[(Exod. 12:2:) THIS NEW MOON (i.e., THIS MONTH).]⁴¹ R. Samuel bar Abba said: In the case of any new moon which appears at six hours (i.e., noon) or earlier, the eye has the power to see it. At six hours or later the eye does not have the power to see it.⁴² 5:14; PR 15:20; Gen. R. 6:3; Exod. R. 15:22. Now that new moon, when the Holy One spoke to Moses, began at six hours or later; and the eye did not have the power to see it. So the Holy One showed it to him with a finger⁴³ and said to him (in Exod. 12:2): THIS NEW MOON.⁴⁴ 2.

footnotes: ⁴¹ The midrash now understands the Hebrew of Exod. 12:2 in this sense. ⁴² Cf. PRK ⁴³ Cf. Luke 11:20. ⁴⁴ Cf. Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Pisha