YAHWEH'S CALENDAR
INDEX OF STUDIES AND ARTICLES
INTRODUCTION
THE CALENDAR MADE SIMPLE
THE CONJUNCTION
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS
USE OF THE CLOSEST MOON
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS
LETTER FROM ISRAEL ON BARLEY
STUDIES AND REFERENCES
Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky
INTRODUCTION
Yahweh has given His people a calendar to find His commanded set part days. (Leviticus chapter 23) It is not the Roman calendar that we use in this world to keep schedules and work by. It is a different calendar that is set by the signs in the heavens forever. This is described in the creation part of the scriptures for knowledge to His people. No one else in the world understands these signs and what they mean. Read for yourself.
And Yahweh said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to
divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for
seasons, and for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give
light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And Yahweh made two great lights; the greater light to
rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars
also.
17 And Yahweh set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon
the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light
from the darkness: and Yahweh saw that it was good.
Notice, that the word seasons is underlined. It is actually the word moed (#4150) in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. It means, Set-a-part days. These are holy days that are designated to be kept during the calendar year by His people. (Called Out Ones) The first day of the first month occurs in the month of April in the Roman calendar. Notice also that the word also says, two great lights. We know by the verses that Yah is talking about the sun and the moon. So in this wonderful calendar we have to keep For His special days, we use both the sun and the moon to find the first day of the new year. Understand also, that there is no other sign mentioned here, like barley for example. We will explain more about this later.
We find the first day of the year by waiting until spring, for the first Feasts of Yahweh are actually spring gatherings. This is were we first use the greater light first, the sun. The sun passes the equator about March 21st. This is called tequphah or the turning of the year. The spring part of the year begins.
Psalms 19:5-6 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit (tequphah) unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. See (Ex 34:22)
Now that spring has arrived we look for the next sign that the creator has given us, the moon. We now look to the western sky to find the new visible crescent just above the horizon about forty minutes (40) after local sunset. The moon has to be 10 degrees above the horizon for it to be a proper moon. This ten degrees assures us that it was seen in Jerusalem. We are not to do our own thing, or go our own way. All law comes out to Zion. This occurs about twenty eight days after the first new moon of the previous month. In other words, when we know when a new moon occurs, it will be in place again about twenty eight days later. This new moon, on or after the equinox, tequphah, is called Abib one, the first day of the new year. This rule is called: THE NEW MOON AFTER RULE. From thence, we count, according to the directions in Leviticus chapter 23, to find the spring Feasts of Yahweh. This is how Moses and the Assembly that came out of Egypt kept the Set-apart Days in the wilderness, and it is still valid today, for Yahweh changes not. (Mal 3:6) See the set-a-part days link at bottom of page.
The calendar is very controversial in nature. There is only one true one that was given. We present material and studies to prove this is the proper way to find the Set-Apart Days. Besides the studies presented, see also the book list of the Assembly. The annual Set-Apart Days contain seven Sabbaths. If we do not keep the right calendar, we will be violating the annual Sabbaths. It is incumbent us to study and pray about this issue diligently. We are to prove all things. If we do not seek the truth, it may not be given to us. Most believers have not studied this issue. We pray that these articles and studies will help the body of Messiah.
Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky
THE CALENDAR MADE SIMPLE
By Elder John Trescott
This year many will be observing Passover and the Kodesh Days a full month differently than others. Even for those who observe the new crescent, some will be a month different. I have two booklets which will make the subject of the calendar plain.. WHOSE CALENDAR, YAHWEH'S OR THE JEWS, and YAHWEH'S CALENDAR VS ROMAN-JEWISH CALENDAR. We have sent out dozens of these booklets. Yet in a short form here, allow me to try to clarify the subject even more.
Genesis 1:14 states.. "And Yahweh said, Let there be lights in the
firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them
be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years."
Notice that the
lights, not the darkness, would be used. A crescent is the first form of
light of a new moon, or month (shining sword #2320, #2318). NOT THE DARK
OF AN ASTRONOMICAL NEW MOON. The word for seasons is "moed" meaning the
feast days. So the sun AND the moon are to be used to determine the time
of holy day observance. How does Yahweh do that? Well, He also said they
would be for years. The sun for days and years, and the moon for months,
so holy days could be easily ascertained and held to.
Again, how does Yahweh do that? Notice in Genesis 8:22... "While the
earth remains, seedtime (spring) and harvest (fall), and cold and heat,
and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Here is
reassurance we will continue to be able to see a new day if we wake from
our night of sleep. We will continue to have the four basic seasons, of
course in the areas outside of the polar areas. That is where the sun
comes in. Spring begins with the Spring Equinox, (turn of the year,
Tequphah #8622) which is the point of time when the sun crosses the
equator from south to north. [It is not equal day, equal night). In the
fall, we have other feast days, "at the turning of the year", a fall
Equinox. See Exodus 34:22 where you can read of the festivals, and the
fall feast of in gathering at the "year's end," or "revolution of the
year" or "turning of the year". This is at the time of the Fall Equinox.
The four seasons are determined by the sun. Notice...
Beginning of spring.. Spring Equinox Beginning of summer ... Summer
Solstice Beginning of fall .....Fall Equinox Beginning of winter
.......... Winter Solstice
The spring Equinox, or turning of the year, ushers in a new year and the
whole month of Abib must occur within that year. So, Yahweh says to
Moses, concerning the month of Abib.. Exodus 12:2.. "This month (new
moon) shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first
month (new moon) OF THE YEAR to You. Interesting and so simple. A year
has started. It started when the sun provided the Spring Equinox, a
tequphah, a turning of the year. Then the new moon after that
Equinox begins the first month, Abib, of that new year! If the new moon
used is prior to the Equinox, it is still in the previous year! It is
the last new moon of the old year, not the first new moon of the New
Year as Yahweh said it should be!
If we use the new crescent on or after the Spring Equinox, as Yahshua
commanded the holy days will fall within the seasons. If you think they
must fall in spring and fall, so be it. Passover and the Feast of
Unleavened Bread will always fall in the spring. The Feast of
Tabernacles will ALWAYS be in the fall of the year, at the revolution or
tequphah of the year. Using the Spring Equinox, the holy days CANNOT
migrate outside of their seasons, even if one thinks those seasons mean
one of the four, spring, summer, fall or winter.
Yet, when Yahweh in Leviticus 23 tells us to speak of these festivals in
their seasons, He is not referring to spring, summer, etc, but to their
appointed times as He fixed the calendar. The word season in this
reference is #4150 and specifically means an appointed time or festival.
Finally, what was Yahshua's example, for we
should follow in His steps? He died on April 25, 31 C.E. (AD). The new
moon that month of Abib was after the spring Equinox, and the farthest
new moon from it. He is the law giver and He fulfilled that same law.
What is so difficult in following what Messiah obviously approved of?
Any time there is a difference, look to the example our Master, Yahshua
Messiah set for us. He never sinned! And if we look to Him, following
His perfect example, we will not sin either.
Does it matter? When Yahweh has an appointment, and wants you and me to
keep it, should we be concerned that we have it correct? If not, we will
miss our appointment. Yahweh is not being picky. If Sabbath starts at
sundown on the sixth day, Friday, then it does not start at sundown on
Saturday, The Feast days have their appointed times and it behooves us
to meet with our Creator on His time which He appointed.
Please do not be confused on other studies, especially the Wave Sheaf in
Jerusalem. The Ministry of Agriculture has repeatedly stated that the
harvest of Barley will not be ready until mid April. This eliminated the
calendar that places the new moon prior to the equinox. Please send for
the study on: "The Wave Sheaf'.
ATTENDING YAHWEH'S FEASTS
As the feast days come this year, make every effort to attend somewhere
so as to please Yahweh who called you unto this wonderful separation.
You need the attitude that no matter what comes, you will GO to be with
Him at His appointed times, That the most important thing in your entire
life is to be where He places His Name (Deut. 16:6, YAHWEH)! He will be
there! This means that we can not stay at home. We have to go… He will
provide you with messages you need for your spiritual growth, for
encouragement, for helping you remain faithful to Him unto the end.
Accommodations are not to be your primary concern. Just being where He
is should be your heart felt desire, and if so, He will give you that
desire of your heart.
Go to His feasts with the purpose to rejoice as He has commanded. It is
so warm and wonderful to fellowship with others of like minds, and with
our heavenly Father and His Son Yahshua Messiah, as we all meet to
rejoice together. So many millions of believers have missed out, and are
still missing out, on such wonderful and joyous times our heavenly
Father has provided for all who will hear Him and hear the One He sent.
DON'T MISS OUT!
While looking forward to His appointed times, remember that we are far
closer to the Kingdom of Yahweh than when we first believed. Pray for
one another, Pray for the sick in Yahweh's Assembly and their loved
ones. Pray for those in the ministry to be able to be inspired to feed
Yahweh's chosen people. Pray for various ministries striving to
accomplish the task of preaching repentance and remission of sins in His
name to this world. Write letters of encouragement to those you see and
know are being faithful in the commission given to His called out ones.
Write to one another words of happiness, sympathy, and encouragement,
whichever is needed at the time. Writing is an expression of the love we
have from Yahweh toward one another…
Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky
THE CONJUNCTION THEORY
DARK OF THE MOON NOT SCRIPTURAL
STUDY ARTICLE FOR DATE OF YAHSHUA'S DEATH
Yahshua the Anointed's Death - Rationale for CE 31,Wednesday, April 25
by Anthony V. Gaudiano
Historical records containing the date of Yahshua the Anointed's death
were made many years after the event. Astronomers, mathematicians,
scholars, religionists, etc., who pondered the accuracy of the records,
advocate a date between CE 26 and 34 (Julian). The specific date
advocated by ten authors was examined in a companion article titled:
Comparison of Dates Advocated for the Death of Our Savior. The majority
advocated CE 31, the minority CE 30, etc.
Interestingly, the date advocated by the minority generally would have
been the same as the majority except they were influence by such things
as: the unscriptural Good Friday Death - Easter Sunday Resurrection
tradition, the baseless calculated conjunction of the invisible new moon
'on-or-after' the Spring Equinox, darkening afternoon attributed to an
eclipse, maturity of wheat erroneously assumed to be barley, etc.
Few authors published rationale for the date they advocated, thus
validation is hindered and must be deduced. This article contains the
rationale for Yahshua the Anointed's death on CE 31, Passover,
Wednesday, April 25. The rationale can be used to test other advocated
dates.
The rationale herein consists of scripture verses which anyone can
correlate with archeological and historical evidence, the
Sabbatical/Jubilee year sequence, a visible new moon crescent
`first-after' the Spring Equinox (Northern Hemisphere) at least 18 hours
old and at an elevation greater than 9.4°, Hebrew sunset--to-sunset day
reckoning, Passover according to Leviticus 23 occurring on Wednesday,
Jerusalem local time, and astronomical tables from a publication of the
United States Naval Observatory (USNO).
The USNO publication states that their tables are accurate to within one
or two hours for years 4 BCE to 38 CE. The data in a different format is
also available from the NASA. The USNO and NASA data is unquestionably
the most authoritative and accurate available.
Examination of CE 31 according to the rationale
given herein:
(a) At:
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/SpringPhenom.html download
and print the United States Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications
Department publication titled: Spring Phenomena, 25 BCE, to 38 CE, which
contains three pages of astronomical data.
(b) On page 1., under the table titled: VERNAL EQUINOX, go to the right
half of the page to the column titled: Julian Calendar Date. Under the
subheading titled. CE March, read down to 31, and notice the Spring
Equinox at Greenwich, England, occurred on March 23, at 3 a.m., Friday,
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
(c) Add two hours to GMT to obtain local time in Jerusalem, which is two
time zones east of Greenwich. The Spring Equinox occurred in Jerusalem
at 5 a.m (3 a.m. + 2 hrs.).
(d) Go to page 2., to the table on the left titled: FULL MOON on or next
after date of equinox. Read down the column titled: Julian Cal. date,
continuing on page 3, to CE 31. Read across to the right under the
column titled: NEW MOON Following equinox, and see that it occurred on
April 10, at Noon.
(e) Make a calendar using as a basis Wednesday, March 23, and continue
to April 25, or go to the calendar at the end of this article titled:
`CE 31, MARCH (Sunset to sunset reckoning, Jerusalem time).' The shaded
area denotes the days of the month in the Winter season. Locate
Wednesday, March 23, `Spring Equinox occurred at 5 a.m. within this day'
The whole day is shaded because it began in the Winter season and there
is no such thing as a partial `day,' It ended at sunset, which began
Saturday, March 24, the first day of Spring.
(f) Continue to April 10, where is the notation: `Astronomical
Conjunction of new moon; at 12 Noon.' Immediately before, during, and
after an astronomical conjunction the moon is always invisible when
viewed from Earth when it is in the shadow cast by the Sun.
According to German astronomer Karl Schoch, English astronomer J. K.
Forthingham, etc., the first crescent of the new moon is not normally
visible earlier than 18 hours after its astronomical conjunction, or at
an angle less than 9.4° above the horizon. Accordingly, the new moon
would not have been visible earlier than sunrise, 6 a.m. (12 noon + 18
hrs.), Wednesday, April 11.
Moreover, the faint crescent then would have been obscured by the
increasing brightness of dawn just before sunrise. But after sunset,
twelve hours later, the faint crescent would have been easily visible
because the new moon was then 30+ hours old, and in a darkening sky.
That sunset was the beginning of Thursday, April 12.
(g) Go to Thursday, April 12, and the notation: `1 Nisan Crescent of new
moon visible after previous sunset.' This is first day, of the first
month, of the Hebrew New Year, which began at the same sunset.
(h) Continue thirteen more days to: `14 Nisan, Passover (entombment just
before sunset)' and see that Passover occurred on Wednesday, April 25.
Yahshua the Anointed, the Lamb of Yahweh, his blood shed, died about
mid-afternoon on Wednesday the day which is in the middle of the week.
His body was prepared and entombed before sunset.
In accordance with the scriptures, also on that same Passover day, the
sacrifice of set apart-lambs occurred about mid-afternoon and was
completed before sunset.
Scriptural support for the rationale herein:
There is the prophecy in Daniel 9:26 about an anointed one who would be
"cut off' in the midst of his last week. Yahshua the Anointed loves
mankind so much he became mortal, suffered terribly, and shed his blood
in sacrificial atonement for mankind's sin, in the midst (middle) of the
week.
There is the first-person prophecy by Yahshua the Anointed in Matthew
12:40, that he would be: "in the heart of the earth three days and three
nights" (a specific period of 72 hours). The gospels show that it was
the `preparation day' as Passover was then called, and that Yahshua was
entombed "as the Sabbath drew on." That sunset began 15 Nisan, the "High
Day" Sabbath mentioned in John 19:31. It was the first of seven days of
the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
In accordance with Yahshua’s own prophecy, he was resurrected just
before sunset. That sunset began what is now called Sunday, but then was
called the `first of the Sabbath.' It is likely on the very morning that
Yahshua ascended as a pure first-fruit offering to his Father, the high
priest sacrificed a male lamb for the nation's sin, and raised the
first-fruit of the barley harvest as an offering to Yahweh. Yahshua the
Anointed was the first of the first-fruit to be resurrected, to be
followed by the harvest of the chosen few at his second coming.
There are approximately 8900 continuous dates of sighting the faint
crescent of the new moon recorded in Cuneiform on clay tablets which
have been found in Babylon. They have been translated and are in the
book: Babylonian Chronology 626 BC to AD 75 by Parker and Dubberstein.
Page 37. shows the first day of the first month of the Babylonian New
Year is 1 Nisanu. It directly corresponds to CE 31, April 12 (Hebrew 1
Nisan) as in (g). The name of the Babylonian months were adapted by the
prophet Ezra for the Hebrew calendar (i.e., 1 Nisan = 1 Nisan).
Extrapolating this Babylonian record of sighting the visible new moon
verifies Yahshua the Anointed's death on 14 Nisan, Passover, CE 31,
Wednesday, April 25.
There is Benedict Zuckerman's Sabbatical/Jubilee year sequence which
shows that the l5Th year of Tiberius Caesar's reign mentioned in Luke
3:1, corresponds to the autumn of CE 27, the logical time of the baptism
and beginning of Yahshua the Anointed's ministry. His ministry seems to
have lasted three years, five months, and ten days (approximately three
and one half years).
There are many scriptural verses which show that the Sadducee high
priests routinely observed the first faint crescent of the new moon to
declare the start of a year, month, and High Sabbath feasts as it says
to do in Genesis. Psalms 81:3 says "blow the Shofar at the new moon, at
the full moon, on our feast day." All refer only to a visible moon. This
scripture shows the Hebrew priesthood observed the new moon long before
the death of Yahshua the Anointed and likely continued to do so
afterward, until the destruction of the Temple in CE 69 - 70.
No other date from CE 26 to 34 inclusively, fits all of the above
rationale!
Examination of CE 30 according to the rationale given
herein
Some theorize that the Hebrew New Year, months, feast days, and the
death of Yahshua the Anointed should be based upon the astronomical
conjunction of the invisible moon, on-or-after the day of the Spring
Equinox. No firm scripture support is cited where this was done before
CE 70. The validity of this theory will now be tested:
Repeat steps (a) and (b) above, except for CE 30. Notice that the Spring
Equinox occurs on Wednesday, March 22, at 12 midnight, Jerusalem time
and Hebrew day reckoning. Up to that instant the Earth was orbiting in
the Winter season, but that 24 hour `day,' would not be completed until
sunset. Want Proof? Notice the USNO table does not contain a column
titled 'on-or-after-equinox..' It is obviously illogical. Similarly, the
Autumnal Equinox begins on a `day' in the Summer season, and at sunset,
Autumn begins.
Go to page 3., to the column titled: On or preceding date of equinox. It
shows that the astronomical conjunction in CE 30 occurred within the
same `day,' Wednesday, March 22, at 8 p.m. Jerusalem time. That `day'
began at 6 p.m., two hours earlier, at the sunset previous. Notice that
the astronomical conjunction of the invisible moon occurred four hours
before the occurrence of the Spring Equinox, while the Earth was yet
further away in orbit in the Winter season. Accordingly, that
astronomical conjunction cannot be designated 1 Nisan, because the
Sadducee high priest had ruled the start of the Hebrew New Year could
only begin in the Spring season.
So, theoretically, that Hebrew New Year could not begin until the next
astronomical conjunction of the invisible moon which would then be the
spring season. The next astronomical conjunction of the moon after the
Spring Equinox would have been on Saturday, April 21, at 11 a.m_ If it
were designated 1 Nisan, Passover on 14 Nisan would correspond to
Tuesday (not Wednesday), May 4 This date is one day later than the
latest date (i.e., CE 33, Sunday, May 3) determined for the range of
years advocated.
The theory of a calculated conjunction of the invisible moon in CE 30
for Yahshua’s death does not produce a month, day of the week, or day
number for which fits the rationale. If instead, the visible first faint
crescent of the new moon were used to examine CE 30, the result would be
Friday, April 7. This may be the source of the erroneous `Good Friday
death' tradition and wrong year.
There are validated historical documents written many years after the
death of Yahshua the Anointed which mention CE 30, but curiously,
without the month and the day of the week. An explanation as to why CE
30 instead of 31 is mentioned may be because the Julian calendar began
in the Winter on January 1, but the Hebrew `religious' year began in the
Spring on 1 Nisan (April - May). During the same period there was also
an `agricultural year' which began after the harvests on 1 Tishri
(September - October) as on Hebrew calendars today. It is seldom stated
in historical records if a date is to the Hebrew religious or
agriculture year.
After the destruction of the Temple the Sadducee priesthood died off and
the Pharisees gained control of local synagogues. They became the Rabbis
of today. Centuries earlier during the Babylonian captivity the
priesthood had learned how to calculate a calendar using the
astronomical conjunction. It became necessary to do so after the Temple
was destroyed to designate holy days for those in the Diaspora.
As years passed there were Rabbinic interpretations about the calendar
which now allowed the Hebrew year to start in the Winter season with the
new moon on-or-preceding the Spring Equinox as long as Passover remained
in the Spring. Four Rabbinic postponements were also added which
periodically changed the commanded date when the feast days in Leviticus
23 were to be observed. This was done for convenience sake to ensure
there was a preparation day before every convocation.
Were the Hebrews forbidden to observe the Sun,
Moon, etc.?
In Genesis 1:14-18 Elohim gave the Sun "to rule the day" and the Moon
"to rule the night"... "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and
years"... "the stars also" "to divide the light from the darkness and
Elohim saw that it was good." Yet, incredibly, some advocates of the
calculated conjunction of the invisible moon claim the Hebrews were
forbidden to observe these celestial bodies, and infer that believers
who do so today, engage in heathen worship.
In Exodus 20:4-5 the Commandment reads: "You shall not make for yourself
a graven image, or any likeness that is in heaven above... you shall not
bow down to them, or serve them." Clearly, the Hebrews were specifically
forbidden to make or worship an image of anything. Although the Hebrews
were the chosen people and recipients of many miracles, the scriptures
show they disobeyed and did as the heathen, which included worshiping a
golden calf, the sun, moon, etc. The Hebrews also did not keep the
seventh year Sabbath for the land, and committed other sins. Their
punishment was captivity in Babylonian for seventy years.
Is it a shameful abuse of scripture by those who advocate the
conjunction of the invisible moon for calendar purposes, to infer that
believers who observe the first faint crescent of the new moon, as
commanded in Genesis 1:14 -18, are engaging in heathen worship.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This technical study is very important in many respects. The date of Yahshua's death not only shows that we can not use the dark of the moon (Conjunction), but it also shows that we can not use the closest moon to the equinox. Yahshua, our Savior and law giver revealed by His own example that we must use the new visible crescent moon on or after the equinox. This timing always starts the calendar year correctly, and consequently, we will always have a wave sheaf in the days of Unleavened Bread!
For those who have not done the study completely, it is a well proven fact that to use the date of 31 A.D. for Yahshua's impalement, one has to use the new visible crescent after the equinox. To use the date of 30 A.D. for Yahshua's death, one has to use the invisible conjunction. It is also factual that knowledge of the conjunction was not known prior to 330-350 B.C. The conjunction lasts for at least two days, and to find the exact point of darkness, conjunction, one needs a table. When Moses was commanded to count from that day of Abib one (1) forward to the 14th for Passover in Ex 12:1-2, the date was approximately 1445-1440 B.C. ( Ryrie's Notes) Moses could not have used a conjunction to identify Abib one!
References:
Farthingham, J. K., The Evidence of Astronomy and Technical Chronology
for the Date of the Crucifixion, The Journal of Theological Studies,
Vol. 35, 1934, pp, 146-162.
Parker, Richard A. and Dubberstein, Waldo H., Babylonian Chronology 626
B.C.-A.D. 75, Brown University Press, Providence, Rhode Island, 1956, 47
p.
Schock, Karl, Christi Kreuzigung a.m. 14. Nisan, Biblica, Vol. 9, 1928,
pp. 48-56.
United States Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Department
publication, Spring Phenomena, 25 BCE to 38 CE, 2003, p. 3.
Zuckermann, Benedict, "Ueber Sabbatjahrcyclus and Jobelperiode,"
Jahresbericht des juedisch-theologischen Seminars Fraenckelscher
Stiftung (Breslau, 1857). See study at:
www.pickle-publishing.com/papers/sabbatical-years
. When Were the Sabbatical Years, by Bob Pickle
Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky
LITTLE KNOW FACTS
CRESCENT OR CONJUNCTION?
Is the biblical new moon the first faint visible crescent or the
invisible astronomical lunar conjunction? Here are a number of reasons
why we must use the crescent rather than the invisible conjunction:
1.) The ancient Hebrews had no almanacs or telescopes to figure out when
the lunar conjunction would occur. The discoveries of Newton were
millennia away. They had no choice but to use the visible crescent.
2.) The Hebrew words "yerach" and "lebanah," translated "moon," are
never used to describe the first day of the month. The Hebrew word
"chodesh" is translated "new moon." In Gesenius' Hebrew/Chaldee Lexicon
we find that the term "hodesh" (#2320) which comes from #2318 and means
to be new, or to polish a sword. In other words, it appears as a
scimitar, or curved sword. It is not invisible.
3.) Psalm 81:3 says, "blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time
appointed (Heb. "keseh" meaning "full moon"), on our solemn feast day."
Since we know that the new moon and feast of the full moon must be the
first and fifteenth days of the month respectively, it naturally follows
for us to ask whether or not there can be a full moon fifteen days after
a crescent. Or must we use the lunar conjunction in order to come out
right? The truth is that "The necessary time for full moon varies from
13.73 to 15.80 days after conjunction" (over two days--depending on how
the ellipse is oriented with respect to the sun and earth since it is
off center) (The Calendars Of Ancient Egypt by Richard A. Parker). So
from crescent to full moon would have even greater variability than
this. When 200 such months were fed into a computer at random, it was
found that the full moon proper occurred the 12th day after the crescent
only one; 13th day after, 44 times; 14th day after, 94 times; 15th day
after, 60 times, and 16th day after, once. In other words, the full moon
proper doesn't always fall on the 15th day, so Psalm 81:3 means just
basically round--not hair-splitting.
4.) Revelation 12:1-5 says that "there appeared a great wonder in
heaven--a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet ...
And she, being with child, cried, travailing in birth, and pained to he
delivered...And she brought forth a man child who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron.'' If an astronomer were to read this
passage, he would automatically think of the constellation Virgo at the
point in time when the sun's path in the heavens crosses through here
body. This event always occurs in mid-October, the exact time of the
Feast of Trumpets in many years. If Messiah's first coming was on this
feast, as we think his second coming will be, then we know it was a new
moon that was visible to John. Trumpets can occur as many as 29 days
after September 23rd (Autumnal equinox) or as few as the same day if the
equinox and the crescent occur on the same day. Since John saw the moon
under her feet, it couldn't have been a lunar conjunction.
5.) The historical precedent is visible crescents. As Hastings Dict. of
the Bible, art. "New Moon," p.522 says, "There was no fixed calendar
till the 4th century-and the New Moon was declared from actual
observation. The eye-witnesses were carefully examined on the 30th day
of each month ... If no witnesses were available, then the following day
was New Moon." As the Jewish Encyc., art. "New Moon," p.243, says, "The
Sanhedrin was assembled in the courtyard ("bet ya'azek") of Jerusalem on
the 30th of each month from morning to evening, waiting for the reports
of those appointed to observe the new moon." (See also Mishnah R.H.i.7,
ii.5-7; Sanh.102) The article "Calendar, History of," p.498 says, "The
history of the Jewish calendar may be divided into three periods--the
biblical, the talmudic, and the post-talmudic. The first rested purely
on the observation of the sun and the moon, the second on observation
and reckoning, the third entirely on reckoning." As the Encyclopedia
Judaica, art. "New Moon," p.1039 says, "Originally, the New Moon was not
fixed by astronomical calculations, but was solemnly proclaimed after
witnesses had testified to the reappearance of the crescent of the moon.
On the 30th of each month, the members of the High Court (Sanhedrin)
assembled in a courtyard in Jerusalem, named Belt Ya'azek, where they
waited to receive the testimony of two reliable witnesses; they then
sanctified the New Moon. If the moon's crescent was not seen on the 30th
day, the new moon was automatically celebrated on the 31st day."
6.) Each month is 29 or 30 days. This is why Saul held a two-day
festival (I Sam. 20:27. 34). David and Jonathan knew in advance that
there would be a new moon festival the next day (I Sam. 20:5, 18), and
the day after that, because of their mentioning waiting until the third
day (I Sam. 20:5,12,19). But they didn't know in advance whether the
crescent would appear the first day or the second. The very fact that
two days were celebrated rather than just one is proof of their
inability to predict with certainty the new moon day. But, calculating
the lunar conjunction is precise and unambiguous. Only one day is needed
using that method, with the help of tables. However, using the
conjunction is not biblical.
Reference: Calendar Yahweh
Gave To Moses, by Herb Solinsky and Rob Anderson 1982. Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky
PART TWO
USE OF THE CLOSEST MOON TO
THE EQUINOX
(OR, WHAT IS THE BARLEY DOING?)
The following study and findings relate to the practice of using the closest new moon to the change of the year, equinox, or tequphah. Many times not until two weeks prior to estimated Abib one (1), can one tell if the barley will be ripe for the wave sheaf. This creates thee problems. First, it is not consistent with the time of Yahshua's death. ( See previous article) Second, believers of the time of Yahshua would not have enough warning to travel to Jerusalem for the Feast. If the timing was an equal distance to the equinox to after the equinox, it almost became an arbitrary call. This is not how Yahweh works. His Kodesh things are very clear and not confusing. It is as clear as the difference between light and darkness. Another problem that some create is that they say, there is no such thing as EQUINOX. Yahweh makes it clear that through the solstices, there is a clear division between spring and summer, summer and fall, and fall and winter. He states this concept in the scriptures by calling it seed time and harvest. Other scriptures describe the turning of the year by the sun returning to it's place. Please read on...
Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky
CRESCENT ON OR AFTER THE EQUINOX
Many assemblies take the crescent closest to
the spring equinox, even if that crescent happens to fall before the
equinox, and call that "Abib one." Thus their holy days are one month
too early. The correct method is to take the first crescent on or after
the spring equinox and call that day "Abib one." (Other assemblies use
"green ears" instead of the equinox. This method is synonymous with
using either side of the equinox.)
Here are some of the reasons why it is correct to use the first crescent
on or after the spring equinox.
l.) It is not consistent to have Abib one in the spring some years and
in the winter other years. The festivals are to occur in their
seasons--not out of them (Deut. 16:6; Num, 9:2; Ex. 13:10). Deuteronomy
16:1; Exodus 23:16 and 34:18 all make it clear that the moon must be
"OF" the "GREEN EARS," not before them. There had to be enough barley
developed for the wave sheaf (Lev. 23:11).
2.) If Nisan one can fall before the spring equinox, then Passover will
always fall in spring but Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and Last
Great Day will fall mostly in summer, not autumn or fall. The fall holy
days will be celebrated in two different seasons. Instead of harvesting
crops during the harvest moon, people will have to travel to the feast
empty-handed as their crops rot in the fields. If Nisan one can fall 13
days before the equinox, then Tishri one will be 21 or 22 days before
the fall equinox. It is not proper to have the harvest festivals in the
summer (Lev. 23:39).
3.) Farmers and shepherds two and three thousand years ago didn't know
ahead of time if the equinox would be March 20, 21 or even 19. They
didn't have almanacs. So if the crescent came: 13, 14, or 15 days
before, they wouldn't know if it were nearer or not ahead of time. Not
only this, but also they couldn't predict ahead of time whether the
month would have 29 or 30 days further blurring the midpoint. And even
if the equinox was March 20, and the crescent was 14 days before, the
actual time of' the equinox would probably fall many hours after the
taking of the Passover on the night of the 19th.So even on the same day,
Passover here falls short of spring. The ancients probably couldn't even
calculate the equinox to the nearest day, let alone hour or minute. The
equinox might fall at noon on the 20th.
4.) The requirement of ripe barley for the wave sheaf (Lev. 23:11),
limits Nisan 15 to 21 to a time period from the beginning of April to
early June (Solinsky, pp.46-48). "Barley begins to ripen in Palestine
with the beginning of April, and in the lower and warmer parts the
cutting is begun at the end of the same month. Hence we see that the
first new moon, which began the first month and the Jewish year, could
only take place in the last days of March at the earliest, and the
sacrifice of the 'omer' (wave sheaf) at the earliest only some days
before the end of the first half of April" (Astronomy In The Old
Testament, Giovanni V. Shiaparelli, 1905, Oxford.) But if we use
crescents 14 days before the equinox, Passover can fall as early as
March 19th.
5.) According to one source,
Messiah's last Passover was observed in a year when the crescent before
the equinox was closer than the one after and yet Messiah used the one
after. Only 28, 31, and 34 A.D. had Wednesday Passover dates, and only
31 A.D. is likely among these three (Solinsky, p.63). That being the
case, the only Wednesday Passover of 31 A.D. was on April 23rd. Fourteen
days earlier makes April 9th which is 18 days after March 21st (latest
possible equinox) showing that the nearer crescent before the equinox
wasn't used (p.75, Solinsky, The Calendar Yahweh Gave To Moses, See book
list).
6.) From the book Calendarium Palestini by William Carpenter, page 32,
we read about the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread: "It was
celebrated on the 14th day of the moon next after the vernal equinox and
continued seven days." (Written in 1825) Furthermore, we know that Eza
and Nehemiah used the Babylonian names for the months of the calendar.
By all indications, they actually used the Babylonian calendar itself
and knew no other. We know that the Babylonian calendar used visible
crescents and also it did not allow the first month of the year to come
before the vernal equinox for hundreds of years. No less an authority
than Otto Neugebauer knew of no archaeological evidence to the contrary
that the Babylonian and Biblical calendars are the same. Also, according
to the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin, pp. 46 to 51, we find that Rabbon
Simeon Ben Gamaliel (Paul's teacher) intercalated a month on three
grounds: tequphah, barley, and roads. He said the most important method
was tequphah. When they asked if the other two matter, Gamaliel made no
reply because he would have been persecuted by the Pharisees if he had
contradicted them.
Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky
Barley Letter From Israel Ag Minister
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
EXTENSION SERVICE
FIELD CR0PS DEPARTMENT
Hakirya, Tel-Aviv June 8, 1983
Ref.35/24
Mr. V.E. Richard Baravalle
Queen's Bay
R.R,#3, Nelson
British Columbia
Canada, VIL 5P6
Dear sir,
I received your letter of May 12, in which you asked for some data about
barley. It is real coincidence that recently I have been receiving two
other letters from different countries, all dealing with the same
subject. Well first of all, I want to give you some general information
about barley growing today in our country, which may use as a background
for better understanding. As a matter of fact, barley has been
diminishing steadily in our country for the last 10-15 years and covers
today no more than approximately 10% of the total small grain
production. This trend is due to the much lower prices for barley in
compare with wheat prices, whereas the yields of both grains are more or
less at the same level. The main region for barley growing is in the
Negeb (South) between Beer Shebah and the Gaza strip. In the Jordan
Valley there is hardly any barley left to day. Among the Arab farmers in
the vicinity of Jericho there can still be found some small patches of
barley.
This year was a very exceptional one, from climatic point of view. We
have had an extreme wet and cold winter and therefore there was a great
delay in the ripening of wheat and bailey. Both are sown as a rule in ,
November and the harvest starts around the end of April - the beginning
of May. As stated I this year, the first wheat and barley have been
harvested not before mid of May in the Jordan Valley. However, it is not
right of course to make a comparison between to-day and the Ancient
time, not as far as concerns the variety of barley and not the way of
harvesting. To-day we have to wait with the harvest until the grain is
entirely dry which means a moisture content of 12-13% only. Otherwise
the mechanical harvester does not perform a clean threshing and the
grain cannot be stored without further drying. In the Ancient times and
even to-day with primitive methods the barley and Wheat were harvested
with a sicle and left on the land in sheaves for further drying.
Therefore the crop could be harvested a couple of weeks earlier even if
the barley would have been harvested with 20% moisture content. As you
probably may know, at the Passover the first omer of barley was brought
as sacrifice to the Temple and before this day, the new barley was not
allowed to be consumed neither for the animals. New wheat was not
allowed to be consumed before Pentecost or at least as long as old wheat
was still available. In the Talmud, it is mentioned that there were
years that the barley was not yet ripe at Passover. In order to be able
to bring the omer sacrifice of barley in time to the Temple, they used
to sow barley upon some flat roofs in the Jericho valley, which would be
ready and apt to the Sacrifice on the Passover. The Omer is not a big
quantity of grain. I guess that this rather extended answer will satisfy
you but in case that there is still any information required, don't
hesitate to write again.
Yours sincerely
M. Bar-Droma
Director Field Crops Dept.
Editor's Note: This letter was written to a believer who keeps the
Feasts of Yahweh in 1983. The concern was that if an early moon was used
prior to the equinox, would their be an Omar to wave. Notice that they
do not harvest till late April to early May. If they need a wave sheaf,
they force the grain on house tops. Solinsky has studies this grain
factor and found that there are eight different varieties of barley in
Israel. None of them ripen any earlier than the middle of April. That
means a moon prior to March 21-22 would not allow an Omar to be
available for fulfillment of the scripture requirement. See Solinsky and
Anderson: The Calendar Yahweh Gave to Moses, 9/23/82, p 54.
Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky
ADDITIONAL READINGS AVAILABLE:
A Calendar Discussion
Calendar Yahweh Gave To Moses...by Herb Solinsky and Rob Anderson
The Calendar Of Yah Revealed In The Bible...by David R. Kenders.
Chronology of the Exodus Passover...by John Trescott
Is Barley Used to Determine the 1st Month?
Is the Equinox Scriptural?
Life and Death of Yahshua
Whose Calendar, Yahweh's Or The Jews?...by John Trescott
Yahweh's Calendar vs Roman-Jewish Calendar...by Church of God,
Knoxville, Tn.
Yahweh's Calendar And The Sign Of Jonah...by Church of God, Knoxville,
Tn.
*Calendar Seminar...by Herb Solinsky (Seven Hour Video with
support material)
Biblical Calendar Research by Herb Solinsky