XXmunth (chodhesh, yerach; men): Chodhesh is strictly the "new moon," the appearance of which marked the beginning of the month, commonly indicated by rosh ha-chodhesh. Yerach is derived from yareach, "moon," which comes from the verb that means "to wander," "to make a circuit." Thus the month was lunar, the period of the moons circuit. The Greek men also meant "moon," from the Sanskrit ma, "to measure," the Latin mensis and our "moon" being derived from the same root.
See CALENDAR; TIME; ASTRONOMY.
Chodhesh, or rather rosh ha-chodhesh, was observed as a festival (1 Sam 20:5,18,24; Isa 1:14).
H. Porter