1 Samuel 20:5

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 Samuel 20:5 The new moon was the day of the first appearance of the crescent moon in the western sky at sunset, marking the beginning of the month in the lunar calendar. It was one of Israel’s main festivals (see Numbers 10:10; 1 Chronicles 23:31; Ezekiel 46:3). One could not always predict the exact day when the new moon would become visible, so it may be that the feast was held on the first possible day, and if the moon did not appear on that day, the feast was held on the second day as well (1 Samuel 20:27). Hence, David proposed meeting on the third day (see also “or the third day”; v. 1 Samuel 20:12).