Ruling Lights

In Genesis 1:16, the sun and moon are set in the firmament as rulers of the day and night. The word “ruler” or “dominion” is taken from the verb mashal , memshalah . Stars are called “rulers” of night in Psalm 136:9.

The LXX of Genesis 1:16 translates memshalah as archas ., the very word Paul uses to refer to the “principalities” over which Jesus has triumphed (Ephesians 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Colossians 1:16; 2:10).

The old covenant was ruled by the heavenly “principalities,” the stars, sun, and moon. Now there is a man above the firmament, teh true arche , who rules night and day until the endless day.