New Moon

The New Moon, (chodesh) refers to the time when the Moon is least visible to the naked eye to a person on Earth (as opposed to the Full Moon when it appears fullest in the night sky) and marks the beginning of a new month for the ancient Israelites (the Hebrew word shares the same root as the word for 'new'), and was a time of feasting and sacrifices (Num 10:10; 28:14). It was in view of this fact that David and Jonathan plot to make the former's escape from Saul; his absence at the king's table would be easily missed (1 Sam 20:5-24).

Astronomically speaking, the New Moon refers to that phase of the Moon's orbit around the Earth when it comes between the Earth and the Sun. As the Moon continues to move further and further it "waxes" and grows brighter and fuller, until it is furthest from the Sun, with the Earth between them; this is the Full Moon. The Full Moon then "wanes" and its cresent gets thinner and thinner until it reaches it again become the New Moon, and the cycle begins again.

Click here to view a video of the Moon in its various phases. ☰