וְֽאוּלָ֗ם שְׁאַל־נָ֣א בְהֵמ֣וֹת וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּ וְע֥וֹף הַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִם וְיַגֶּד־לָֽךְ׃
Tetapi tanyakanlah kepada binatang-binatang, maka mereka akan mengajarimu; dan kepada burung-burung di udara, maka mereka akan memberitahukannya kepadamu.
Derush Chiddushei HaLevanah
Nevertheless Rambam, in his Moreh Nevuchim,90Moreh Nevuchim, Vol. 2, ch. 5. subscribes to and expounds upon the view that the heavenly bodies are conscious entities, and explains the aforementioned psalm according to this viewpoint. The author of the Akeidah91Akeidas Yitzchak, Shaar 1. differs at great length with Rambam on this matter. Let the truth reside with the one who is correct. I do not desire to enter a discussion of that issue. I mentioned it only as a preface to point out that according to Rambam, who maintains that the heavenly bodies are conscious entities, it is possible that the entire dialogue between God and the moon actually took place as the passage relates, and that the conversation is not merely an allusion and a metaphor with which to convey useful messages, as will be clarified with God’s help.