The first day of every month had its solemnities. First, when they repaired to the _Prophets_ for the hearing of the word, as on other _Sabbaths_. Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? It is neither _New Moon_, nor _Sabbath day_, _2 Kings 4. 23._ Secondly, It was then unlawful to buy and sell: When will the _New Moon_ be gone, that we may sell corn? _Amos 8. 4._ Thirdly, They had then special sacrifices over and above their daily sacrifices.
Notwithstanding, this feast of _Trumpets_ differed from other _New Moons_. First, in respect of their sacrifices; in their _ordinary New Moons_ they offered (besides the daily sacrifice) _two Bullocks, one Ram, seven Lambs, for burnt-offerings_; with their meat and drink-offering, and a _Goat for a sin-offering_, _Num. 28. 11, 15._ But at this _New-Moon_, which was the beginning of their year, they offered all the aforesaid sacrifices, and over and besides them, _one Bullock, one Ram, and seven Lambs, for burnt-offerings_, and a _Goat for a sin-offering, umb. 29. 1, 6._ Secondly, in _Other New Moons_ they blowed no _Trumpets_: In _this_ they blowed[342] from the _Sun rising till night_: whence we learn what _New Moon_ it is that _David_ speaketh of, _Psal. 81. 3._ _Blow the Trumpet in the New Moon, in the time appointed, at our feast day._
The reason in general of this blowing, and great _noise of Trumpets_, I take to have been, to make their _New-years-day_ the more remarkable, because from it all their deeds and contracts bore date, and their _Sabbatical years_ and _Jubilees_ were counted thence: But why it should be made remarkable by the sound of _Trumpets_, or _Cornets_, there are three conjectures.
_First_, the _Hebrews_ think[343] it was done in memory of _Isaac_ his deliverance, and that they did therefore sound _Rams horns_, because a _Ram_ was sacrificed instead of him. _Secondly_, _Basil_[344] is of opinion, that the people were hereby put in mind of that day, wherein they received the Law in Mount _Sinai_ with _blowing of Trumpets_. _Thirdly_, others think it was to put them in rememberance of the _Resurrection_, which shall be with the _sound of Trumpets_; _He shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet_, _Mat. 24. 31._