How Is Rosh Hashanah Observed According To The Bible?
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a sacred observance with its foundations in the Torah, though it is not referred to by this name in Scripture. In the Torah, it is called Yom Teruah (Day of Trumpet Sounding). The instructions for observing Rosh Hashanah can be found primarily in Leviticus and Numbers. Here is a breakdown of its observance according to Torah law, along with relevant Bible verses:
1. Sacred Day of Rest (Shabbat Shabbaton)
Rosh Hashanah is considered a day of solemn rest, a "holy convocation" (sacred gathering). Work is prohibited on this day, similar to Shabbat (Sabbath).
- Leviticus 23:24-25:
"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with a blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the LORD."
- Numbers 29:1:
"On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets."
2. Blowing the Shofar (Yom Teruah)
One of the central practices of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn). This act is a call to awaken spiritually, to reflect on one's life, and to prepare for the Days of Awe (leading to Yom Kippur).
- Leviticus 23:24:
"...on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with a blast of trumpets."
- Numbers 29:1:
"...it is a day for you to blow the trumpets."
The shofar serves as a symbolic reminder of God's kingship, the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai (accompanied by the sound of the shofar), and the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22), where a ram was offered in Isaac's place, emphasizing themes of mercy and divine judgment.
3. Sacrificial Offerings
According to the Torah, special sacrifices were to be made on Rosh Hashanah. These included burnt offerings and sin offerings, reflecting atonement and dedication to God.
- Numbers 29:2-6:
"And you shall offer a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old without blemish; also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the ram, and one tenth for each of the seven lambs; with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you."
4. Themes of Repentance and Judgment
Though the Torah doesn't explicitly connect Rosh Hashanah to repentance (teshuvah), later Jewish tradition and the prophetic writings emphasize this theme. It is seen as a time when God judges all of creation. The prophetic writings build on the Torah's call for introspection and repentance, connecting the blast of the shofar to a call for return to God.
- Psalm 81:3-4:
"Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob."
5. No Explicit Mention of Written Prayers
The Torah doesn’t prescribe specific prayers for Rosh Hashanah, but over time, a rich liturgy developed within the Jewish tradition, including prayers of praise, repentance, and remembrance. However, the essential Torah commandment focuses on the sanctification of the day, rest, trumpet blasts, and offerings.
Conclusion
Rosh Hashanah, or Yom Teruah in the Torah, is a solemn day of rest and reflection, marked by the blowing of the shofar, special sacrificial offerings, and abstaining from work. It is a day to remember God’s kingship and prepare spiritually for the coming days of judgment and repentance, culminating in Yom Kippur.
These observances are primarily drawn from Leviticus 23:24-25 and Numbers 29:1-6. Traditions like praying for forgiveness, eating symbolic foods (such as apples dipped in honey), and other rituals came later through rabbinic teachings.