New Moon. The first day of the lunar month was observed as a holy day. In addition to the daily sacrifice, there were offered two young bullocks, a ram and seven lambs of the first year as a Burnt Offering, with the proper Meat [Meal] Offerings and drink offerings, and a kid as a Sin Offering. Numbers 28:11-15.
As on the Sabbath, trade and handicraft work were stopped, Amos 8:5, and the Temple was opened for public worship. Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 46:3. The trumpets were blown at the offering of the special sacrifices for the day, as on the solemn festivals. Numbers 10:10; Psalms 81:3. It was an occasion for state banquets. 1 Samuel 20:5-24.
In later, if not in earlier, times, fasting was intermitted at the new moons. Judith 8:6. The new moons are generally mentioned so as to show that, they were regarded as a peculiar class of holy days, distinguished from the solemn feasts, and the Sabbaths. 1 Chronicles 113:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 2 Chronicles 8:13; 2 Chronicles 31;3; Ezra 3:5; Nehemiah 10:33; Ezekiel 45:17.
The seventh new moon of the religious year, being that of Tisri, commenced the civil year, and had a significance and rites of its own. It was a day of holy convocation. The religious observance of the day of the new moon may plainly be regarded as, the consecration of a natural division of time.