νεομηνία, _new moon_, Col. ii, 16, a Greek word, signifying
the first day of the moon or month. The Hebrews had a particular
veneration for the first day of every month; and Moses appointed
peculiar sacrifices for the day, Num. xxviii, 11, 12; but he gave no
orders that it should be kept as a holy day, nor can it be proved that
the ancients observed it so: it was a festival of merely voluntary
devotion. It appears that even from the time of Saul they made, on this
day, a sort of family entertainment, since David ought then to have been
at the king’s table; and Saul took his absence amiss, 1 Sam. xx, 5, 18.
Moses insinuates that, beside the national sacrifices then regularly
offered, every private person had his particular sacrifices of devotion,
Num. x, 10. The beginning of the month was proclaimed by sound of
trumpet, at the offering of the solemn sacrifices. But the most
celebrated neomenia was that at the beginning of the civil year, or
first day of the month Tizri, Lev. xxiii, 24. This was a sacred day, on
which no servile labour was performed; on this they offered public or
national burnt-sacrifices, and sounded the trumpets in the temple. In
the kingdom of the ten tribes, the serious among the people used to
assemble at the houses of the prophets, to hear their instructions. The
Shunamite, who entertained Elisha, proposing to visit that prophet, her
husband said to her, Why do you go to-day, since it is neither Sabbath
nor new moon?” 2 Kings iv, 23. Isaiah declares that the Lord abhors the
new moons, the Sabbaths, and other days of festival and assembly of
those Jews who in other things neglected his laws, Isaiah i, 13, 14.
Ezekiel says that the burnt-offerings offered on the day of the new moon
were provided at the king’s expense, and that on this day was to be
opened the eastern gate of the court of the priests, Ezek. xiv, 17;
xlvi, 1, 2; 1 Chron. xxiii, 31; 2 Chron. viii, 13. Judith kept no fast
on festival days, or on the new moon, Judith viii, 6. The modern Jews
keep the neomenia only as a feast of devotion, to be observed or not at
pleasure. They think it rather belongs to the women than to the men. The
women forbear work, and indulge a little more on this day than on
others. In the prayers of the synagogue, they read from Psalm cxiii, to
cxviii. They bring forth the roll of the law, and read therein to four
persons. They call to remembrance the sacrifice that on this day used to
be offered in the temple. On the evening of the Sabbath which follows
the new moon, or some other evening following, when the new moon first
appears, they assemble and pray to God, as the Creator of the planets,
and the restorer of the new moon; raising themselves toward heaven, they
entreat of God to be preserved from misfortune; then, after mentioning
David, they salute each other, and separate. See MOON.
the first day of the moon or month. The Hebrews had a particular
veneration for the first day of every month; and Moses appointed
peculiar sacrifices for the day, Num. xxviii, 11, 12; but he gave no
orders that it should be kept as a holy day, nor can it be proved that
the ancients observed it so: it was a festival of merely voluntary
devotion. It appears that even from the time of Saul they made, on this
day, a sort of family entertainment, since David ought then to have been
at the king’s table; and Saul took his absence amiss, 1 Sam. xx, 5, 18.
Moses insinuates that, beside the national sacrifices then regularly
offered, every private person had his particular sacrifices of devotion,
Num. x, 10. The beginning of the month was proclaimed by sound of
trumpet, at the offering of the solemn sacrifices. But the most
celebrated neomenia was that at the beginning of the civil year, or
first day of the month Tizri, Lev. xxiii, 24. This was a sacred day, on
which no servile labour was performed; on this they offered public or
national burnt-sacrifices, and sounded the trumpets in the temple. In
the kingdom of the ten tribes, the serious among the people used to
assemble at the houses of the prophets, to hear their instructions. The
Shunamite, who entertained Elisha, proposing to visit that prophet, her
husband said to her, Why do you go to-day, since it is neither Sabbath
nor new moon?” 2 Kings iv, 23. Isaiah declares that the Lord abhors the
new moons, the Sabbaths, and other days of festival and assembly of
those Jews who in other things neglected his laws, Isaiah i, 13, 14.
Ezekiel says that the burnt-offerings offered on the day of the new moon
were provided at the king’s expense, and that on this day was to be
opened the eastern gate of the court of the priests, Ezek. xiv, 17;
xlvi, 1, 2; 1 Chron. xxiii, 31; 2 Chron. viii, 13. Judith kept no fast
on festival days, or on the new moon, Judith viii, 6. The modern Jews
keep the neomenia only as a feast of devotion, to be observed or not at
pleasure. They think it rather belongs to the women than to the men. The
women forbear work, and indulge a little more on this day than on
others. In the prayers of the synagogue, they read from Psalm cxiii, to
cxviii. They bring forth the roll of the law, and read therein to four
persons. They call to remembrance the sacrifice that on this day used to
be offered in the temple. On the evening of the Sabbath which follows
the new moon, or some other evening following, when the new moon first
appears, they assemble and pray to God, as the Creator of the planets,
and the restorer of the new moon; raising themselves toward heaven, they
entreat of God to be preserved from misfortune; then, after mentioning
David, they salute each other, and separate. See MOON.