The festival which marked the consecration to God of each new month in the year.
New Moon festivals were required under the Mosaic law
At the beginning of every month, you are to present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,
New Moon festivals were times of celebration
They were marked by blowing of trumpets
Numbers 10:10 See also Psalm 81:3
And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”
They were celebrated with offerings
Numbers 28:11–15; 1 Chronicles 23:30–31; 2 Chronicles 2:4, 2 Chronicles 8:12–13, 2 Chronicles 31:3 reformed temple worship under Hezekiah; Nehemiah 10:32–33 New Moon festivals were restored on the return from exile; Ezekiel 45:17, Ezekiel 46:1, Ezekiel 46:3, Ezekiel 46:6
They were times when normal work ceased
David was to dine with Saul: 1 Samuel 20:5, 1 Samuel 20:18, 1 Samuel 20:24; 2 Kings 4:23 the Shunammite woman and her husband; Amos 8:5 Some saw them as a hindrance to business.
A wrong inner attitude at New Moon celebrations incurs God's anger
Isaiah 1:13–14; Hosea 2:11, Hosea 5:7
NT reference to the New Moon festival
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.