ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף ישעיהו 33:23

It appears to me that support for this interpretation of the complaint, “Of what use is a candle in broad daylight?” can be taken from the words of Bildad the Shuhite,²⁷Iyov 25:4-5. See the commentaries of Alshich and Metzudas David there, which also point to the diminishment of the moon. “How can man justify himself before God and with what may one born of woman gain purity? Even the moon does not shine brightly.” The verse uses the phrase עד ירח ולא יאהיל, which we have translated as, “even the moon does not shine brightly.” The vav in the phrase ולא יאהיל appears superfluous, and seemingly does not fit the context of the verse. Therefore, it is possible to offer two interpretations of the verse. The first is that the word עד refers to something taken by force, like the spoils of war, as in the verse,²⁸Bereishis 49:27. See Rashi’s commentary there. “In the morning he will eat his spoils.” Thus, Bildad is saying, “Even some of the moon’s size was taken from it, and it also does not shine brightly.” It can be derived from this that the moon should have argued that its light should continue to shine brightly even though its size was diminished. Since this is a logical argument and the plaintiff will plead his own case better than others, it can be assumed that the moon indeed raised this argument.