The New Moon Festival in the Priestly Calendar of the Pentateuch. Exegesis of Fragments from The Book of Leviticus (Lev. 23:23–25) and The Book of Numbers (Num. 28:11–15; 29:1–6)

Abstract

Summary In the present article the author deals with pericopes from the priestly layer in the Pentateuch, which include references concerning the New Moon Festival. In the first point of this article, the author underlines connections of Hebrew words with other Semitics languages in terms of naming this feast. The controversial issue is the translation of Lev. 23:23–25, in which many scholars see not the New Moon Festival, but the New Year Festival. The author sets himself the task, using synchronous methods of work on the biblical text, to present his translation proposal of this disputed fragment. Also, he deals with the problem of the Hebrew expression , which leaves some interpretative freedom as to how to celebrate this festive day. An important point in the presented analysis is an attempt to outline the difficulties associated with placing the examined fragments in one of the layers. However, the author does not intend to solve this issue. In his last point, the author analyzes the fragments mentioned in the title, often juxtaposing them with each other or referring to biblical texts that come from a different layer (Deuteronomist) or extra-biblical testimonies.