Israel Reckons Time Like the Waxing and Waning Moon

Rabbi Berekhiah said: "This month shall be for you" (Exodus 12:2) - it is a sign for you. "Like the moon it shall be established forever" (Psalms 89:38), like this moon that is full and then waning: if you are meritorious, behold you count toward its fullness, and if not, behold you count toward its waning. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David, Solomon - "and Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king" (1 Chronicles 29:23): behold, the moon at its fullness. Behold, you count toward its waning: Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Zedekiah - "and they put out the eyes of Zedekiah" (2 Kings 25:7): behold, the moon at its waning.