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<p>Here is, I. The institution of the feast of trumpets, on the first day of the seventh month, <a class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.24,Lev.23.25" href="/passage/?search=Lev.23.24,Lev.23.25"><span class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.24">Lev. 23:24</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.25">25</span></a>. That which was now the seventh month had been reckoned the first month, and the year of jubilee was still to begin with this month (<a class="bibleref" title="Lev.25.8" href="/passage/?search=Lev.25.8">Lev. 25:8</a>), so that this was their new year’s day. It was to be as their other yearly sabbaths, a day of holy rest—<i>You shall do no servile work therein</i>; and a day of holy work—<i>You shall offer an offering to the Lord</i>; concerning these particular directions were afterwards given, <a class="bibleref" title="Num.29.1" href="/passage/?search=Num.29.1">Num. 29:1</a>. That which is here made peculiar to this festival is that it was <i>a memorial of blowing of trumpets</i>. They blew the trumpet every new moon (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.81.3" href="/passage/?search=Ps.81.3">Ps. 81:3</a>), but in the new moon of the seventh month it was to be done with more than ordinary solemnity; for they began to blow at sun-rise and continued till sun-set. Now, 1. This is here said to be a <i>memorial</i>, perhaps of the sound of the trumpet upon mount Sinai when the law was given, which must never be forgotten. Some think that it was a memorial of the creation of the world, which is supposed to have been in autumn; for which reason this was, till now, the first month. The mighty word by which God made the world is called <i>the voice of his thunder</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.104.7" href="/passage/?search=Ps.104.7">Ps. 104:7</a>); fitly therefore was it commemorated by blowing of trumpets, or a memorial of <i>shouting</i>, as the Chaldee renders it; for, when the <i>foundations of the earth were fastened, all the sons of God shouted for joy</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Job.38.6,Job.38.7" href="/passage/?search=Job.38.6,Job.38.7"><span class="bibleref" title="Job.38.6">Job 38:6</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Job.38.7">7</span></a>. 2. The Jewish writers suppose it to have a spiritual signification. Now at the beginning of the year they were called by this sound of trumpet to shake off their spiritual drowsiness, to search and try their ways, and to amend them: the day of atonement was the ninth day after this; and thus they were awakened to prepare for that day, by sincere and serious repentance, that it might be indeed to them a day of atonement. And they say, “The devout Jews exercised themselves more in good works between the feast of trumpets and the day of expiation than at any other time of the year.” 3. It was typical of the preaching of the gospel, by which joyful sound souls were to be called in to serve God and keep a spiritual feast to him. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ is said to be by the <i>blowing of a great trumpet</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.27.13" href="/passage/?search=Isa.27.13">Isa. 27:13</a>.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">II. A repetition of the law of the day of atonement, that is, so much of it as concerned the people. 1. They must on this day rest from all manner of work, and not only from servile works as on other annual festivals; it must be as strict a rest as that of the weekly sabbath, <a class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.28,Lev.23.30,Lev.23.31" href="/passage/?search=Lev.23.28,Lev.23.30,Lev.23.31"><span class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.28">Lev. 23:28</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.30">30</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.31">31</span></a>. The reason is: <i>For it is a day of atonement</i>. Note, The humbling of our souls for sin, and the making of our peace with God, is work that requires the whole man, and the closest application of mind imaginable, and all little enough. He that would do the work of a day of atonement in its day, as it should be done, had need lay aside the thoughts of every thing else. On that day God <i>spoke peace unto his people, and unto his saints</i>; and therefore they must lay aside all their worldly business, that they might the more clearly and the more reverently hear that voice of joy and gladness. Fasting days should be days of rest. 2. They must afflict their souls, and this upon pain of being cut off by the hand of God, <a class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.27,Lev.23.29,Lev.23.32" href="/passage/?search=Lev.23.27,Lev.23.29,Lev.23.32"><span class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.27">Lev. 23:27</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.29">29</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.32">32</span></a>. They must mortify the body, and deny the appetites of it, in token of their sorrow for the sins they had committed, and the mortifying of their indwelling corruptions. Every soul must be afflicted, because every soul was polluted, and guilty before God; while none have fulfilled the law of innocency none are exempt from the law of repentance, besides that every man must sigh and cry for the <i>abominations of the land</i>. 3. The entire day must be observed: <i>From even to even you shall afflict your souls</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Lev.23.32" href="/passage/?search=Lev.23.32">Lev. 23:32</a>), that is, “You shall begin your fast, and the expressions of your humiliation, in the <i>ninth day of the month at even</i>.” They were to leave off all their worldly labour, and compose themselves to the work of the day approaching, some time before sun-set on the ninth day, and not to take any food (except children and sick people) till after sun-set on the tenth day. Note, The eves of solemn days ought to be employed in solemn preparation. When work for God and our souls is to be done, we should not straiten ourselves in time for the doing of it; for how can we spend our time better? Of this sabbath the rule here given is to be understood: <i>From even unto even shall you celebrate your sabbath</i>.2f72 33 And the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> spake unto Moses, saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month <i>shall be</i> the feast of tabernacles <i>for</i> seven days unto the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>. 35 On the first day <i>shall be</i> an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work <i>therein</i>. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>: it <i>is</i> a solemn assembly; <i>and</i> ye shall do no servile work <i>therein</i>. 37 These <i>are</i> the feasts of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, which ye shall proclaim <i>to be</i> holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: 38 Beside the sabbaths of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye
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