- the seventh:
- That is, the month Tisri, the seventh month of their ecclesiastical year, but the first of their civil year, answering to our September. This, which was their new year's day, was a time of great festivity, and ushered in by the blowing of trumpets; whence it was also called the feast of blowing the trumpets. In imitation of this Jewish festival, different nations began the new year with sacrifices and festivity. The ancient Egyptians did so; and the Persians also celebrated their nawee rooz, or new year's day, which they held on the vernal equinox, and which "lasted ten days, during which all ranks seemed to participate in one general joy. The rich sent presents to the poor; all were dressed in their holiday clothes; all kept open house; and religious processions, music, dancing, a species of theatrical exhibition, rustic sports, and other pastimes, presented a continued round of varied amusement. Even the dead, and the ideal beings were not forgotten; rich viands being placed on the tops of houses and high towers, on the flavour of which the Peris, and spirits of their departed heroes and friends, were supposed to feast." After the Mohammedan conquest of Persia, the celebration of this period sensibly declined, and at last totally ceased, till the time of Jelaladdin (about ad 1082), who, coming to the crown at the vernal equinox, re-established the ancient festival, which has ever since been celebrated with pomp and acclamations. "Speakª° unto¹ the childrenª of Israel,ª saying,ª° In the seventhª month,ª in the firstª [day] of the month,ª shall ye have¹ a sabbath,ª a memorialª of blowing² of trumpets,¹ an holyª convocation.ª ... Ye shall doª° no¹¹ servileª workª [therein]: but ye shall offerª° an offering made by fireª unto the LORD.ª" {Lev 23:24-25} + "From the first² dayª¹¹ of the seventhª monthª beganª° they to offerª° burnt offeringsª unto the LORD.ª But the foundationª° of the templeª of the LORDª was not¹ [yet] laid.²°" {Ezr 3:6} + "So the priests,ª and the Levites,ª and the porters,ª and the singers,ª° and [some] of¹ the people,ª and the Nethinims,ª and all¹ Israel,ª dweltª° in their cities;ª and when the seventhª monthª came,ª° the childrenª of Israelª [were] in their cities.ª" {Neh 7:73}
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