23.  it  is  neither  neiu  moon,  nor  sabbath']  These  were  the  principal
occasions  of  assembling  for  worship,  and  it  is  clear  from  this  history
that  even  in  Israel,  while  the  house  of  Ahab  was  still  on  the  throne,
religious  services  were  regularly  held  by  the  prophets  in  the  name  of
Jehovah.  The  prophets  performed  all  the  duties  of  the  priesthood
where  it  was  impossible  to  have  the  services  of  priests  or  Levites.
Thus  Elijah  sacrificed  on  Mt  Carmel  before  the  slaughter  of  the  priests
of  Baal  ([  Kings  xviii.  33).  And  for  purposes  of  teaching  and  prayer
they  appear  to  have  observed  the  days  specially  appointed  in  the  Law.
On  the  observance  of  the  new  moon  cf.  i  Sam.  xx.  5,  18,  24.  For  its
institution  see  Numb.  x.  10;  xxviii.  11.  In  the  latter  passage  is  a
description  of  the  sacrifice  to  be  offered ;  and  we  know  from  the  Psalms
(Ixxxi.  3)  that  it  was  celebrated  with  the  sound  of  the  trumpet.  On
the  observance  when  it  came  to  be  without  any  spiritual  reality,  see
Isaiah  i.  14.
It  shall  be  well]  The  Heb.  word  is  literally  'Peace  '.  But  it  is  used
in  salutations  and  enquiries  after  the  welfare  of  another,  as  below  in
verse  26.  Here  however  the  woman  appears  to  use  it  as  a  means  of
putting  aside  further  questioning.  So  it  would  be  equivalent  to  'Let
be'.     'Say  no  more'.     'Let  me  have  my  way'.
24.  slack  not  thy  riding  for  me]  R.V.  slacken  me  not  the  riding.
