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In 1200 B.C. the Egyptian calendar was reformed to the Sothic calendar, in which the year
started when they could see a new moon right after the star Sirius. The Egyptians were the first to
replace the lunar calendar with a calendar based on the solar year. They measured the solar year
as 365 days, divided into twelve months of thirty days each, with five extra days at the end.

Meanwhile, according to Hutton Webster, in Palestine "the Hebrews employed LUNAR
SEVEN-DAY WEEKS, perhaps for centuries preceding the Exile; weeks, that is, which ended
with special observances on the seventh day but none the less were TIED TO THE MOON'S
COURSE" (Rest Days, p.254).

The Jewish Encyclopedia mentions that during this time "the months of the year were LU-
NAR, and began with the NEW MOON (hodesh, which came to mean "month"). During the era of
the Kings the new moon was observed by a TWO-DAY FESTIVAL (I Sam. 20:24-27)." (The
Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, article "Calendar," p. 631).

This new moon festival, according to Webster, was "considered an exceptional solemnity
as early [at least] as the time of Saul. The twentieth chapter of the First Book of Samuel records a
conversation between David and Jonathan in which the former says, 'Behold, tomorrow is the new
moon, and I should not fail to sit at meat with the king.' It appears from this chapter that the first
two days of the month were marked by feasts at which all members of the household were ex-
pected to be present, unless prevented by some ceremonial uncleanness. The occasion was also
observed by COMPULSORY ABSTINENCE from all servile work" (Rest Days, p.249).

The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia comments that "in the pre-Exilic period all work and
trade ceased on the New Moon, as on the Sabbath."

In I Samuel 20 the narrative continues with David saying "But let me go that I may hide in
the field until THE THIRD DAY at evening" (verse 5).

Then, in verses 24-27, we read --

So David hid in the field. And when the NEW MOON had come, the king sat down to eat
the FEAST. Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And
Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty. Nevertheless
Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him; he is
unclean, surely he is unclean." And it happened the next day, THE SECOND DAY of the
month, that David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has the
son of Jesse not come to eat, EITHER YESTERDAY OR TODAY?"

Jonathan Brown, in his booklet Keeping Yahweh's Appointments, explains these verses
in a cogent manner --

First, it appears from the context that it was a special gathering because in verse 5 he
states "behold, tomorrow is the [chodesh -- new moon]," drawing attention to the fact that
at that time he "should not fail to sit with the king at meat." If it were just an ordinary
"day" then there would have been no need to deliberately associate the "sitting down to

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