Critical Review of The Book End Calendar Model Daniel Gregg by This is a review of William Sanford’s presentation. My remarks will appear in these blue boxes. I have added a few slides of my own, and deleted some from the original. I have removed the animations from the original. This is a fair use critical commentary on a competing religious opinion. THE QUESTION: Does the lunar month begin at the conjunction or the sighting of the first crescent moon? Summary of key errors and their relevance to the commentary: 1. Misunderstanding the Genesis day . Understanding this correctly is helpful, but not critical to our case against the book end teaching. 2. The claim that ancient historians support the conjunction method. The opposite is true. 3. Claim that the year begins with Aviv 1. It begins with the equinox. 4. Original meaning of the word Adar is incorrect. 5. The claim that a conjunction based calendar does not have 29 day months, and that it has 31 day months. I prove this false in detail, and show how the data presented is miscalculated. 6. Philo of Alexandria is taken out of context. 7. Claim that the Book End Model is not a new Calendar. It is best described as a method that arbitrarily places day 1 of the month between the conjunction and the sighted moon to make the 14th or 15th days of the month fall on the full moon. It will be shown that the assumption they must is incorrect. 8. Scientific ignorance about the orbit of the moon assuming that half the orbit is traversed by the moon in half the time. 9. Claim that the Hillel II calendar is before AD 359. The sighted moon was used before AD 359. 10. Misinterpretation of 1Sam 20. What is at stake? What is at stake is the importance of following and observing The text translates from Hebrew, “Then there was setting, then there was daybreak” after Elohim had finished creating during the daylight part of the day, i.e. the setting ends the day, and the daybreak brings us to the beginning of the next day. The word עֶ ֶֶ֥רבmeans “set” or “setting,” also “grow dark” or “sunset”. Obviously there was no sun in Ber. 1:3-5, but light had to be created first before there could be a setting going into the following night. There can be no setting in the night before the first day because there is no light to set. The natural chronological order of Beresheet is that Elohim creates in the literal day, then there is setting (followed by night), then there is daybreak , one day, and this ending daybreak ends the first calendar day before creation begins on the second literal day. all the “moed” or appointed times on the appointed days correctly as commanded in Torah by Yahuwah in Leviticus 23. We know from scripture that Father’s ways of Measuring Time are different from man’s current ways of calculating time. A day does not end and a new day begin at 12 midnight, but after sunset. (and there was evening, then morning the first day) If a day is divided by darkness, then why not a month? A new year doesn’t begin on Jan 1st, but on the first day of the month of Abib. (Exodus 12:2 You are to begin your calendar Beresheet has thebe first the definition of “day” as “light” (dawn to dusk), and for you) with this month; it will first month of the year the second definition isth amo calendar day from daybreak to daybreak, The Aramaic word Adar ( 12 ) means “ darken eclipse” which exactly opposite what Jewish tradition claims. The Famous Hebrew implies the new year darkness light, the way Scholar Franzcomes Delitzsch, soout loved of by Messianic Jews, andinto respected by non-messianic scholars in hissame Genesis commentary a day ends andother begins, so,Jewish why notsaidthe for a month? that the calendar day there beings with the dawn and ends with the Each month does begin according to the Gregorian calendar dawn. not Likewise, the Jewish Scholar Jacob Milgrom, editor of the JPS Torah earth Commentary says the day in around Beresheet begins withsun, the daybreak calculated by the revolving the but by the and ends with the daybreak. However, Sabbaths, and feast days are rotation of the reckoned moonfromaround the earth. sunset to sunset. Gen 1:14 And Elohim said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons, (moed) days and years… What is at stake? What is at stake is the importance of following and observing all the “moed” or appointed days Never does Scripture say that Aviv 1 is times the new yearon day. the Aviv 1appointed is only 1 of the first month. correctlydayas commanded in Torah by Yahuwah in Leviticus 23. We know from scripture that Father’s ways of Measuring Yes, it is theare first month of the Time different from man’s current ways of calculating time. year, but for what defines the in Scripture have end to A“year” day doeswenot and a new day begin at 12 midnight, but look elsewhere, to Ber. 1:14. after sunset. (and there was evening, then morning the first The sun defines the year, not day ) If a day is divided by darkness, then why not a month? the moon. A new year doesn’t begin on Jan 1st, but on the first day of the month of Abib. (Exodus 12:2 You are to begin your calendar with this month; it will be the first month of the year for you) The Aramaic word Adar (12th mo) means “darken eclipse” which implies the new year comes out of darkness into light, the way a day ends and begins, so, why not the same for a month? Each month does not begin according to the Gregorian calendar word “calendar” in the text here is a mistranslation. The Hebrew calculated by the The earth revolving around the sun, but by the says ( רֹ֣אׁש חֳדָ ׁשִׁ֑יםhead of the months). rotation of the moon around the earth. Gen 1:14 And Elohim said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons, (moed) days and years… What is at stake? What is at stake is the importance of following and observing Jastrow’s Aramaic Lexicon for the root has, Adar, “1. to cut off, surround, isolate,…to distinguish, 2. to darken, 3. to strip.” and of the month, Adar, “the cloudy.” The Aramaic lexicon relates it to the Hebrew root “Adar” which means “glorious.” The probability is very great that the presentation here is in error. In this day and age of outright deception, careless mistakes, or negligence, we cannot afford to trust such statements against the published literature without full citation and source, especially when it is being used to prove a point. Nowhere in my lexical sources can I find “eclipse,” and while darken occurs, it is by no means the obvious translation, when the Hebrew means “glorious.” I do not disagree that the year begins when the year is shifting from dark to light. I disagree with the method of trying to demonstrate it. all the “moed” or appointed times on the appointed days correctly as commanded in Torah by Yahuwah in Leviticus 23. We know from scripture that Father’s ways of Measuring Time are different from man’s current ways of calculating time. A day does not end and a new day begin at 12 midnight, but after sunset. (and there was evening, then morning the first day) If a day is divided by darkness, then why not a month? A new year doesn’t begin on Jan 1st, but on the first day of the month of Abib. (Exodus 12:2 You are to begin your calendar with this month; it will be the first month of the year for you) The Aramaic word Adar (12th mo) means “darken eclipse” which implies the new year comes out of darkness into light, the way a day ends and begins, so, why not the same for a month? Each month does not begin according to the Gregorian calendar calculated by the earth revolving around the sun, but by the rotation of the moon around the earth. Gen 1:14 And Elohim said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons, (moed) days and years… The Conjunction looks like this This is a modern definition of “new moon” by modern astronomers. It is not the ancient Scriptural definition which calls the “light” of the moon the “sign” for the set times. The ancients used separate terms for the new moon and the conjunction. The new moon would be here. It has been omitted from the drawing. Conjunctionist or Crescentist who is right and who is wrong? In the Messianic Faith movement today we have primarily two different belief systems on whenTheaproper lunar month should end and non biased term is “sighted moon” for “first sighting of the new moon.” We realize that the when the lunar month should start. connotation of the word “crescent” is unfairly tied to Islam. on The the term “crescentist” to be regarded a The Conjunctionists believe that precisehassolar dayasthat mild form of name calling. the Conjunction occurs on, should be proclaimed as both the last day of the old month and the 1st day of the new month. The Crescentists believe that on the evening the Crescent moon is sighted in Israel in theThesky after sunset, that count last day of a month is either the 29 the or the 30 day. The first day of a month cannot be both the first for the first day of the lunar month should begin forward from day of the month and the last day of the old month. I that actually believes such a that evening, thus proclaimingknow theof no 1stcalendar daysystem of the new month. contradiction, neither the Rabbinic calendar nor a pure conjunction based one. It is the purpose of this presentation to prove that both theories miss the mark by isolating one another and leaving out critical pieces of the puzzle in an effort to build their doctrine. We will present both sides of this issue and their faults and how the “BOOKEND MODEL” uses both the Conjunction and the sighting of the 1st Crescent to determine the correct 1st day of the month. Please do not considered this to be a new calendar. th th Conjunctionist or Crescentist who is right and who is wrong? In the Messianic Faith movement today we have primarily two different belief systems on when a lunar month should end and We shall see that this attempt to make a middle ground is impossible with the post 359 AD Hillel II Calendar. when the lunar month should start. Only the sighted new moon has historical support in The Conjunctionists believe biblical thattimes. on the precise solar day that the Conjunction occurs on, should be proclaimed as both the last day of the old month and the 1st day of the new month. The Crescentists believe that on the evening the Crescent moon is sighted in Israel in the sky after sunset, that the count for the first day of the lunarThismonth should begin forward is a new calendar, and I will prove later on that it is from eclectic. Most often makes the first day of the month st itday that evening, thus proclaiming the 1 of the new month. one of the days between the conjunction day and the first sighted new moon day. Sometimes it agrees with It is the purpose of this presentation both the sighted moon to day. prove Not once that in the 14 month example given byone the author does his day one leaving of the theories miss the mark by isolating another and out month fall on the conjunction day, and only 3 times 1 fall on theto sighted moontheir day. critical pieces of the puzzledoes in hisandayeffort build doctrine. We will present both sides of this issue and their faults and how the “BOOKEND MODEL” uses both the Conjunction and the sighting of the 1st Crescent to determine the correct 1st day of the month. Please do not considered this to be a new calendar. This issue has separated believers solely because of the importance of timing when to celebrate Yahuwah’s feast days. We all agree the timing to celebrate the moed is very important and must be resolved if believers are to dwell together in unity. The Bible itself does not give any instruction as to what exactly, should constitute the "new moon”, so let us keep an open mind Thislook is not completely true. Itpuzzle separates because onlythat we have and see if we can and at all the parts of these methods works with Messiah’s death and fit one them a clear resurrection,all andtogether only one of thesefor methods works forpicture and solve the riddle. his birth. Only one of these methods confirms the If we try to draw from Biblical history as to how Israel testimony of Messiah in the correct years for his birth determined the first day ofwork the and passion. Conjunction methods do not withmonth, it can be difficult but not year of Messiah’s birth (2 BC) nor neither the year of his historians death impossible, because or the bible has been (AD 34). We will see that this book end method is too This is not the highest goal. The truth comes first, and completely clear on the subject. There is certainly NO Biblical eclectic to be considered. The errant calendars were recognizing the truth is what causes unity between two text mentioning the Crescent Moon as The the beginning of thefrom the introduced partly to confuse the truth about Messiah’s parties. truth is that division is necessary fulfillments. side that follows we a calendar that does not confirm month, but we will take the WITNESSES have, and use the of Messiah. Yeshua was born on Tishri 1, 2 the spiritual discernment we havetestimony today to confirm what is BC according to the sighted moon and the Revelation truth. One witness is the Hebrew word Chodesh. 12:1-2 synchronism. And he died on the 4 day of the week and rose on the Sabbath according to the sighted The Hebrew word Chodesh for MONTH New moon method or in AD 34 (the Moon only year to comes work with Danielmeans 9’s sabbaticalto years). from the root word Chadash which be renewed, or repaired. The word chodesh has nothing to do with sighting the crescent. At the sighting of the first crescent, the moon has been waxing up to 1½ to 2 solar days from the timing of the Conjunction therefore the time of its renewal has passed. th This issue has separated believers solely because of the importance of timing when to Are celebrate Yahuwah’s feast days. we open minded? It seems that adding incorrect statement to incorrect statement is a good way to keep We all agree the timing to celebrate the moed is very important honest minds from recognizing the truth. The enemy and must be resolved if believers are totobe open dwell together in unity. always claims minded, but then proceeds to close them. The Bible itself does not give any instruction as to what exactly, should constitute the "new moon”, so let us keep an open mind and look at all the puzzle parts that we have and see if we can fit them all together for a clear picture and solve the riddle. If we try to draw from Biblical history as to how Israel determined the first day of the month, it can be difficult but not Beresheet 1:14 says thatbecause the “lights” are to be signs.historians or the bible has been impossible, neither Thus, unless the light isclear visible toon humans, it cannot be completely the subject. There is certainly NO Biblical a sign. This rules out the conjunction, and the days in text mentioning between the conjunction andthe the Crescent sighted moon Moon as the beginning of the advocated by thebut book end month, weteaching. will take the WITNESSES we have, and use the spiritual discernment we have today to confirm what is truth. One witness is the Hebrew word Chodesh. The Hebrew word Chodesh for MONTH or New Moon comes from the root word Chadash which means to be renewed, or repaired. The word chodesh has nothing to do with sighting the crescent. At the sighting of the first crescent, the moon has been waxing up to 1½ to 2 solar days from the timing of the Conjunction therefore the time of its renewal has passed. This issue has separated believers solely because of the importance of timing when to The celebrate Yahuwah’s feast days. Bible is completely clear in the simple statement that the “light” is a sign for the set times. So this is We all agree the timing to celebrate the moed is very important literally not true either. When the light first reappears, and must be resolved if believers are tothedwell in unity. then the sign for first day together of the month is given. I have taken this text at face value, and have been able to The Bible itself does not give any asgives to with what exactly, confirminstruction all the dates Scripture the sighted should constitute the "new moon”, let where us keep open new moonso in cases a month an day and year aremind There is certainly no text making the conjunctiongiven. the andnewlook that we have and see if we can moon at day all eitherthe in so puzzle many words.parts Gen. 1:14 confirms the methodfor of sighting, and not fit them alltraditional together a clear picture and solve the riddle. the conjunction method. If we try to draw from Biblical history as to how Israel determined the first day of the month, it can be difficult but not impossible, because neither historians or the bible has been completely clear on the subject. There is certainly NO Biblical text mentioning the Crescent Moon as the beginning of the month, but we will take the WITNESSES we have, and use the spiritual discernment we have today to confirm what is truth. One witness is the Hebrew word Chodesh. The Hebrew word Chodesh MONTH NewBoth Moon comes This is not for true with respect to theor historians. Jewish and Christian historical sources to recognize from the root word Chadash which means be that renewed, or the new moon was sighted. The conjunction is not part repaired. The word chodesh has nothing to do with sighting of any historical method before 359 AD. There are the crescent. At the sighting the crescent, moon has always lone of wolves thatfirst contradict the norm or the an source here and there, but it the is critical to been waxing up to 1½uneducated to 2 solar days from timing of the tell the truth about what the norm is! Conjunction therefore the time of its renewal has passed. This issue has separated believers solely because of the The moon is renewed it has new visible light importance of when timing when to that celebrate Yahuwah’s feast days. can be seen by people as a sign. The old moon looses Weits all thebuttiming to celebrate the moed is very important light agree for several days, it is not renewed until it receives new visible light. If someoneifwants to say the are to dwell together in unity. and must be resolved believers renewal process starts at the conjunction, then we say thatBible it is not completely be seen by The itself renewed doesuntil notit can give any instruction as to what exactly, the human eye in the evening. In the Scripture, kings should constitute the "new moon”, so let us keep an open mind often have accession years. An accession year is the year and parts theylook begin toat rule,all but the they dopuzzle not count the accessionthat we have and see if we can as yearall 1 oftogether their rule, out offor respect the lastpicture and solve the riddle. fit year them a for clear king. They wait until Tishri 1, and then after Tishri 1 If we trythetofirstdraw from Biblical history as to how Israel they count year of their reign, even though they began to reign before Tishri 1. It isday possible view themonth, it can be difficult but not determined the first ofto the renewal process in this manner. The visible new moon impossible, neither or the bible has been after sunset is likebecause Tishri 1; we count the first dayhistorians of the this is inconsistent with Beresheet It is an ad completely There is certainly NO1:14.Biblical month after it. clear on the subject. But hoc definition. The Hebrew word hadash itself does not text mentioning the Crescent Moon as the beginning of the have such a technical meaning, and our presenters month, but we will take the WITNESSES we have, andtheuse appear to be confusing the issue with modern SECULAR of new moon.what is the spiritual discernment we have todaydefinition to confirm truth. One witness is the Hebrew word Chodesh. The Hebrew word Chodesh for MONTH or New Moon comes from the root word Chadash which means to be renewed, or repaired. The word chodesh has nothing to do with sighting the crescent. At the sighting of the first crescent, the moon has been waxing up to 1½ to 2 solar days from the timing of the Conjunction therefore the time of its renewal has passed. The Crescentists and Conjunctionists have separated to Roth each After checking the notes of AENT, I can confirm that has a major section explaining this very book end model. So far, this is side of the pendulum on the issue, sideother taking the calendar only published source I knoweach of the model, than 119 It appearsall that Roth has priority on at 119 ministries, so pieces of truth, but neither ministries. side using the pieces their I can only conclude from as current as info as I can get that the was created under the influence of a puzzle teacher who out. denies disposal. Each side is guiltymodel of leaving parts of the the Deity of Messiah. A little checking in the net, shows that the author in of this presentation is closelythe associated Lets keep in mind that we live a time where giftwith of Andrew Roth. knowledge has increased substantially, just as prophesied in Daniel 9, and our Messiah promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us into ALL truth, and I believe He desires to do that. We live in a marvelous time Iperiod when weEND areModel allviawitnessing first ran into the BOOK Andrew Gabriel Roth. He teaches that the person/soul of first hand a divine move of the Spirit that is YeshuaHoly is not Yahweh, thusworldwide denying Messiah is Yahweh. This is in the notes of the AENT version. Having many causing believers to finally understand who we are in Messiah; years experience translating the New Testament in agreement Hebrew of thought, I have toas say there part of the common wealth of the with House Israel, weislook relatively little Hebraic about the actual translation of upon a tremendous enlightenment thata is falling this version except cosmetic Jewish on appealour involving names. brethren, the House of Judah, as they come into believing in Y'shua as the Messiah in vast numbers never seen before. All this is not mere coincidence. It is divine providence as we are getting ready to return to the land and fulfill prophecies our forefathers have been waiting to see for thousands of years. I said all that to remind us that in order to solve this riddle on the Hebraic Calendar, we not only need to gather accurate pieces from the past, but we need to The book of Enoch is a pious fraud. It is likely that the take those puzzle pieces quotes andfrommatch them with this book were edited intoup the book of Jude the early Christians who mistakenly took this book to be knowledge we have beenbycanonical. given and awhat the Also,today this book promotes calendar that ignores the moon completely, having 4 quarters to the spirit is revealing to us now, in our and year composed of a 30generation, day month, a 30 day month, followed by a 31 day month. The name for this see what picture comes into calendar focus. is the Essene Calendar or Qumran Calendar. It does not follow the moon at all. It appears that anyone who should would try to usebring it as back up for another The final answer to this riddle ALL the calendar method is simply confused or trying to confuse you. puzzle to the table to fit witnesses we have on this Well get to how he was taken out of context later. them tightly together, both past, and present, leaving nothing out. What are those witnesses we call pieces of the puzzle? We have the witness of the book of Enoch, and the witness of the historian Philo. We have the Torah, and we have both math and astronomy of today. A Brief History Lesson from Andrew Roth The Persians set up the zodiac based on 4 main stars in 3000 BCE and the Zodiac was the standard tracker of the solar year-in fact the most accurate measure of the year available until we could measure time from the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. Meton developed the 19 year lunar cycle adapted by the Rabbinic calendar in 432 BCE. Hipparchus discovered the precession of the equinoxes in 128 BCE. Aristarchus of Samos, The flood was inthe 2483 solar BC. Weresystem there any Persians wrote that the sun was the center of 2000 around? No. The Mazzaroth is the proper Hebrew term, and could have been the work of some pre flood years before Copernicus. patriarch, say Enoch, but there is no proof who started it. Eratosthenes accurately calculated the earth shape and circumference around 250 BCE. And Ptolemy had his The idea that measuring time from the center of the masterpiece on astronomy, the Almagest, as an ancient Milky Way improved time over tracking the sun and moon is pure bunkum. bestseller whose accuracy would not be superseded until Newton's "Principia". Where were all these classics? IN THE LIBRARY AT ALEXANDRIA--PHILO's home town. Continued… A Brief History Lesson from Andrew Roth The Persians set up the zodiac based on 4 main stars in 3000 BCE and the Zodiac was the standard tracker of the solar year-The Rabbinic Calendar did not exist prior to AD 359 with Hillel II. At first I thought the sentence was badly in fact the most accurate measure of the year available until we punctuated, but then looking further into the presentation the author does wish redactMilky that could measure time fromI seethe center of toour Way Galaxy. calendar before AD 359. Meton developed the 19 year lunar cycle adapted by the Rabbinic calendar in 432 BCE. Hipparchus discovered the precession of the equinoxes in 128 BCE. Aristarchus of Samos, wrote that the sun was the center of the solar system 2000 years before Copernicus. Eratosthenes accurately calculated the earth shape and circumference around 250 BCE. The And Ptolemy had histhinking! Where worlds greatest bastion of Greek is the Hebrew thought? I only say this because Andrew masterpiece on astronomy, the Almagest, as an ancient Roth and his followers promote Hebrew thought over thought so much. It is refreshing to see that bestseller whose accuracy wouldGreek not be superseded until Greeks could do some thinking! Newton's "Principia". Where were all these classics? IN THE LIBRARY AT ALEXANDRIA--PHILO's home town. Continued… We will see when we look at the Philo quotes and discuss the astronomy, that Philo states some things that do not agree with the fundamental facts of lunar astronomy. But there is no evidence the actual year was ever this long, not even the data from Noah’s flood. The flood year had 4 30 day months and 1 29 day month, which using inclusive counting, from the 17th day of the 2nd month to the 17th day of the 7th month add up to 150 days. The present lunar cycle often has 4, 30 day months in a row. This is a side issue. Philo read all these things I mention. He is the only Jew to be well versed both in Hebrew mysticism and priestly secrets that he so frequently alludes to AND the best of the Greek knowledge which is itself derived partly from Egyptian, Persian and Babylonian systems before it. Basically even pre-civilization stellar observances of polar stars would have suggested a practical 360 day year which we can track in the earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt and elsewhere. The 360 day year with leap months at the end of 6 years was done by the Persians. The Persians and Babylonians both anciently intercalculated the years and tracked the equinoxes and conjunctions. So did Egypt, which had 12 months 30 days each with 5 "between the year days" and a floating system that took 1460 years to balance by the Sothis (Sirius) star. The Babylonians and the Persians were also the source of the "Magi"--Zoroastrian priests who tracked the star of Bethlehem otherwise known as Jupiter, but that's a long story. Cont… It is not hard to observe the spring Tequfah when the sun sets in the exact west, nor the visible new moon. Israel did not need to be dependent on these nations. 119 ministries uses similar language, and by so doing, shows their dependence on Andrew Roth. There is a common thread of reasoning here, though I have not determined its extent. It appears we are going to stake a lot on just one man’s writings?! “The physical body of Y’shua and his soul are not YHWH, but Y’shua made himself subject to YHWH in all respects” (pg. 1052, AENT). In true Nestorian fashion Roth separates the Messiah (Spirit) from the person of Yeshua. Roth would say that Messiah is YHWH, but not the person of Yeshua. So even if you could make an argument that ancient Israel was the dumbest of all people-simple farmers who couldn't track stars and what not--they were held captive by nations who imposed their calendar on them that they would have gotten used to. That's what Josephus and Philo both tell us, "for thus they learned to order their months from Egypt"--as Josephus says when dating the flood. Julius Caesar burned the library in Alexandria by accident about 40 BCE, but he re-stocked it from copies at Rome and Philo read all these things I mention. So now Philo gets his chance to put ALL THIS STUFF together and what do we get? Exactly what we see in the writings he has left us, which matches perfectly with Biblical math. Guesswork? Hardly! Easy? Far from it. Words from Andrew Roth author of the Aramaic English New Testament If you look directly across from the Full Moon you find both the Ending and the Beginning Point of the moons lunar cycle. This is called the Astronomical NEW MOON. This cycle completes between 29 and 30 solar days which averages 29.53 each month. A modern term, not a biblical term. That the biblical new moon must be symmetrical to an exact full moon is an assumption. What the author says here is true using modern definitions of the terms, but watch for the switch of modern ideas back into the ancient usages. We cannot assume they are the same. If we do, then the fallacy is called an anachronism. When the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and all 3 are lined up, this is called the Conjunction, because two celestial bodies are conjoining at their closest points. There are 28 Moonrises and Moonsets during this complete cycle (4 sets of 7). This only happens at the rare times of solar eclipses. Ordinarily the moon’s orbit is inclined 5 degrees to the ecliptic, such that normally there is no “line up”. Furthermore, a modern new moon is geocentrically determined, so it may not be symmetrical to Jerusalem at all. In fact, it usually is not. If symmetry is to be a principle to live and die by, then why did they not choose Jerusalem to make the line up. The notion that symmetry is the only beauty is a Greek idea. Asymmetrical variety is also beautiful. In fact the two sides the human body have asymmetry as well as symmetry. The number of days in a month and the number of months in a year display variations. The notion that the timing of the full moon should vary more than one’s notion of proper symmetry is a philosophical assumption. It is not an argument for the way things are or should be. When the “true” Full Moon is completely 100% FULL of light, just like the conjunction when the moon appears dark, it only lasts for a moment, although it seems to last much longer. This happens on average, on the 14th and 15th solar day, on the lunar calendar. What the author is aiming at is to get the viewer to think that symmetry between the full moon and the new moon is required. It was never required according to the historical definition of the new moon. The desire for symmetrical perfection of two sides of a thing is Greek philosophical idea of perfection. This is because the Greek notion of perfection does not allow variation. For if something is perfect, then the only possible variation would toward imperfection. The Great Church theologian Thomas Aquinas used this sort of Greek influenced reasoning when discussing the immutability of God. The moment the moon moves OFF the conjunction, a crescent immediately starts to form. This waxing moon cannot be seen from earth as it rises and sets with the sun for up to 18 hours without modern infrared cameras because of the suns brightness. But really what counts is how they observed it in Messiah’s time, which is when a human could see it. The 1st solar day the Conjunction happens on does not affect the calendar immediately because that day must finish its 24 hours at sundown. The following solar day is recorded as the 1st day on the lunar calendar, unless the Conjunction happens “after” sunset. This rule is not clearly stated. It appears to mean that the first day of the Book End Calendar is never on the conjunction day, which is consistent with the 14 month example given by the author later on. The “unless” exception is impossible to figure out because all conjunctions are after sunset. The Conjunction is not to be confused with a lunar eclipse. This takes place when the Full Moon is on the opposite side of the earth and passes through the earth’s shadow in perfect alignment and the earth’s shadow blocks out the moon for several minutes. Our author has confused the duration of a lunar eclipse with a solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse lasts several hours on average. Only a solar eclipse is limited to minutes. When the Conjunction is lined up perfectly on the ecliptic plane a solar eclipse is caused during the day, when what we call a “Dark Moon” occurs blocking out the sunlight during the day by casting its shadowy foot print on parts the earth, but not the whole earth. And this is actually the only time the sun moon and earth are “lined up,” and indeed only where the path of totality goes. If one looks at eclipse tracks mapped onto the earth over a period of centuries, there will be many asymmetries to observe. During the Conjunction the moon appears to be in darkness but the reason the moon cannot be seen from earth for up to 36 hours is because it is hidden by the brightness of the sun, as it rises and sets in unison with the sun during the course of up to 3 solar days. I have to add to this: the moon also has to reflect light to the observer to be seen without being washed away by the direct sunlight. If we suppose that some light comes from the moon that cannot be seen by the naked eye, then we have to consider the Bible’s method of starting the reigns of kings (by way of analogy). Kings often had an accession year when they began to reign, but they did not count the first year until Tishri 1. So there was a period where they were reigning, but it was not counted as year 1. Likewise, it can be conceded that the moon can give some light before day 1 of the month, and that like a accession year this time is simply not counted. NASA put on an Extreme Lunar Crescent Contest in 2007 and this was one of Martin Elsasser winning pictures taken in Germany just over 4 hours after the Miracle of the Conjunction. Infrared does not count. This picture has been converted to a greyscale a human can see. It should be completely black, or the same color as the background, as that is how it would look to a human. This can be treated like the accession year of a king. It is not counted as day 1. The pictures were taken on a mountain in Austria and this is the special tracking equipment and infrared camera Martin used to take the award winning pictures in 2007. Infrared is not visible to the human eye; it has to be electronically detected (like radio waves or microwaves) and then translated into a visible image by a computer. Ancient Israel did not have these. Neither did Messiah. Don’t you think that what was good enough for Yeshua should be sufficient for us? In 2008 Martin set a world record in Munich Germany by taking pictures minutes before the Conjunction. This is the new special tracking equipment and baffle system, infrared camera he used. Martin’s infrared picture taken minutes before the Conjunction just before the lunar month comes to an end. It is at the moment of the Conjunction on the Feast of Trumpets that the Messiah will return, raising the dead and catching up those who remain, with Him. I doubt Martin is Torah observant, but his is an interesting technical achievement with infrared radiation. Martin took this 44 minutes after the Conjunction. The New Moon Crescent actually forms moments after the Conjunction. If this were to take place after sunset, Israel time, an addition day would be added to the calendar before the 1st day could be declared. Good for IR, but it is not visible light. Infrared is part of the electromagnetic spectrum just like radio waves and microwaves. Radio waves can also be used to detect the location of objects, but biblically they so not qualify as “light” that can serve a monthly sign. So why should IR. Conjunctionists have a problem when starting and ending Thisof is also a false claim. A pure conjunction based their month on the same day the conjunction because: calendar can be properly intercalated with a 13 month soeither that the year 366 daysno only more, 1. each lunar month must have 29is 365 or days, 30and days, once every four or so years. We should not make false no less. By ending and starting their count fromwith.conjunction to arguments about systems we disagree conjunction, the lunar calendar will NEVER have 29 solar days but willIf Philo oscillate between 30wrong. andIn31 meant this, then he is simply no solar days. calendar system does the full moon fall consistently on 2. a lunar year average 354.37 solar days. At the the same day of should the month atonly the same This time pointofis year. completely false. A calendar based on the can pick any day he wants, thepure 14 astronomical or the 15 . conjunction will have 29 and 30 end of Philo the year Conjunctionist willdayhave on average 366 solar Sooner or later the full moon will falldays, on the andother only 29 and 30 days. We use the sighted that he did not pick. days. That is more days than of 365! moon,the but we Gregorian’s should not make false calendar claims about other systems. 3. their full moon will fall on average, either on the 15th or 16th of their month instead of the 14th and 15th. According to Philo th the Full Moon should fall on Passover in the spring, on the 14 The facts are only convenient when needed. The same historians not and on would the say15thatth the in“book theend” fallmodel foris Tabernacles. The Conjunctionist historical. Full Moon would be on the 16th for Passover and the same for Tabernacles the full moon falling on their 16th of their month. 4. this theory also ignores the purpose of sighting the Crescent, which historians declare was factual and had a purpose. th th th Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but th and there is never only on the 15th1 and 16th and twice 16 on the 17 CJ DAY 1 Jan solar 15, 2010 days. CJ DAYThis 2 Jan 16, 2010 Jan 366 17, 2010 days. a month with 29 year also CJends DAY 3 with Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Feb 28th F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month The full moon two weeks later, i.e. Jan 16 + 14 The conjunction was Jan 15 , 07:11 UT, and th F.M.was = JanDay 30, withMonth the day of the month filled in. the next Feb th 14 ,Iyar 02:51 UT. April 28conjunction (15 F.M.) a 31 The number of days in Jan is 31-15+1 = 17. The number days before theth conjunction May 28th ofF.M. (15 SivaninF.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb is 13. 17 + 13 = 30. So the month was 30 th not th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month days long, 31 using the conjunction. June 26and F.M. (15 July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31 Day Month August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 Day Month September 23rd F.M. (16th of Tishrei F.M.) a 30 Day Month October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 31 Day Month November 21st F.M. (16th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month th th Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 129 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. 16 1 Feb 14,th 2010 CJ DAY 2 15, 2010 CJ DAY 3 16, 2010 Jan 30CJthDAYF.M. (16 Shevat Full Feb Moon F.M.) a 31 Feb Day Month Feb 28th F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month This is a mistake. was the Month April 28th F.M. (15th Iyar F.M.) a 31ItDay 16 . th th May 28 F.M. (15 Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month June 26th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month conjunction was Feb 14, 02:51, and the July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31 Day The Month next conjunction was Mar 15, 21:01 UT. The of days left in Feb is 28-14+1 = 15 August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 number Day Month (since it has 28 days this year/not a leap year). rd th The daysain30 MarchDay before the conjunction are September 23 F.M. (16 of Tishrei F.M.) Month 14. 15 + 14 = 29. By the conjunction method, this month 29 days long. Month October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan F.M.) a is31 Day November 21st F.M. (16th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month th Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Jan 30th 15 (16 1 F.M. CJth DAY 1 16,th 2010 CJ DAY 2 2010 CJ DAY 3 Feb 28 F.M. Mar (15 of Adar F.M.)Mara17,30 Day Month Mar 18, 2010 March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month April 28th F.M. (15th Iyar F.M.) a 31 Day Month May 28th F.M. (15th Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month This is a mistake. It should say th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month June 2615. Mar 15, 21:01 UT. Next July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31Conjunction: Day Month Conjunction Apr 14, 12:29 UT. Number of in March 31-15+1 = 17. Number of days August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) adays 30 Day Month before conjunction in Apr = 13. 17 + 13 = 30. Once again, the claim that a pure conjunction September 23rd F.M. (16th of Tishrei F.M.) a 30 Day Month method cannot match 29/30 day months is false. October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 31 Day Month November 21st F.M. (16th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month 15 Feb 28th F.M. (15th1 of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month DAYth 1 F.M. Apr 14, 2010th of CJAbib DAY 2 Passover Apr 15, 2010 F.M.) CJ DAYa3 31Apr 16, 2010 MarchCJ30 (16 Day Month April 28th F.M. (15th Iyar F.M.) a 31 Day Month May 28th F.M. (15th Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month June 26th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31 Day Month Conjunction: Apr 14, 12:29 UT, next August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 May Day Month conjunction. 14, 01:04 UT. Day in Apr. 30-14+1 = 17. Days in May before conj. 13. 17 September 23rd F.M. (16th of Tishrei F.M.) afigure 30is Day + 13 = 30. Again, the 31 wrong. Month October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 31 Day Month November 21st F.M. (16th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Feb 28th 15F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 301th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month th F.M. th Iyar CJ DAY 1 May 14, 2010 CJ F.M.) DAY 2 15, 2010 CJ DAY 3 May 16, 2010 April 28 (15 aMay31 Day Month May 28th F.M. (15th Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month June 26th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31 Day Month August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 Day Month I am onlyF.M.) giving results now. This month September 23rd F.M. (16th of O.k. Tishrei a 30 Day Month is 29 days using the conjunction method. Follow the linkF.M.) to the newamoon tables if you October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan 31 Day Month wish to double check me. November 21st F.M. (16th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Feb 28th F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month th Iyar F.M.) a 31 Day Month April 28th F.M. (15 1 16 thJune CJ DAY 28 1 11, 2010 DAY 2 June 12, 2010 DAY 3 Month June 13, 2010 CJ DAY 4 May F.M. (15thCJ Sivan F.M.) a 30CJDay June 26th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31 Day Month August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 Day Month is a mistake. Should 16 . September 23rdThis F.M. (16th ofsayTishrei F.M.) a 30 Day Month October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan a 31 Month For once F.M.) the month lengthDay is correct! st th November 21 F.M. (16 of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month th Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Feb 28th F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month April 28th F.M. (15th Iyar F.M.) a 31 Day Month th Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month May 128th F.M. (15 15 CJ DAY 1th Jul 12, 2010 th CJ DAY 2 Jul 13, 2010 DAY 3 June 26 F.M. (15 Tamuz F.M.) a 30 CJDay Month July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31 Day Month August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 Day Month September 23rd F.M. (16th of Tishrei F.M.) a 30 Day Month This month is 29 days. rd th OctoberAnother 23 mistake. F.M. Should (17 be day of Cheshvan F.M.) a 31 Day Month 15 November 21st F.M. (16th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Feb 28th F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month April 28th F.M. (15th Iyar F.M.) a 31 Day Month May 28th F.M. (15th Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month June 261th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month 16 Aug 10, 2010 th Av CJ DAY 2 Aug31 11, 2010 DAY 3 JulyCJ DAY 26th1 F.M. (16 F.M.) a Day CJ Month August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 Day Month September 23rd F.M. (16th of Tishrei F.M.) a 30 Day Month This month is 29adays using the conjunction October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan F.M.) 31 Day Month method. Follow the link to the new moon Another st Mistake! Should sayth 16 . if you wish double checkMonth me. November 21 F.M. (16 of Kislevtables F.M.) a to30 Day December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month th Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Feb 28th F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month Correct! April 28th F.M. (15th Iyar F.M.) a 31 Day Month May 28th F.M. (15th Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month June 26th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month th Av F.M.) a 31 Day Month July 26th F.M. (16 1 16 CJ DAY 124thSep 8, 2010(15th CJ DAY 2 F.M.) Sep 9, 2010 CJ DAY Month 4 Sep 10, 2010 CJ DAY 5 August F.M. Elul a 30 Day September 23rd F.M. (16th of Tishrei F.M.) a 30 Day Month October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 31 Day Month November 21st F.M. (16th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Feb 28th F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month th F.M.It should April (15beththeIyar The 1728 is a mistake. 16 . F.M.) a 31 Day Month 30 days by the conjunction May 28th F.M. (15th Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month method. June 26th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31 Day Month August 24th1 F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 Day Month 16 CJ DAY Oct 8,(16 2010 th of CJ DAY 2 Oct 9, 2010 a 30 CJ DAY 3 September 232rd F.M. Tishrei F.M.) Day Month October 23rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 31 Day Month November 21st F.M. (16th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month th th Figures below from the Conjunctionist Calendar for 2010. Please notice that their calendar NEVER has a full moon on the 14th but only on the 15th and 16th and twice on the 17th and there is never a month with 29 solar days. This year also ends with 366 days. Jan 30th F.M. (16th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 31 Day Month Feb 28th F.M. (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th F.M. (16th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 31 Day Month th . April (15th Iyar F.M.) a 31 Day Month Should28 say 16 F.M. 29 days by the conjunction May 28th F.M. (15th Sivan F.M.) a 30 Day Month method. June 26th F.M. (15th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th F.M. (16th Av F.M.) a 31 Day Month August 24th F.M. (15th Elul F.M.) a 30 Day Month September 23rd F.M. (16th of Tishrei F.M.) a 30 Day Month rd F.M. (17th of Cheshvan F.M.) October 23 a 31 Day Month 16 1 DAYst 1 F.M. Dec (16 6, 2010th of CJ Kislev DAY 2 Dec 7, 2010 DAY 2 Month NovemberCJ 21 F.M.) a 30BEDay December 21st F.M. (17th of Tevet F.M.) a 31 Day Month th Ancient Witnesses Testify… Book of Enoch Section III: 78:13…on the side whence the But Philo, nothing here about how theforth, there again she wanes till all the light of says the moon comes new moon day is determined. The idea that light vanishes and allhalves theofdays of the month are at an end, and the moon waxes and wanes in equal time is not astronomically correct because the book also promotes a new moon day that her circumference is empty, void ofThislight. moon moves on an elliptical orbit and changes has nothing to do with the new moon, like the speed constantly. A faulty to Philo: (178)...the two young bulls Roman sinceCalendar. there aresource twois bound motions make faulty statements. of the MOON as it continually runs its double-course--the motion of waxing until full MOON and the motion of waning Philo means “ceases [running doubleone ram since there is until its CONJUNCTION with theitssun; course]” here and not its illumination. Read one principle ofthereason by which the MOON waxes and wanes context. in equal intervals, both as it increases and diminishes in illumination; the seven lambs because it receives the perfect shapes in periods of seven days--the half-MOON in the first seven day period after its CONJUNCTION with the sun, full MOON in the second; and when it makes its return again, the first is to half-MOON, then it ceases at its CONJUNCTION with the sun. If a day is divided at darkness, then why wouldn’t a month? Below Philo is describing a period of time during the beginning of the month, not a specific day. We must balance out ALL of Philo’s statements, not just one. XXVI. (140) Following the order which we have adopted, we proceed to speak of the third festival, that of the new moon. Philo says elsewhere that the First of conjunction all, because it is beginning of the month, and the is dark, so he the is This definition of new moon only supports the talking about the lighted new new moon. beginning, whether ofnotnumber or ofsighted time, is honourable. moon here, and a conjunction. Secondly, because at this time there is nothing in the whole of heaven destitute of light. (141) Thirdly, because at that Period (of time) the powerful body gives a portion Oncemore again, seeking support fromand a book important that teaches a completely different calendar than this “book end” of necessary model. assistance to the less important and weaker body; for, at the time of the new moon, the sun begins to illuminate the moon with a light which is visible to the outward senses, and then she displays her own beauty to the beholders. Italics mine You cannot have the counting of the month END at the Conjunction, as Philo and Enoch state, and then have a one to two “0” day or days before counting forward for the first day of the month when the Crescent finally appears. Crescentists have a real problem ending and starting a month at the First Sighting of the Crescent Moon in Israel because: 1. it completely ignores any verbiage from historian's that the month comes to an END (stops the count) at the Conjunction. 2. although starting and ending the count from crescent to crescent will always give correctly solar day This is called assuming what you wantyou to Where did Philoa say29 this? or Philo30 was speaking prove by defining the language. OR we can call of the course as from conjunction to month, the problem is that 6 to 7 times each year the Full it circular reasoning. conjunction, but he did not equate the conjunction newmonth, moon. Moon will come and go on their 14th with of the the falling prematurely on their 13th. Another words, their 14th of the month only lands properly on the Full Moon 4 to 5 times each year, the rest of the time the Full Moon lands on their 13th each month. Do you want to follow a calendar that the timing of Otherthe than math violating the presenters their Full Moon neither confirms but alsowestern ignores the and GREEK sense of symmetry, what is the th witnesses of Historian‘s by not problem falling and here?regularly on the 14 15th each month? Slight of hand trick here. Philo did not define 3.theThe of the word chodesh to renew couldn’t biblical Hebrew month this way.meaning He only described the astronomy. take place at the crescent sighting because the moon started waxing moments after the conjunction up to 2 days earlier. Figures below are the Crescentist Calendar for the year 2010. Notice their calendar has only 1 full moon on the 15th the rest on the 13th and 14th and 7 months the Full Moon falls prematurely including Sukkot. The presentation does not give us the book end model to compare right away, but I have looked ahead. The Jan 30th F.M. (14th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month full moon will always fall on various days UNLESS the calendar maker engineers it on a case by case basis to Feb 28th F.M. (13th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month fall on the 14 or 15 . March 30th F.M. (13th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month April 28th F.M. (13th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month But he is assuming that the full moon is May 28th F.M. (13th Sivan F.M.) aSUPPOSED 29 Day Month to fall on the 14 . Where does Scripture say it must? June 26th F.M. (13th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th F.M. (13th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th F.M. (13th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month Sept. 23rd F.M. (14th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd F.M. (14th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st F.M. (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st F.M. (14th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th th th Philo’s Witness of Sukkot, Full Moon on the 15th This isday, less precise than saying full moon. We feast should notwhich (189) On the FIFTEENTH at full MOON, the assume that Philo is using a precise scientific definition of Full Moon here.isIt would be anachronistic to impose a modern is called "the feast of booths" celebrated for which the meaning on the ancient usage. Philo uses scientific terms for supplies of the sacrifices hisare numerous. (155)…and time,more but he also mixes his writing with the usages of the this common people, who are less precise. feast is begun on the fifteenth day of the month, in the middle of the month, on the day on which the moon is full of light, in consequence of the providence of God taking care that there shall be no darkness on that day. (Spe 2:155 PHE) It does not matter what calendar system one uses, one Also: (210) Again, the beginning of this festival is appointed for cannot make the FULL MOON always fall on the 15 the 14 or the or the 16 . The to the fifteenth day of theormonth, on13 account of only thewayreason make it so is to eclectically engineer the calendar in which has already been mentioned the advance to make therespecting 15 land on the Full new spring day by switching definitions of the new moon on a case by case season, also that the world beonlyfull, not by day with only but basis. may This is the way a constant synchronism 15 can be created! also by night, of the mostthebeautiful light, the sun and moon on their Philo rising opposite to one another with uninterrupted light, is waxing poetic here. Notice that he does not define any the 15 darkness as the precise 100% full moon. without interposing itself between so as to divide them. (Spe 2:210 PHE) Remember in the winter the Crescentist’s 15th of the month falls AFTER the Full Moon! Their math isn’t consistent! th th th th th th th Philo’s Witness of Passover beginning on a Full Moon on the 14th of the Month (224) Accordingly, in this month, about the fourteenth day of the month, when the orb of the moon is usually about to become full, the public universal feast of the Passover is But Philo did not say which this. He could interpreted to celebrated, in bethe Chaldaic language is called Pascha; at mean the 13 when he says “about.” He did not say which only private individuals bring victims to exactly whatfestival the presenter isnot extracting fromdo the text. the altar and the priests sacrifice them, but also, by a particular ordinance of this law, theNotice whole nation consecrated this word “usually”! isNotice the word ‘about.’ and Philo’s language is inclusive of all methods here. One officiates in offering sacrifice; every separate individual on this cannot set of a calendar based on this sort of approximation. occasion bringing forward and offering up with his own hands the sacrifice due on his own behalf. (Mos 2:224 PHE) Why would Philo say “about the fourteenth day”, and “about to become full”? Because sometime between twilight on the 14th and the 15th the moon WILL BE FULL. That means the timing must be PRECISELY synched to 14-15 for the 1st FULL MOON and NOT the 13-14. Amazingly the moon is first Full on the 14th if you are following the “Bookend Model” Calendar. th The fact that Historian’s state the month comes to an END at Except when all the math is based on an unproven the Conjunction can imply only one thing. That the counting of assumption, and an unproven interpretation. As they garbage in, garbage out, GIGO. the month comes to an ENDsayat the Conjunction, period! If you both end and start the month at the sighting of the crescent, What historians? This is fiction. this supports theas sighted moonas method this will go against ancientRight, witnesses well theonly.timing of the Full Moon falling in the middle of the lunar Calendar on the 14th and 15th. The math must also balance out as a witness. To ignore these facts is either ignorance or irresponsibleness. Philo of Alexandria writes: "The third [feast] is the New Moon which follows the conjunction of the moon with the sun". [tr. by F H Colson (Harvard University Press, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, MA, 1937); The Special Laws, II, XI,41]. And in II, XXVI,140: "This is the New Moon, or beginning of the lunar month, namely the period between one conjunction and the next, the length of which has been accurately calculated in the astronomical schools". It should be noted that the popular Hendrickson Publishers edition (1993) of C D Jonge’s 1854 translation does not have the same information that the Colson translation gives. The indications are that the conjunctions were the determining factors in deciding the first day of the month. Without a doubt, the Conjunction’s role cannot be ignored. The fact that Historian’s state the month comes to an END at the Conjunction can imply only one thing. That the counting of I will use Herb Solinsky’s quotation of the source here with added punctuation, “Following the order we record third type of feast which we proceed the month comes tostated anabove, END at the the Conjunction, period! If you to explain. This is the New Moon, or the beginning of the lunar month, (namely both endtheand theconjunction monthandat sighting of ofthe period start between one the the next, the [average] length whichcrescent, been accurately calculated in the astronomical schools). The New moon holds this will has go against ancient witnesses asit iswell as the its place among the feasts for many reasons. First, because the beginning of thetiming of andfalling the beginning, both in number and inthe time, lunar deserves the honor. the Full month, Moon in the middle of Calendar on the Secondly, because when it [the new moon] arrives, nothing in heaven is left without at themath conjunction, when the moonbalance is lost to sight under 14th andlight, 15forth.while The must also outtheassun,athewitness. To side which faces earth is darkened, when the new month begins, it resumes its ignore these facts The is either irresponsibleness. natural brightness. third reasonignorance is, that the strongeror or more powerful element sun] at that time [the new moon] supplies the help [light] which is needed to the Philo of [the Alexandria writes: "The third [feast] is the New Moon smaller and weaker [the moon]. For it is just then [at the new moon] that the sun which follows the conjunction of we the moon theitssun". [tr. by begins to illumine the moon with light which perceive and thewith moon reveals beauty to the University eye.” F H Colsonown(Harvard Press, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, MA, 1937); The Special Laws, II, XI,41]. And in II,noteXXVI,140 : "This the New Moon, or beginning of Please that Philo is saying the lengthis of the month was defined by the schools between the conjunctions. He is notmonth, saying the “new moon” is defined the “conjunction.” Philo’s following context clearly makes a the lunar namely the asperiod between one conjunction between the conjunction (dark) and the new moon (lighted “with light which we perceive”). Our and distinction the next, the length of which has been accurately presenters mistake is in equating the WHOLE ( ) to the sentence going all the way back to the words “New calculated inproblem the with astronomical should that Moon.” The this is that it suggests theschools". new moon is a 29.5Itday period ofbe time,noted and contradicts the popular Publishers (1993) of ConlyD applies Jonge’s 1854 the wordsHendrickson “the beginning” and the following edition context. The ( ) section to Philo’s additional explanation of “month” being given precise average length by thethat astronomers, i.e. 25.53 days. translation does not as have the asame information the Colson translation gives. The indications are that the conjunctions were the determining factors in deciding the first day of the month. Without a doubt, the Conjunction’s role cannot be ignored. Philo states: 257 And the expression "from" has a double sense. One, that by which the starting point from which it The first hour of the day is from 0 to 60 minutes when begins is enumerating, included; theof the other that you are and days month are alwaysby which it is excluded. For when we say that from morning to evening there are twelve hours, or from the new moon to the end of the month there are thirty days, we are including in our enumeration both the first hour and the day of the new moon. And when any one saysButthat such and such a field is here the new moon is not defined as the enumerated. There is never a 0th day because the count always goes 29 30 1 2 or 28 29 1 2. In any case the argument is an analogy that assumes the new moon = conjunction. Days of the month are always enumerated, as many other things. This is about as cheap as tricks can get. conjunction. can’t assume what you want to prove. to three or four furlongs distant from theYoucity, he clearly means The first hour would be sunset, not the sighting. But leave the city itself out of that measurement. PHE) we see from Philo’s assigning(Som of 12 hours2:257 to the day that his numbers are not meant to be exactingly precise. We What is he saying? When you count theof12 hours from morning know the length the day varies. And so did Philo. to evening, the count starts at the beginning of the first hour, at zero, but it is not numbered as ONE until after the first hour is complete. So it is with the new moon happening at the Conjunction but you do not count it as ONE until the close of the solar day. You cannot get 30 days if you start counting after the first sighting of the crescent forward and end at the new moon Conjunction. That would be less than 29 days. Philo’s witness of the equal halves If you do not start your month on the right day then the orbit of the moon will not be divided equally, thus discounting the math and historical witnesses. Again we hear Philo proclaim: (178)…since there are Two Motions of the MOON as it continually runs its double-course--the motion of Waxing until Full MOON and the motion of Waning until its CONJUNCTION with the Thesun. orbit of the moon can never be equally divided by time and illumination of the moon at the same time (234) Again, are not the (except periods the MOON, in rareofcircumstances), because as the she moon advances speed on an elliptical orbit. If you divide the and retraces her course, changes from atimes, CRESCENT tonota befull and orbit by half then the moon will 100%circle, at half the time from conjunction. Butalso if you divide to again, from a complete orb to a CRESCENT, measured 180 degrees, then the full moon will not be at half the time between conjunctions. Elementary my dear by an equality of distances? Watson. 101 XXXIV. And the number so produced, is calculated to reproduce the revolutions of the moon, bringing her back to the point from which she first began to increase in a manner perceptible by the external senses, and to which she returns by waning. continued… Philo’s witness of the equal halves If you do not start your month on the right day then the orbit of the moon will not be divided equally, thus discounting the this is what Philowitnesses. meant, that half theAgain distance ofwe the hear Philo proclaim: math and Ifhistorical orbit equals half the time of the month, then he is scientifically Can we Motions base something (178)…since thereignorant. are Two ofsothe MOON as it important as the calendar on a questionable continuallyinterpretation runs itsthatdouble-course--the motion of Waxing is founded on astronomical ignorance? until Full MOON and the motion of Waning until its CONJUNCTION with the sun. (234) Again, are not the periods of the MOON, as she advances and retraces her course, from a CRESCENT to a full circle, and again, from a complete orb to a CRESCENT, also measured by an equality of distances? “double course” equal halves by degrees (180), but not time, as the time varies. 101 XXXIV. And the number sobyproduced, is calculated to reproduce the revolutions of the moon, bringing her back to the point from which she first began to increase in a manner perceptible by the external senses, and to which she returns by waning. continued… Exaggerated elliptical orbit After conjunction, the moon moves faster to full moon than half the month. After full moon, the moon moves slower, talking more than half a period to reach conjunction. The irregularity of speed of the moon means it can be full on day 13, 14, 15, or 16, or even 17. The exact range depends on the calendar system used, but it is theoretically impossible for any calendar system to consistently have the full moon on the same day half way in time from conjunction to conjunction. For she increases from her first crescent-shaped figure, to that of a half circle in seven days; and in seven more, she becomes a full orb; and then again she turns back, retracing the same path, like a runner of the diaulos, receding from an orb full of light, to a half circle again in seven days, and lastly, in an equal number she diminishes from a half circle to the form of a crescent; and thus the number If Philo is rounding off to simply expound the before mentioned is completed. (Opi 1:101 PHE) symmetry, then he is not exact enough to be interpreted as supportrise for the book end model. Onin the its …like the MOON, which from its first proceeds other hand, if he is interpreted as exact or really meant to be exact, then he is simply ingoing error. Is this possible? increase according to an equal number, onward to Yes, it is possible that he did not know the orbit of the its Perfect Fullness of Light, thenandagain with andid Equal moon and was an ellipse, it is possible that he not know the difference between 95% full and 100% full. Number in its Decrease, returning back to its original But knowing which is the case is not important. What is important is that ifFull; Philo is taken it is state, after having been previously andexactly, in then like scientifically wrong. Either way, the book end model manner in the case of Divine the Creator bitesChastisements, the dust. preserves a regular order, banishing all irregularity from the divine borders. (He explains 4 sets of 7’s totaling 28, from 1st waxing crescent to last waning crescent. He’s not inferring this to coincide with a calendar count which requires 29 to 30 days) For she increases from her first crescent-shaped figure, to that of a half circle in seven days; and in seven more, she becomes a full orb; and then again she turns back, retracing the same path, like a runner of the diaulos, receding from an orb full of light, to a half circle again in seven days, and lastly, in an equal number she diminishes from a half This explanation is even weirder than circle to the form of a crescent; andsince thus the Philo’s remark, the total time number is 29.53 days on average, and varies, how before mentioned is completed. (Opi 1:101 can this symmetry ever occur PHE) on any regular basis? …like the MOON, which from its first rise proceeds in its increase according to an equal number, going onward to its Perfect Fullness of Light, and then again with an Equal Number in its Decrease, returning back to its original state, after having been previously Full; and in like manner in the case of Divine Chastisements, the Creator preserves a regular order, banishing all irregularity from the divine borders. (He explains 4 sets of 7’s totaling 28, from 1st waxing crescent to last waning crescent. He’s not inferring this to coincide with a calendar count which requires 29 to 30 days) If sight alone was the way Israel set their calendar up, then what did they do during the spring and winter rains when the sky remained cloudy for months? They calculated the moon as best their science would allow in these cases. But that does not mean they calculated it according to the Book End theory! Depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion you follow, nightfall is defined in the Jewish Talmud as being "the end of sunset" and occurs anytime from 20 min. to 1 hour after sunset, depending on your geographic location when 3 medium size stars are seen, and twilight (dusk) when 2 medium stars can be seen. For the purpose of the new moon, the new calendar day begins at sunset, and the first day of the month is numbered on the day to come. The presenter is only trying to confuse us with definitions that the Rabbis do not actually apply to the day of the new moon. The Bookend Model uses the sighting of the first crescent as a marker to close out the first day of the new month. Does this look like this day has ended according to Hebrew reckoning of time? The presenter has just quoted a traditional source in a traditional definition, and applied it in a way that the Rabbis would not apply. Days are defined in different ways in Scripture, for different purposes. I described the dawn to dusk day and the daybreak to daybreak calendar day. This was used for Temple offerings. Sunset was used for Sabbaths. Each type of day is for its own purpose. The presenter is confused himself, and trying to confuse his listeners by arbitrarily applying a varying set of standards. The simple truth is, the moment the sun sets, isn’t when the old day slams shut and the new day begins immediately, any more than when the last waning crescent sets out of view on the morning of the 28th or 29th just before sunrise doesn’t mean the lunar month has come to an end either, because the period of time called the Dark Moon (conjunction) hasn’t occurred. Within minutes after sunset, it is possible to view the first waxing crescent in a completely BLUE sky and according to the Talmud you may still be in the same day actually viewing the last closing period of the same day. The first crescent does not actually set until at least one to two hours, after sunset. The Babylonian Talmud states: Rab Judah said in Samuel's Again, one can have changing arbitrary standards, or name: When [only] one star [is visible], is other day; when one can stick to one it or the for the definitiontwo of a calendar day. We have to remember that at the start of [appear], it is twilight; three, it night.theItauthor wastoldtaught likewise: thisis presentation us a day began at He iswhen just moving the boundary stone…onlyitforis When one star [is visible], it issunset. day; two [appear], the purpose of bolstering his theory of the new moon, and not b. because it needssaid: to be moved. twilight; three, it is night. R. Jose Abin Not the large stars, which are visible by day, nor the small ones, which are visible only at night, but the medium sized. When does a Day End According to Torah? We know from creation that a day ends at evening and is measured from evening until evening as confirmed in: usual, not a real Hebrew Lexicon. BDB Gen As 1:8 And there was evening, and there was morning… defines, “set” “sunset” “grow dark.” Even so Strong’s definition proves that you can’t Ex 27:21 Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to have twilight without creating light first. morning before Yahuwah… Lev 23:32 on the ninth day of the month at evening, from Incorrect, the day is from daybreak to daybreak for evening to evening, you shall creation. celebrate yourcreated Sabbath Yahweh Elohim in the day, .and “then there was setting, then there was daybreak, one day.” According to Hebrew reckoning when does evening begin? Rabbis have been arguing over this for thousands of years. Really, Erev can refer to noon, when Evening in Hebrew is Strong’s OT:6153 `ereb from the sun starts to(eh'-reb); go down, as in Really, this passage is using the daybreak to daybreak “between the settings.” This is the way OT:6150; dusk (twilight) to night (darkness). day to define a sunset to sunset day. The first setting is the Rabbis always took the phrase, as “on the 9 day”; One can ask why the text just does referring to the afternoon. Our The Hebrew word is that part of time not simply day “the tenth day”? nesheph for twilight presenter only picks and chooses those Jewish opinions which suit him. considered to come after sunset called DUSK and before night. Evening is the period of time that starts sometime after sunset from either Dusk (twilight) or actual Nightfall, Darkness. So a day ends at the earliest at Dusk/twilight, at the latest Nightfall. th Nehemiah 13:19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be The word means shadow. “…when they are shadowed. shut, and charged that should not be opened till This can happen before sunset, whenthey the doors begin to cast long shadows through the gateway (if the sun still after the and some of my servants set I at shinesSabbath: on them at all). But whichever way one wishes to say it was, our presenter has once again assumed the gates, that noafterburden be brought in something. Do wethere now supposeshould the Sabbath well sunset to satisfy his need for a way to contradict the on the normal Sabbath day. historical way of sightingKJV the new moon. The word dark in this verse in Hebrew is OT:6751 tsalal (tsaw-lal'); to shade, as twilight or an opaque object: KJV - begin to be dark, shadowing. This verse implies that Sabbath did not begin, and consequently the doors of the temple were not closed until twilight fell, which was after sunset. Twilight can begin any time between 20 minutes and 1 hour after sunset when 2 medium size stars can be observed. What was Happening During the 2nd Temple Period? All records for the most part have been lost or destroyed during the 1st Temple Period, but we do have evidence from the Talmud concerning the loss of Priests who died during the 2nd Temple Period. We know that after Babylon the Priesthood was corrupt in many ways. The question remains, why were so We can Priests safely reject his tradition on the many dying? Could it be they were entering into the authority of Josephus. The High Priest was often replaced Holy of simply Holies onby Politics. DayButof Atonement on the WRONG DAY? Is he was not killed, nor died. Just deposed. this why they started tying a cord to the Priests who entered? Yoma, 9a. States: “The Second Temple stood for 420 years, O.k, now we have a conspiracy theory as to why the were dying. Their calendar was wrong…and so ve-shimshu bo yoter mi-sheloshpriests meot Kohanim, and more than also all historical witness to how they figured the 300 served as High Priest over calendar that period. outa forty is discredited Take by assuming conspiracy theory!!!! years in which Shimon the Tzaddik was the High Priest and deduct another 80 years in which Yochanan the Kohen Gadol served, and ten more years that Elazar b. Charson served.” That leaves 300 priests over 290 years. “Kol echad ve-echad lo hotzi shenato, none of them lived out their year in office.” continued… Soncino Zohar, Vayikra, Section 3, Page 102a states: R. Isaac said: ‘A cord was tied to the feet of the High Priest before he entered the Holy of Holies, so that if he died suddenly within they should be able to draw him out. Yoma 9a also states: Rabba bar bar Hana in the name of R. Johanan said: It is written [in Proverbs x. 27]: "The fear of the Right, only for a possible death. Lord increases man's days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened." "The fear of the Lord increases the days"; that refers to the first Temple, during whose existence of four hundred and ten years there were only eighteen high-priests. "The years of the wicked will be shortened," refers to the second which EvenTemple, this is not probable, but existed four hundred and twenty years, that it has anything to do with and more than three hundred high-priests succeeded each the wrong calendar is a other insensible duringargument. that period. Subtract the forty years during which Simeon the Righteous ministered, eighty years of Johanan the high-priest's ministry, ten years of Ishmael b. Favi according to others, eleven years of R. Eleazer b. Harsum--and compute, you will see that not even one high-priest completed his year. Then comes Hillel the Elder Although it is argued how many priests died as well as what caused their deaths, it is agreed that the troubles of the 2nd temple period were great for many reasons. What is testified to in the Talmud and rabbinic writings is the restoring of the calendar by calculations by Hillel the Elder a Pharisaic leader just before the messiah was born. Magid Harakia writes: Establishing the beginning of months (Rosh Hodesh) through sighting the New Moon is an ancient law in Israel. The antiquity of this practice is documented in many early sources, Karaite as well as Rabbanite. The decree How nice on the timing. But the correct year for this is of establishing the Rosh Hodesh AD 359.on the basis of calculations which are unconnected to the appearance of the moon was enacted by the Rabbanite, Hillel the Elder. The method was guarded as a secret to keep the people from knowing about the change and therefore was called by our brothers the Rabbanites “The Secret of Intercalation” (this is testified to in Rabbinite works, of “Magid Harakia” page 35). So named, the “Bookend Model” because like bookends, the Conjunction and the 1st Crescent comprise a timing of the “New Moon Period” that Philo alludes to in XXVI (140). The Conjunction looks forward, and the Crescent looks backward. Early on, the ancients may not have known the “exact” time of the Conjunction, and thus the Hebrew idiom, “no man knows We have already seen that Philo was taken out of the hour or the day” came about, but today, we DO KNOW, context. down to the minute, when both the Conjunction and the Full Moon takes place. Should we ignore this knowledge? This knowledge can actually help to one confirm and Yeshua’s time statement doestie all the pieces of make it a Hebrew if idom. the puzzle together in our not generation used properly and solve this riddle that has separated brethren. The Bookend Model fits everything the ancients have been trying to speak to us in their writings, as well as the Torah, and last but not least, the increase in knowledge, by which, we have been given from computers to confirm all this information with the witness of the MATH. The Bookend Model utilizes both the Conjunction and the sighting of the 1st Crescent. The best of both worlds leaving nothing out but each relying on the other to set the timing of the 1st day. A system of checks and balances. The ancients may not have known the exactI think timing until after to hitof the the right Conjunction full moon days, they have to pick the event took place because they may have had to analyze all and choose on a case by case between the two. their information as they basis were experiencing the event. Dating from thethe sighting Thus, bybackwards sighting 1stof Crescent they would be able to course. confirm their calculations of when the conjunction happened relative to the observance of the Full Moon. They knew for certain the month would either have 29 or 30 Really what they are doing is calculating the FULL moon, and then fixing days, but anyone who follows the lunar calendar regularly the calendar to line up the full moon on the 14 or 15 . Whatever it takes line up the whether they conjunction knows there doesn’t toseem tofullbemoon a determines set pattern asselect to the when they day, a day between, or the sighted moon day to start the month. occur. They could only know, that it would be, either a one day dark moon, or a two day dark moon, no more and no less. Thus, the 1st Crescent confirmed the timing of the Conjunction and set the first day of the month. Today, we can figure out these events in advance with computers. It’s a no brainer! th th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal 15 30 day months (6 each), and 29 number of 29 and th16, DAY 29 should Jan 15, 2010fall on BE Day 1 14 Jan 17, 2010 Day 2354Jan the FullBEMoon the or201015th BE with annual days. Jan 30th 2010 (15th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb 28th (14th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th (14th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month April 28th (14th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month The black moon reveals the time of the conjunction, May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) a BE 29 Month with the day Day of the month in the moon. The white moon reveals the time of the full moon two weeks after th (14 th Tamuz The full moon two weeks later, June 26 F.M.) a 30 the date listed, withDay the BE Month date of the month in the i.e. add 14 days to Jan 16 = Jan The first lighted moon reveals the time of th the ththis 30 . 26 I drew chart wayF.M.) moon. July (14 Av a 29 Day sighting. To achieveMonth the target date of the full moon on to show the relative variation the 15 of Shevat requires the BE model to put the first between the conjunction and th th August 24 (14 Elul F.M.) a month 29 between Day the Month day of the conjunction day and the the full moon. It is not a sighting day. constant. Notice the changing rd th September 23 (15 of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month relationship as we go forward. October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon 29should fall14on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. BEth DAY 29 14, 2010 BE DAY 30 15, 2010 BE Day 1 Feb 16, 2010 th Shevat Jan 30 2010Feb(15 FullFebMoon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb 28th (14th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th (14th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month order to engineer the 14 of Adar onto the Full April 28th (14th Iyar F.M.) aIn 30 Day Month moon day requires the full moon 2 weeks after the last day of the old month. The full moon was Feb 28, 16:38 May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) a 29 Day Month UT, after sunset in Jerusalem. To achieve this the BE day 1 must fall on the same day as the sighted moon. June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month From this and the last month, it is clear that the relationship between the conjunction and the first day July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Month of theDay month in this calendar is arbitrary. The arbitrary placement of day 1 BE is a consequence of targeting August 24th (14th Elul F.M.)certain a 29 Month days ofDay the month on the full moon. September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. Jan 30th 2010 (15th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month 14 29 BE th DAY(14 29 thMar 2010 BE DAY 1a 30 Mar 17, 2010 Month BE Day 3 Mar 18, 2010 Feb 28 of16,Adar F.M.) Day March 30th (14th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month April 28th (14th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month engineer the 14 of Aviv onto the Full May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) In a order 29toDay Month moon day requires the full moon 2 weeks after the last th th day a of 30 the oldDay month,Month so that BE day 1 must fall June 26 (14 Tamuz F.M.) between the conjunction day and the sighting day. th th July 26 (14 Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Jan 30th 2010 (15 14 Feb 28th (14th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month 30 BE DAY 30 Apr 14, 2010 BE DAY 1 Apr 15, 2010 BE DAY 2 Apr 16, 2010 March 30th (14th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month April 28th (14th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) a 29 Day Month Here I had to stack the full moon figure, because in this June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month case it is close to exactly 14 days after conjunction. To get the 14 of Iyar on the full moon requires BE DAY 1 July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Month to fallDay between the conjunction day and the sighting day. August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. Jan 30th 2010 (15th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb 28th 14 (14th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month th th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month March 30 29 (14 th 29 MayIyar 14, 2010F.M.) BE DAY 1 May 15, 2010 April BE 28DAY (14th a 30 Day MonthBE DAY 2 May 16, 2010 May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) a 29 Day Month June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month Here Day I had to Month stack the full moon figure, because in this July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 case it is close to exactly 14 days after conjunction. To the29 14 ofDay Sivan on the full moon requires BE DAY August 24th (14th Elul F.M.)geta Month 1 to fall between the conjunction day and the sighting day. September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. Jan 30th 2010 (15th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb 28th (14th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th (14th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month April 28th (14 29 14 BE DAY 29 thJune 11, th BE DAY 30 12, 2010 DAY 1 June 13, 2010 BE DAY 2 May 28 (142010Sivan F.M.)June a 29 Day BEMonth June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month there are two complete days (sunset to sunset) August 24th (14th Elul F.M.)Here a 29 Day Month between the conjunction day and the day of the sighting, and also we see that BE DAY 1 is a whole day September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month away from the conjunction. This again exposes the arbitrary relationship between the conjunction and the October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month first day of the month in order to keep the full moon on day 14. November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. Jan 30th 2010 (15th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb 28th (14th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th (14th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month April 28th (14th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month May 29 28th (14th 14Sivan F.M.) a 29 Day Month th2010 BE DAY 29 Jul 12, BE DAY 1 13, 2010 DAY 2 June 26th (14 Tamuz F.M.) aJul 30 Day BE Month July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month BE Day F.M. 1 has to fall on theaday between theMonth September 23rd (15th of Tishrei Sukkot) 30 Day conjunction and the first visible new moon to get the 14 of Av F.M.) on the full moon. October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and th or Since the full on moonthe was after in Jerusalem on Aug 354 24 , making it the days. the Full Moon should fall 14sunset 15th with annual 14 day of Elul requires BE DAY 1 to be the same day as the sighted moon, th th over skipping a whole Full day between the conjunction sighted new Month Jan 30 2010 (15 Shevat Moon F.M.)andathe30 Day moon. There is no consistent rule relationship between the conjunction and th th 1 in this F.M.) calendar. The set upDay is determined by desired full moon dates Feb 28 (14 ofdayAdar a 30 Month on desired days of the month, without any regard to the relationship between th th conjunction sighted new moon as to which day is Day day 1 of Month the month. March 30 (14 theof Abib OR Passover F.M.) a 29 April 28th (14th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) a 29 Day Month th th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month June 26 29 (14 14 BE DAY 29 Aug 10, 2010 BE DAY 30 Aug 11, 2010 BE DAY 1 July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. thhere We see two complete days between the conjunction sighted Month Jan 30th 2010 (15 Shevat Full Moon F.M.) and a the 30firstDay new moon. Sanford has picked the first of these two between days for BE th th 1 so thatF.M.) the 15 of be theMonth full moon day (Sept 23 , 2010 @ Feb 28 (14 ofDAYAdar aTishri 30willDay 9:17 UT). We saw these two between days back in the June calendar, but th th picked the second of the two days. This shows arbitrary March 30 (14 Sanford of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 DaytheMonth relationship between the conjunction date and the day picked for BE DAY 1. The determining in thisDay calendarMonth is the need to make the full moon day April 28th (14th Iyar F.M.)factor a 30 fall on certain days. So in reality this calendar is a full moon method, and not a new moon method. a 29 Day Month May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th (14th29Av F.M.) a 29 Day 15 Month BE DAY 29 Sep 8, 2010 BE DAY 1 Sep 9, 2010 BE DAY 2 Sep 10, 2010 BE DAY 3 August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th rd Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. Jan 30th 2010 (15th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb 28th (14th of Adar F.M.) 30 Day Again, BE day 1 falls onathe between day Month in order to target the 15 of the month on the full moon (October 23 , 01:36 UT). th th March 30 (14 of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month April 28th (14th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) a 29 Day Month June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th 29 (14 15 BE DAY 29 Oct 8, 2010 BE DAY 1 Oct 9, 2010 BE DAY 2 September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th rd Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. Jan 30th 2010 (15th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb 28th (14th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month March 30th (14Here, in order to land the 15 on the Full moon requires BE DAY 1 to be the same day as the sighted moon, placing a whole day between the th th April 28 (14 conjunction Iyar F.M.) a 30 Month and BE DAY 1. WeDay can conclude that the calendar is set up to sanctify the full moon and not the new moon, because the full moon keeps th th way things will go.Day Here the conjunction was Nov 6, 04:52 May 28 (14 determining Sivan the F.M.) a 29 Month UT, and the Full moon was Nov 21, 17:27 UT (after sunset in Jerusalem). th th June 26 (14 Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month September 23rd 29 (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a1530 Day Month rd (15 thNov BE DAY 29 BE DAY 30 Nov 7, 2010 BE DAY 1 October 23 of6, 2010 Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the year 2010. If you start your calendar off on the right solar day, then it should have and equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. Jan 30th 2010 (15th Shevat Full Moon F.M.) a 30 Day Month Feb 28th (14th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month March 30th (14Inththisof a the 29conjunction Day Month caseAbib BE DAYPassover 1 has to be on theF.M.) day between and the first sighting. (note that in the sighted moon method, the full moon would th th April 28 (14 come Iyar a 30 Day Month on theF.M.) 14 ). May 28th (14th Sivan F.M.) a 29 Day Month June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month 30 rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) 15 October 23 a 29 Day Month BE DAY 30 Dec 6, 2010 BE DAY 1 Dec 7, 2010 BE DAY 2 November 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month December 21st (15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the Hebrew Calendar Abib/Adar year 2010. It still has an equal number of 29 and 30 day months (6 each), and the Full Moon should fall on average between the 14th or 15th with 354 annual days. 2010 March 30th (14th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month April 28th (14thSanford IyarhasF.M.) 30 Day Month added twoamonths on his next slide here. So let us examine these. I am really curious why he did not put BE DAY 1 here on the same day May 28th (14thasSivan a had, 29thenDay the sightedF.M.) moon. If he the fullMonth moon would have landed on the 15 instead of the 16 . June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month September 23rd (15th of Tishrei F.M. Sukkot) a 30 Day Month October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month 16 November 21st (15th30of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month BE DAY st 2010 BE DAY 1 5, 2010 DAY 2 December 21 30 (15Janth4,of Tevet F.M.) aJan29 Day BEMonth 2011 Jan 20th (16th of Shevat F.M.) a 30 Day Month February 15th (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month th th Figures below are from the Bookend Model for the Hebrew If he had targeted the 15 instead of the 16 in the month before, then the result for Adar year would be2010. different. ItNotice conjunction on day 28. Calendar Abib/Adar stillthehas an equal number of 29 Targeting the 16 in the previous month is clearly based on knowledge of and 30 dayproblematic months (6 each), and the Full Moonis should fall on consequence of targeting the 15 . That consequence seen This shows that this th calendar REQUIRES advanced calculation th with averagebelow. between the 14 or 15 annual days. knowledge at least a month ahead to avoid a decision in 354 the month before resulting in a problem in the month after. 2010 March 30th (14th of Abib Passover F.M.) a 29 Day Month th Iyar F.M.) a 30 Day Month April 28th (14 14 28 th Sivan DAY 28 Feb 3, 2010 29 Day Feb 4, 2010 BE DAY 1 May 28thBE(14 F.M.)BEaDAY29 Month June 26th (14th Tamuz F.M.) a 30 Day Month July 26th (14th Av F.M.) a 29 Day Month August 24th (14th Elul F.M.) a 29 Day Month We see again that we have the day between conjunction and sighting as BE rd 1. We can th nowof answer the question in theSukkot) preceding slide.a Why did September DAY 23 (15 Tishrei F.M. 30 Day Month Sanford target the 16 ? October 23rd (15th of Cheshvan F.M.) a 29 Day Month Should say Feb 18 for the moon. Just a typo. 21st (15th of Kislev F.M.) a 30 Day Month full November 15 December 21st29(15th of Tevet F.M.) a 29 Day Month BE DAY 29 Feb 3, 2010 BE DAY 1 Feb 4, 2010 BE DAY 2 2011 Jan 20th (16th of Shevat F.M.) a 30 Day Month February 15th (15th of Adar F.M.) a 30 Day Month th th th th th th Ps 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the New Moon, in the Time Appointed, on our solemn feast day. KJV covers the face of the new moon with new light. all there is to it folks. a word study ThisHetext can speak volumes to That’s us in regard to Do the importance in Hebrew on this and you will see that “cover” in this sense is a lot better than “conceal.” The idea of when the NEW MOON actually occurs. We know the word of light being a covering is illustrated in Numbers 9:15, where the pillar of fire covered the for New here 3:3, is Chodesh, comes fromobjects the root tabernacle.Moon See also Habakkuk "His splendor coverswhich the heavens", evidently lighted the glory of the Almighty. means Also texts, use verb of covering repair, nakedness. A dark wordshowing Chadash which tothisrebuild, or moon renew. is a naked moon. See Ezekiel 18:16. The key is to know when to blow the trumpets at the New Moon, Chodesh/Chadash and the Hebrew word used for Appointed Time, is Kece or Keceh whose root word is Kacah which means to cover, conceal, hide, cloth, secrecy, or overwhelm. Job 26:9 He Nonsense. coversIt isthe of the moon (kacah). coveredface [with light]. He is not speaking of a Full Moon as some interpretations allude to. He is speaking only of single event, the new moon and his witness gives us insight as to when the month starts. The Hebrew says: Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, when the moon is CONCEALED (kacah), on our solemn feast day. The evidence David has supplied to us is monumental to when the New Moon actually occurs. Clearly, it is when the moon is covered, concealed, hidden, clothed, in secrecy, or overwhelm, at the CONJUNCTION!! Pro 12:23 A wise man conceals (kacah) knowledge….. Conversation between David and Jonathan It was during the time of King Saul that we know for certain they celebrated two days for the New Moon Period of time. This is a strong we know that there are 2 to If it waswitness the 30 day ofbecause the month in the morning, they today would also say is the new moon since they knew thestmonth could not have 3 days “tomorrow from Conjunction to the 1 sighting of the Crescent 31 days…..or if David speaks like his wife Michael then “tomorrow” means in Conjunctionist the morning and “new moon” to the feast. David moon. Both andrefers Crescentist ignore this because actually saw or got a report that the new moon had been seen at sunset both want thenight importance of the consequently on theto 29 ignore day, then that he speaks with Jonathan and other, says meaning the morning, just like his wife used the word the the two“tomorrow” day celebration in 1 Samuel means very little. same way (cf. 1Sam. 19:11). Their conversation only supports the Bookend Model’s Math. DAY 28. In 1 Sam 20:5tookDavid saidtextto Herb Solinsky up the Samuel longJonathan, before the book Look, model came also. I also considered it long before as no tomorrow is theend New Moon. What were they Looking at??? It problem at all. could only have been the last waning crescent on the 28th day. Day 29. First evening feast, on the DARK MOON DAY. Day 1. The 2nd evening feast was after sighting of the First Waxing Crescent. If they had not spotted the crescent that day they may have known to add a 30th day to the calendar depending on their Full Moon calculations. continued… th th Conversation between David and Jonathan 1. Because Saul the wantednext to. It day, is the only timesecond day of the new 24 It came about the recorded in Scripture, and there is no commandment for a second day. Because they customarily had two days, one after the 29th day, and one the next day, regardless of which day was the official new moon. Still the way?month Did itwas evernumbered occur to Mr. firstThe dayonly of the afterSanford the that onlywas onesighted, of the so new feastswere is considered the moon themoon feast days on the of sanctification, the 30 twoth,days are 1st official and 2ndday days of the month,and or that on the toofmake sure the sighted moon day is a feast andmerely 1st days the month. day, and that even after knowing the first one is official, then went ahead with the second feast day because they wanted to. And what IF someone was unclean on the first day…ever hear of the second We could translate this “second day of the month.” Passover…same analogy. moon, that David's place was empty; so Saul said to Jonathan his son, 2."Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” 34 Then Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did not eat food on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved over David because his father had dishonored him. So, you have to ask the question, if the crescent is the first marker, forward, on the Karaite Calendar--why then would they have a feast on the SECOND day of the month? The fact is, the only way you reason two feast days is by starting at the conjunction on the 1st Dark Moon Day. The new moon is proclaimed over 2 days. That must bring the conjunction in as marker one and the sighting of the 1st crescent as marker two looking backward on the day it is seen. The Crescent confirms the timing of the conjunction. Lets make it even clearer…because the importance of this cannot be underestimated More astronomical ignorance here. The conjunction day can be more than one day away from the last sighting of the waning moon. If the moon is seen at an elongation of 19 degrees on this day (the 28th), then 24 hours later it would be at an elongation of 7 degrees (still waning), but it was not seen at all due to Danjon’s limit (the 29th day), then the conjunction could occur just after sunset on the 30th day, and then move to 12 degrees elongation and a steep arc of vision, and be seen after sunset on the 30th day. There is no guarantee of knowing the new moon day by last observance of When he said “tomorrow is the new moon” he was the waning moon. thebegan celebration to begin Second day,referring the thirdtoday after sunset, or itwith is the next just as his wife used the word possible thatdaylight Jonathanperiod, went out at sunrise. th th th 7 Sept 8 the same waySept in 1Sam10 19:11. Sept “tomorrow” 9th How could David and Jonathan know for certain that the next day was the New Moon unless Sept they had observed the last waning@ crescent and 28 Elul 29 Elul 2nd the Tishrei st knew of the feast that was planned on next 1 Tishrei Last sighting of Conjunction at 1 Waxing waning crescent 1:30 PM day? 1 Sam 20:12 If you are a king, there is sense in it, th th st especially one that is trying to please others by being ultra pious. 1 Sam 20:5 David says to Jonathan, “tomorrow is the new moon.” 1 Sam 20:24 FIRST evening Feast. DARK MOON Crescent sighted at evening. 1 Sam 20:27 SECOND evening David saw or got a report of Feast. The THIRD day when David and Jonathan met. the new moon at this point, during the night. Crescentist want to believe that the 2nd day of the feast fell on Tishrei 2. But what would be the significance of having a costly feast on the second day of any month? The day to celebrate is the dark moon and the first day of the month which follows. The new moon is also compared to a new birth… Why would this be? The Hebrew word molad means birth and refers to the time during the Conjunction of the new moon. With each new month comes a new moon that is birthed in darkness at the conjunction when the waning moon fugitively dies or disappears in seemingly darkness only to born again. The answer can be clearer if you simply understand the process of “when” the birth process begins with a child. Right, only in post biblical Rabbinic Hebrew. But The birth actually begins when NO canscience seebythe child, really, you can’tone determine symbolism or as metaphors. Get the fact right first, and then do the ark with the birth of the new moon, both are in complete darkness. work. Life starts in darkness, Father creates something from nothing. Without exception, every ancient pagan culture has used both the Sun and Crescent Moon as religious worship symbols of their faith. A book could be written on just this subject alone. The biblical record indicates that the Israelites have NEVER used the Crescent Moon or the Sun as a symbol of their faith. The only time the word Crescent is used in the Bible is to Now theshaped pious puttingobject everyone under the fear of God describe a round that was worn to symbolized again. The sun and moon are mentioned in Gen. 1:14. the crescent moon. In like Judges So created Gideon arose and killed The moon looks a crescent. 8:21 The Almighty it to look that way, but now we are going to be guilty by Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments… associating with something that Yahweh created to look like a crescent. That’s (why we sayand “sighted moon” or “first NKJV Zebah Zalmunna werevisible pagan Midianites) moon” so as not to offend sensitive people, but we do reserve the right to say crescent, just asand we reserve the Gideon destroyed them melted them down. The crescent right to say “tree” (even though trees are worshiped ornaments probably similar to these ancient artifacts: too). I have deleted the rest of thislooked part. The Temple was run according to the Conjunction for the ancient calendar which was observed by the Sadducees and the same as was observed by the Samaritans. After the dispersal Falsehoods like this lead to total ignorance of how the rabbinical sects who took from the Pharisees thingsover really happened. Learn the REAL Scripturaltried to chronology introduce the postponements andat www.torahtimes.org. thus the Samaritans are then alleged to have had differing lights for the beacons on the new moons. During the Temple period the beacons were lit as the new moon was always determined by Conjunction which is not an observation system. There is no evidence that the Samaritans ever changed their method of calculation of the New Moon in history either during or after thetheSecond Temple This is all historical bunk from Christian Church of God. Yes, I saw theirtoday paper. They distort Philo the period. They still keep the same system (cf. the paper same way Sanford does. God’s Calendar No. (156) (2nd ed.) from the CCG). We know from the writings of Josephus exactly that the Samaritans and the Sadducees both denied any oral tradition and both kept only the written law of the Torah. We should note that the Conjunction, or molad, is the astronomical crossover point from one month to the next and that the determined Hillel Calendar for the New Moon and the molad seldom coincide but has become more inaccurate over time.