[Avodah] sun and moon

[Simi Peters]

I assume you are referring to the source in Hulin 60b. Two clarifications:  (1) In this midrash, only the moon speaks and she speaks to God.  The sun does not speak in this midrash. (2)  The idea that the moon's light will become equal to the sun's is a *bakasha* in kiddush levana, not a part of this midrash. 

Like many other midrashim which are not reflective of nature (inanimate objects speaking) , this one is not meant to be taken literally (as per the Rambam and most of the rishonim.)  The moon's 'questioning' of God is an anthropomorphic representation of human questions about the seeming imperfection or inequality of the world.  Our wish that the light of the moon be 'restored' is a wish for a perfected world.

The Ramban clearly understands the story allegorically/mystically.  See Ramban on Bereshit 1:14 toward the end of dibbur hamat'hil 'lehavdil ben hayom uven halaila':  ...'vesod shnei hamelahim...' till the end.

If you'd like my take on how to read the midrash (i.e., a line-by-line reading) please contact me off list.  We can read it together over the phone.

Kol tuv,
Simi Peters
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