Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
In the seventh month, in the first day of the month. That was the first day of the ancient civil year. Tisri, the first civil month, coincides with the latter part of September and the beginning of October.
Shall ye have a sabbath, х shabaatown (H7677)]. The change of termination in the word for "sabbath" seems to indicate a shade of difference in the meaning (Hengstenberg, 'Uber den Tag des Herrn').
A memorial of blowing of trumpets. Jewish writers say that the trumpets were sounded thirty successive times; and the reason for the institution was for the double purpose of announcing the commencement of the new year, which was (Leviticus 23:25) to be religiously observed (see Numbers 29:3), and of preparing the people for the approaching solemn fast.