Rav said: When the orb of the sun and the moon enter to ask permission from before the Holy One blessed be He,20They ask permission to go out in order to illuminate the world. their eyes dim from the aura of the Divine Presence. They seek to emerge and illuminate the world, but they do not see anything. What does the Holy One blessed be He do for them? He shoots arrows before them and they proceed by their light.
That is what is written: “The sun, the moon stand in their abode; by the light of Your arrows they will go, by the glow of the flash of Your spear” (Habakkuk 3:11). And it is written: “The sun and the moon were darkened, and the stars withdrew their shine” (Joel 2:10). Rabbi Hoshaya son of Rabbi Simlai of Caesarea in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Ze’eira: The orb of the sun never sets until it becomes like a round spot of blood.
What is the source? “[In a tent within He placed the sun,] which, like a bridegroom leaving his bridal chamber, rejoices like a warrior running his course [oraḥ]” (Psalms 19:5–6), and oraḥ is only that of women, just as it says: “The manner [oraḥ] of women21This is a reference to the menstrual cycle. had ceased for Sarah” (Genesis 18:11). Rabbi Levi said: Each and every day, the Holy One blessed be He sits in judgment of the orb of the sun and the moon, which do not wish to emerge and illuminate the world.
What do they say? The people indict us, the people prostrate themselves to us.22This is an indictment, because God will punish not only the idolators but also that which they worshipped (Matnot Kehuna). Some suggest that the proper reading is not “indict [mekatregin]” but rather “burn incense [mekaterin]” (Rabbi David Luria). Rabbi Yusta bar Shunem said: What does the Holy One blessed be He do to them?
He sits in judgment of them, and they emerge and illuminate the world against their will. That is what is written: “Each morning He brings His judgment to light; it does not fail [lo nedar]” (Zephaniah 3:5). What is [the meaning of the phrase] “lo nedar”? It does not cease.
“But the unjust knows no shame” (Zephaniah 3:5) – they have no shame, but rather, they prostrate themselves to them, they see them stricken, but have no shame.23They see the sun and moon stricken in solar and lunar eclipses, yet they continue worshipping them. That is what is written: “They shall take to you…olive oil.”24Although God is the master of all light, as demonstrated by the fact that He forces the sun and moon to shine, He nonetheless asks Israel to light lamps for Him in the Temple.