“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there shall be a solemn rest for you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 24. Memorial, or a memorable sabbath. This third great festival sanctified the commencement of the civil year in Tisri, the sabbatical month, according to the ecclesiastical calculation. Tirinus. See Numbers 29:3.—The sound of trumpets, which ushered in the year with great solemnity, reminded the Jews of the approaching fast, verse 27, (Maimon.) and of those terrible sounds which had been heard at Sinai. Theodoret, q. 32. The Rabbins say that a ram’s horn was used, because Abraham had sacrificed a ram instead of his son. Genesis 22:11. Zechariah 9:14. The Jews on this day sound the horn 30 times, feast, and wish one another a happy year. Boxtorf. syn. xix. We know not on what account this festival was instituted. But it was probably ordained in order that the people might learn to thank God for the favours received during the past year, and might beg his blessing on that, upon which they were now entering. Calmet.