If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking [in] brightness;
Ver. 26. If I beheld the sun when it shined] viz. To adore it, as the Persians did, and other heathens. The Egyptians had their Heliopolis, or city of the sun; and the Canaanites their Timnath heres, Jdg 2:9 Joshua 24:30, that is, the figure of the sun; so called from the idolatry there committed, in worshipping the sun (though I know there is another reason given). The Persians consecrated a horse to the sun, as the swiftest to the swiftest; and the idolatrous Israelites had their horses of the sun, which Josiah took away. It is not amiss to behold the sun, moon, and stars in their pomp and lustre. It is sweet, saith Solomon, Ecclesiastes 11:7. Comfortable, saith David, Psalms 97:11, and useful in many respects; to mind us of our present beauty and safety, Rev 12:1 Psalms 84:11, and of our future felicity and glory, Mat 13:46 Daniel 12:3; but above all, of Christ, that Sun of righteousness, Star of Jacob, &c. But this we must do, not to worship them, as they of old did the queen of heaven (and this is thought to be the ancientest idolatry in the world), nor to swear by them, as Matthew 5:34, but to see and worship the Maker of them; which because the blind Ethnics did not, they were damned, Romans 1:19. Oh, then, what will become of us, who see much more of God by so clear a light in that molten looking glass, Job 37:18 .
Or the moon walking in brightness] Heb. Bright or precious; that is, enlightened with the precious light of the sun, as when she is at full, and shineth like the finest gold; and was therefore idolized by the heathens, under the names of Phebe, Diana, &c. Of this idolatry Job here purgeth himself; as he had done before of that other of covetousness.