The Moon Argues That Two Kings Cannot Share One Crown

Rabbi Shimon ben Azzai raised a contradiction: It is written, "And God made the two great lights," and it is written, "and the lesser light." The moon said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe, is it possible for two kings to make use of one crown? He said to her: Go and diminish yourself. She said before Him: Master of the Universe, because I said a fitting thing before You, shall I go and diminish myself? He said to her: Go, and you shall rule by day and by night. She said before Him: Master of the Universe, what use is a lamp at noon? He said to her: Go, and Israel shall reckon by you the days and the years. She said: But it is impossible for the day not to be reckoned by it as well, as it is written, "and they shall be for signs and for appointed times." He said to her: Go, and the righteous shall be called by your name - Jacob the Small, Samuel the Small, David the Small. Still her mind was not settled. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Bring an atonement for Me, for having diminished the moon. And this is what Resh Lakish said: Why is the goat of the new moon different, that it is said of it "to the LORD" (Numbers 28:15)? The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Let this goat be an atonement for My having diminished the moon.