Rosh Chodesh
(First Restoration)
Note: If you have read this page before, you will notice that it has changed a bit. I update these pages each year, and especially when Yeshua (Yahweh) has shown me more in His Word concerning a particular Festival celebration.
Today I went to my Hebrew calendar and discovered that there is an extra month this year––something I had completely forgotten about. The New Moon shows as different days on any given Gregorian calendar, so I looked up to see when the New Moons really are.
We don’t actually celebrate the New Moon, because that would be celebrating God’s creation rather than Him and His festivals. But Rosh Chodesh does fall on the day of the New Moon, so we must know when they occur. The Jews have added this extra month––Adar II––because God has shortened our months sometime during the Babylonian exile, and therefore there are actually thirteen new moons in a year about every nineteen years.
The idea that the Jews would celebrate Rosh Chodesh when they saw the New Moon appear cannot be true, because we cannot see the actual new moon from the Earth. It is the following night that a new moon shows in our night sky.
I believe the Hebrews knew when to celebrate Rosh Chodesh in the past (before the months were shortened) because originally there were exactly 364 days in the year. There were eight months that had 30 days, and four months had 31 days: each of the months before each of the season changes had 31 days, and the rest had 30 days. It was easy to simply count the days, beginning with one of the weather seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter).
At the end of this article you can find the dates of Rosh Chodesh for 2019.
Restoration
This first day of each Hebrew month is called Rosh Chodesh. Most people who know about this holy day think these Hebrew words mean New Moon. In fact, Rosh Chodesh means First Restoration, or the First day of Restoration.
This is also a celebration of the Gift of Redemption (Restoration) God gave to His people––and it just happens to fall on the first day of each (Jewish) month, which is when the New Moon appears. God wants us to literally begin anew each month.
Rosh Chodesh (First Restoration)
Rosh means head, beginning or first. Chodesh is from the root word chadash which means to restore to a previous condition. The two words together––Rosh Chodesh––have always been translated as New Moon, because it falls on the first day of every Hebrew month, which is when the New Moon appears. However, these Hebrew words do NOT mean New Moon.
There are no actual words meaning new or moon in the name of this Festival, and the Jews DO NOT celebrate nor worship the moon.
The actual word for moon is yerach, and its actual translation is a lumination.
The Strong’s Concordance tells us that chodesh means month or new moon. However, this is incorrect––in fact, Rosh Chodesh should actually translate as First Restoration, and falls on the day the New Moon appears, thus the mistaken translation of New Moon for these Hebrew words. The New Moon always appears on the first day of the Hebrew month.
Hebrew Meanings
Taking a closer look at the Hebrew words Rosh Chodesh you will find that in the Hebrew letters for chodesh there is another root word: dosh, which means threshing (or humbling). With the letter chet at the beginning of the word (chet means a fence of protection). Therefore, the another meaning of Chodesh can also be the fence of protection of the threshing (humbling).
Chodesh is usually translated as moon and the moon is one of our luminaries which is Light. Yeshua is the Light of the world, and will literally be our Moon (Revelation 21:23) in Paradise. Yeshua is our Fence of protection as well––the Living Word (Torah); and true believers in Yeshua (Jesus) are the threshed or humbled ones within this Fence. This means this day could also be an observance of the Light of the world––Yeshua.
Always remember that within the Hebrew letters and words are hidden the true (and many) meanings of what God is trying to tell us in His Word. None of them actually construe one specific meaning as you have just read. However, these meanings will always tie together to give us the big picture. Never trust the English words in your Bible––always dig deep into the Hebrew words to find the Truth.
Rosh Chodesh (First Restoration) was originally ordained by God as a Sabbath day (2Kings 4:23, Isaiah 1:13-14, Ezekiel 46:1, 3 & Amos 8:5), and He instructed Yisrael to celebrate each and every Rosh Chodesh as an eternal Commandment.
It is thought that the Jews barely recognize this day, but in fact some Jewish congregations have actually begun to celebrate Rosh Chodesh again.
Yeshua puts Rosh Chodesh in the same category as His Feasts and Sabbaths. At some point in the very near future, God will again expect all of those who are His, to celebrate this day as it was intended to be celebrated––on the first day of each month, which is when the New Moon appears.
Again, this day is NOT the celebration of the New Moon––it is the celebration of Restoration: of God’s Word, and of Yeshua’s gift of Redemption (Restoration).
Celebrating Rosh Chodesh
• This is a day of Joy and celebration.
• David celebrated Rosh Chodesh each month, and there was a special meal eaten on this day (1Samuel 20:5, 18 & 24, Psalm 81:3). In 1Chronicles 23:31, 2Chronicles 8:13 & Ezekiel 46:6 there were offerings on Rosh Chodesh, so we can choose our meal from these offerings. This is to be a festive meal shared with Yeshua, and it is very holy to Him.
• The Hebrew word that is translated as solemn is actually moed (or moedim), and means Appointed Time(s). Therefore this day is a moed (an Appointment with God)––a day of reverence to Yahweh (Yeshua).
• Since Rosh Chodesh is considered on the same level as the Shabbat or a Feast day (Isaiah 1:13 & Ezekiel 46:1 & 3, & Amos 8:5), this day is considered a Shabbat rest and it is a day off from work.
• Rosh Chodesh (First Restoration) is considered to be an Appointed Season of God, according to 2Chronicles 2:4 & 31:3 & Nehemiah 10:33 & Ezekiel 45:17 & Hosea 2:11. In Ezra 3:5 we find out just a little more information: the First Restoration (Rosh Chodesh) is a consecrated day, so we should treat it as a holy day. This day is most definitely a very important day to Yeshua, so if you are trying to figure out where you have gone wrong in your efforts to keep the Torah, this could be one area where you are disobeying God (like I just discovered of myself just yesterday!).
• In Psalm 81:3 we see that trumpets are blown on Rosh Chodesh, and in Bemidbar/Numbers 10:10 you will not find it called New Moon nor even Rosh Chodesh, but that God tells us this day falls on the beginnings of your months, and this passage also tells us we are to blow the Trumpets on this day.
• In this same verse it speaks of Rosh Chodesh as a day of Memorial. This remembrance is God’s remembrance (Bemidbar 10:9). When the trumpets are blown, God’s people will be remembered before Yahweh. These are the silver trumpets that are to be blown, not the Shofar.
• Bemidbar (Numbers) 10:10 is speaking of when God goes to war for us. So this also tells us that Rosh Chodesh is also a memorial to both God and us that He is the One who fights our battles. It is a day to remember God and our trust in Him to take care of us in all matters of our lives.
• Yeshua is our Head (Rosh), and He will restore all when He returns. Rosh Chodesh is a remembrance that falls at the beginning of each month that Yeshua has restored His true Word (Torah) to His people, and that He will also restore all when He returns––and it is a reminder to us that He will in fact return.
Rosh Chodesh takes place every single month, Restoring us to Yeshua and His Word (Torah) each month. As we worship Him this day, we remember that Yeshua is our fence of protection as we come before Him in humility at the beginning of each month. And of course we also remember His gift of Redemption the first of each and every Hebrew month.
The Talmud vs the Bible
The Jewish calendar, which combines both lunar and solar aspects, has 12 months (and 13 in leap years); half of these months are 30 days long and half are 29 days.
At the end of the months that have 30 days, Rosh Chodesh is observed for two days, on the 30th day of the previous month and the first day of the new month. After months that have 29 days, only the first day of the next month is observed as Rosh Chodesh.
However, the Bible (and the Book of Enoch 1) tells us that each Hebrew year is 364 days long. There are 12 months only, with 4 months that are 31 days long, and the rest are 30 days long. Each of the months that are 31 days long, are those that begin each of the four seasons of weather (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter). 364 days is divided equally with 7 days in a week, and 52 weeks in a year. God is a God of order and made sure that all His Feasts would always fall on the same days each year. Unfortunately, this changed when Yeshua shortened our days.
After the Babylonian Exile
The calendar was God's Calendar before the Babylonian exile. There was not a set calendar for Hebrew months after the Babylonian exile, because God had shortened our days sometime during the Babylonian exile. At some point during the exile, the designated moon-watcher did not see the New Moon at the designated 30 or 31 days (depending on the time of year) any longer, and it continually changed, and is probably still changing today.
The Rabbis eventually came to declare a new month after receiving the testimony of two reliable witnesses reporting that they had seen the new moon. Then the message was spread throughout Israel and Babylonia via small fires on hilltops. When a new moon was announced, someone would go to the top of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem with a long pole of wood. He would set the end of his pole on fire and wave it around until he could see someone on another hilltop waving his own pole. The second person waved his pole until he could see a third person waving, and so on until the message reached Babylonia.
They eventually came up with a calculation that would cause the Feasts of God to fall on the supposed right days. The result of this calculated calendar is the very confused Jewish calendar we have today.
Therefore, the only way we can follow God’s calendar today, is to follow this false Jewish calendar. We can not really know when God’s Feasts truly fall today, but we can at least be close to the day.
Even though Rosh Chodesh has changed (and probably continues to change), we can still spot the New Moon and know what day Rosh Chodesh is to be celebrated. It just may not be on the day you expect it to be. Always check your calendar, and you can also check the websites showing when the New Moons will appear, because they are all based on calculations based on the current movements of the moon––even if they do change.
For Your Own Studies
Here are some of the verses I found in the Strong’s Concordance:
New Moon: 1Samuel 20:5, 1Samuel 20:18, 1Samuel 20:24, 2Kings 4:23, Psalm 81:3, Isaiah 66:23, Ezekiel 46:1, Ezekiel 46:6, Amos 8:5
New Moons: 1Chronicles 23:31, 2Chronicles 2:4, 2Chronicles 8:13, 2Chronicles 31:3, Ezra 3:5, Nehemiah 10:33, Isaiah 1:13, Isaiah 1:14, Ezekiel 45:17, Ezekiel 46:3, Hosea 2:13 (11)
Beginning of Months: Numbers 10:9-10, Numbers 28:11, Exodus 12:1-2, Deuteronomy 11:12
In 1Samuel 20:5, 18 & 24 we see that David celebrated Rosh Chodesh. It gives us a hint that there is a special meal to be eaten on this day, and this feast is called a “solemn meal.”
In 2Kings 4:23 & Isaiah 1:13-14 & Ezekiel 46:1 & 3 & Amos 8:5 we get another hint that the New Moon is considered on the same level as the Sabbath. Shabbat can also be called a “solemn assembly.”
In 1Chronicles 23:31 & 2Chronicles 8:13 & Ezekiel 46:6 we see even more information, such as there were offerings on Rosh Chodesh. 2Chronicles 2:4 & 31:3 & Nehemiah 10:33 & Ezekiel 45:17 & Hosea 2:13 (11) Rosh Chodesh is associated with the Appointed Seasons of God, as well as the Sabbaths.
In Psalm 81:3 we see that trumpets are blown on Rosh Chodesh.
In Ezra 3:5 we find out just a little more information: Rosh Chodesh is a consecrated day.
But in Bemidbar (Numbers) 10:10 we get more information. You will not find it called Rosh Chodesh here, but God calls it the beginnings of your months, and it tells us we are to blow the Trumpets on this day. In this same verse it speaks of the offerings that are to be made, and also that this day is a day of Memorial (Bemidbar 10:9). When the trumpets are blown, we will be remembered before Yahweh. These trumpets are not the Shofar, they are the silver trumpets. But this is also speaking of when God goes to war for us. So it is very possible that Rosh Chodesh is a memorial to both God and us that He is the One who fights our battles. It is a day to remember God and our trust in Him to take care of us in all matters of our lives.
In Bemidbar 28:11 we get a whole paragraph telling of all the offerings that are to be made on Rosh Chodesh.
Today Rosh Chodesh is not celebrated by most Jews, and it is considered a minor holiday by them. There are a few things added to a few prayers and if it is celebrated, it is celebrated on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh to announce when the first day of the month will fall. While the Jews consider this day to be a minor holiday, God does not.
He puts it in the same category as His Feasts and Sabbaths. We, as believers in Yahweh (Yeshua/Jesus), should treat this day as a Sabbath Day, remembering God, the Restoration of His Word and His gift of Redemption (Restoration)––as the beginning of our months, every single month!
Here are a few more things to consider when you do your own studies:
According to God, the first always stands for the whole.
The firstfruits for the whole harvest
The firstborn and the firstlings for all the rest
"...if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy"
So the burnt offerings and the sin offering at the beginning of each month consecrated the whole month. Rosh Chodesh was a type of counting for the Hebrews, so the Feasts of God would always be celebrated on the right days.
The order of a New Moon Temple Service was thought to be:
Determination of the first day of the month
Priests blew the trumpets marking the beginning of each new month Morning sacrifice
Offerings
Blood of the burnt offerings sprinkled on the base of the altar
Blood of the sin offering sprinkled by finger on the horns of the altar
Two bull offerings hung up and flayed on the hooks in the court, with the rams in the middle and the lambs on the lowest hooks
At the offerings and sacrifices, trumpets are blown again
Peace and freewill offerings were brought to the south side of the altar
Priests ate the sacrificed sin and meat offerings
Prayer: Blessed be He who renews the months
2019 dates for Rosh Chodesh:
(These dates are according to the phases of the moon as they show on present moon phase websites. The Hebrew month names are according to the Bible and original spellings using the original Hebrew letters)
January 5 (Sebat)
February 4 (Adar I)
March 6 (Adar II)
April 5 (Abib)
May 4 (Zib)
June 3 (Sivan)
July 2 (Tamuz)
July 31 (Av)
August 30 (Elul)
September 28 (Etanim)
October 28 (Cheshban)
November 26 (Chisleb)
December 26 (Tebet)
Updated March 12, 2019
At-a-glance Chart
(See complete Detail below Chart)
Rosh Chodesh
Most know this day as the
New Moon,
however the real meaning of the Hebrew words Rosh Chodesh is
First Restoration
This day is to be celebrated on the first day of each Hebrew month.
