Genesis 1:16 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Two great lights Or enlighteners, מארת, meoroth, distinguishable from all the rest, for their beauty and use. Moses terms the moon a great light, only according to its appearance, and the use it is of to us, and not according to the strictness of philosophy. For there is abundant proof that most of the stars are much greater than the moon; although their immense distance makes them appear so much smaller to us. The greater light Not only greater, as it appears to us, but incomparably greater in itself; being abundantly larger even than the earth; to rule the day By its rise and gradual ascension in the heavens, to cause and increase the light and heat of the day; and by its declining and setting to impair and end the same: or to direct men in their actions and affairs during the day. To rule the night To measure the hours of it, and give some, though a lesser light. “The best and most honourable way of ruling,” says Henry, “is by giving light and doing good.” Psalms 136:9, and Jeremiah 31:35, the stars are mentioned as being joined with the moon in ruling the night.