midrash Aggadah, Deuteronomy 4:19

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And lest you lift up your eyes to heaven [and see the sun, etc.]" (Deuteronomy 4:19) — for they had not yet seen the sun nor the moon, because the cloud surrounded them. Moses said to them: You are destined to see the sun and the moon, but do not think that they are gods; rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, created them to give light upon the earth. And this is what is said, "which the LORD [your God] has allotted them" (to give light) "to all the peoples" (Deuteronomy 4:19) — who worship them. Even though you see that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not exact punishment from those gods, [saying,] "Since I do not destroy them, they have substance" — it is not so. Rather, He smooths them over with words, so that [the nations] will suppose that there is power in them to save themselves, and so that they will not depart from them, from worshipping them — in order to find their iniquity and to hate them.

Themes

IdolatrySun And Moon

Biblical References

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