An Ancient Measurement Of Time

A Full Moon, signifying the end of a lunar cycle.

How did ancient biblical people measure time? How did Adam, Abraham, Moses, the prophets and Yahusha know when to keep the Shabbats and the Appointed-Times of Yahuah? We cannot know for certain, as none of us were there, however, we can draw on historical and biblical evidence to reach a decisive conclusion: they would not have relied on calendars devised by man. Rather, having understood the guidelines set forth by Yahuah during the Creation, they would’ve simply looked up at the night sky:

‘And Yahuah said, “Let lights come to be in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and appointed feasts, and for days and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth, and it was so.”

And Yahuah made את eth-two great lights; את eth-the greater light to rule the day, and את eth-the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And Yahuah set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth, And to rule over he day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and Yahuah saw that it was good.’ ~Genesis 1:14-18~

One of the oldest measuring devices was the sundial, in use in the 2^nd

 ^{Temple, during the reign of King Herod, the Great, 37-4 BCE.}

It was specifically used in ancient times to mark the hours within a day, according to the hourly passage of the sun across the sky, in keeping with Genesis 1:14. Of course it could not be used once the sun went down. Instead, direct observation of the lesser of the two great lights would’ve served as the means for keeping track of the Shabbats and Appointed-Times of Yahuah.  They would’ve noted the phases and position of the moon in the firmament above them by observing the lunar cycle over a 30-day period.

Here are a few biblical examples of them having done so:

1.     In the days of Noach, a 30-Day month, and a 360-day year was in effect.

Scriptural Evidence: Genesis 7:1, 7:24

‘In the six hundredth year of Noach’s life, in the second new moon (month), the seventeenth day of the new moon(month), on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of the heavens were opened…’

And the waters were mighty on the earth, one hundred and fifty days.’ (Emphasis mine).

A New Moon is a New Month.                 

Mathematical Evidence:

150 Days ÷30 = 5 months

30 Days (1month) × 12months =360 Days.

2.     In the days of Mosheh, the Yisraelites observed a 30-Day month.

Scriptural Evidence: Numbers 20:29

‘And when all the congregation saw that Aharon was dead, all the house of Yisra’el wept for Aharon thirty days.’

Scriptural Evidence: Deuteronomy 34:8 

‘And the children of Yisra’el wept for Mosheh in the desert plains of Mo’ab thirty days. And the days of weeping and mourning for Mosheh were completed.’

Mathematical Evidence:

30 Days (1 month) × 12months = 360 Days.

3.     King David understood the importance of the Monthly, or Lunar Count.

Scriptural Evidence: Psalms 90:12

‘Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.’

4.     In the days of Isaiah, Yahuah declared that the 30-Day lunar month (moon), and the 7 – Day lunar week (Shabbat), shall stand.

 Scriptural Evidence: Isaiah 66:22-23

“For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before me,” declares Yahuah, so your seed and your name shall stand.

“And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon, and from Shabbat to Shabbat, all flesh shall come to worship before me,” declares Yahuah.

The Yisraelites were not the only ancient civilization of that era to maintain a 30 -Day lunar month.

1.     In ancient Babylon, a year consisted of 360 Days, or 12 months – 30 days each

2.     Assyrian decade consisted of 3600 Days, a 30-Day month, that commenced from new moon to new moon.

 Mathematical Evidence:

    3600 Days ÷10 years ÷ 12 months = 30 Days.

3.     Ditto for the ancient Persian year.

4.     Although the ancient Egyptian year was later changed to 365 Days (as documented in the Book of Sothis), originally its length was 360 Days also.

5.     Ancient Roman, Chinese, and the Brahman and Hindu cultures of India, all originally observed a 30 – Day lunar month.   

While it can be said that the above nations associated their lunar month with the

pagan gods specific to their culture, it was the norm at that time to measure the days and seasons by the sun, and the passage of time by the moon. The ancient Hebrews however, associated the lunar phases a guideline for the signs and Appointed-Times of Yahuah. To drive the significance home, Yahuah re-acquainted Mosheh and Aharon with the importance of observing a lunar month prior to bringing Yisra’el out of Egypt.

Scriptural Evidence: Exodus 12:1-2

         ‘And Yahuah spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon in the land of Egypt, saying,

“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.’

Yahuah was educating Moshe and Aharon re: Rosh Chodesh, the ‘Head’ or beginning of a ‘new’ month/lunar cycle; as opposed to the conjunction, ‘dark’ lunar phase which occurs in the middle of the lunar cycle, usually on the 14^th or 15^th Day of the Monthly Count. After 430 years of captivity in Egypt, Yisra’el was undoubtedly exposed to myriad pagan gods and forms of idolatry. Surely, they were tainted at the very least, and quite possibly may’ve forgotten the Appointed-Times altogether. Yahuah in His loving kindness chose to re-educate His people to His heavenly time clock. He explained in minute detail how mankind could be reconciled to Himself. He taught Mosheh and Aharon how to ‘count the days’ of His Appointed-Times:

Scriptural Evidence: Exodus 12:18

‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the new moon, in the evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the new moon in the evening.’

Scriptural Evidence: Leviticus 23:1-8

‘And Yahuah spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisra’el, and say to them, ‘The Appointed-Times of Yahuah, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, my appointed-times are these:

‘Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Shabbat of rest, a set-apart gathering. You do no work, it is a Shabbat to Yahuah in all your dwellings. These are the appointed -times of Yahuah, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times. ‘In the first new moon, on the fourteenth day of the new moon, between the evenings, is the Pesach to Yahuah. ‘And on the fifteenth day of this new moon is the Feast of Matstsah to Yahuah – seven days you eat unleavened bread. On the first day you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. And you shall bring an offering made by fire to Yahuah for seven days. On the seventh day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.’”

Leviticus 23: 23-44 is another scriptural example of the importance of learning the correct count for Yahuah’s Shabbats and Appointed-Times. If you are led by the Ruach HaQodesh, please take a moment to read it, for in these scriptures, Yahuah:

1.     Demonstrates a 29.5 to 30-day month/moon.

2.     Confirms there are four Shabbats within a month/moon; and that His Shabbats will always occur on the 8^th-15^th-22^nd and 29^th Days of the month.

3.     Confirms there are two simultaneous counts: A Weekly Count towards the Shabbat; and a Monthly Count towards the Full Moon, and subsequent New Moon Day.

4.     Introduces the concept of the 8^th Day as a future prophetic event.

5.     Offers the 7^th Month as a ‘foreshadowing’ of the future 7^th Millennium when Yahusha will place his sukkah on earth and dwell among men.

Based on scriptural evidence, we should be able to see that the Appointed-Times and Shabbats were determined by a lunar, monthly count. The question then becomes: What phase of the moon do we utilize as ‘the sign’ to begin our count? If we are to be obedient to the commandments of Yahuah, the answer is simple: we should accept what is scriptural. The Full Moon is the beacon; and the lunar phase appearing the following night is the true New Moon. Bright, shining, and still appearing full; it is the sign that heralds the start of a new moon, or Rosh Chodesh, the 'Head' of a new month. 

The lunar phase that is commonly accepted today as the sign to determine the appointed times, is the conjunction, ‘Dark’ lunar phase. Due to centuries of deception, the dark moon is referred to as the ‘new moon.’ We should think about this. The conjunction lunar phase gives forth no light at all! Therefore, how can it be a ‘sign’ for anything? How is it a beacon, as the word ‘beacon’ is defined? NASA, including some religious groups who hold themselves as an authority, offer up the crescent moon as a substitute. However, one person may say ‘Tonight is the first crescent,’ while another says ‘No! tomorrow night is the first crescent’. Who’s to say? Which is right? The scriptures testify that Yahuah is not the author of confusion. He testified of the importance of the moon in His eyesight, so let us consider the following:

‘And Yahuah made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars.’ ~Genesis 1:16~

This scripture destroys the ‘science’ that the moon is devoid of light, and that the sun reflects onto the moon, any light it’s perceived to possess.  But how can this be if the sun does not occupy/rule the night sky? If it did, there would not be Night. The Light would not be separated from the Darkness, and Genesis 1:16-18 would not be true. Yahuah placed the stars, and Two Great Lights inside the Firmament, not in outer space. As far as it relates to His creation (and that includes mankind), that is the only perspective, or point of view we are meant to be aware of. Any other viewpoint is anti-scriptural; and therefore is anti-Yahuah.

In Genesis 1:3-5, the scriptures clearly state Yahuah separated the Night from the Day. He then ordained the Moon to rule the Night, and the Sun to rule the Day. Yet there are times in the month, when the moon is not ‘ruling’, the night sky. This happens when the moon is in conjunction. During this lunar phase, it ‘follows’ the sun westward across the sky during the day, overshadowed by the sun. At night, for the few minutes before it sets, the dark moon gives forth zero light at all. And yet, the sun gives light even while setting until it’s just an orange shimmer on the horizon. The belief that the moon has no light of its own is a Heliocentric, worldly viewpoint; and Genesis 1:16 refutes this entirely.

A dark, conjunction lunar phase cannot be the beacon for anything. By its very nature, it defies the definition of the word ‘beacon.’ We cannot see it, nor can it rule the night as Yahuah ordained. The sky is dark. Hence the literary phrase: ‘It was a dark and gloomy night;’ the interpretation being: there was no aspect of the moon shining in the night sky. The dark lunar phase is in effect, and that phase occurs in the middle of the month. It is by no means ‘new.’ As a matter of fact, it’s not ‘old’ either. It’s just middle of the road!

A Full Moon occurs every 29.5 to 30-Days; so saith NASA. If, according to the bible, a moon/month is also 29-30 days, then it should stand for reason that a Full Moon will occur at the end of a month. If a Full Moon represents ‘The End’, then what immediately follows has to be, will always be, ‘The Beginning.’ You cannot possibly have the end of something, then must wait 14 to 15 days before there is a beginning. What is the space of time in between? The Twilight Zone? 

Yahuah called the beginning phase, a New Moon, or the beginning of a New Month, occurring with the sunrise, at the Morning Watch. It is the natural progression of the Full Moon the night before. This day is also called Rosh Chodesh, which in Hebrew means ‘Head of the Month’, as defined in Strong’s Concordance (H 7218, H7220).  Rosh Chodesh is like a Shabbat, and is most Set-Apart unto Yahuah; no servile work is done on it. The 7^th Day Shabbat and New Moon Day/Rosh Chodesh are allotted as ‘belonging’ to Yahuah on His Heavenly Calendar.

When the moon rises again that evening, it will still appear full, however it is truly entering its Waning Gibbous phase, and will begin decreasing in percentage of light towards the conjunction lunar phase, occurring 14 to 15 days later, in the middle of the month. If you live where the night sky can be viewed without the impediment of city lights, this can easily be confirmed by looking up at the night sky; or consulting any lunar phase calendar and comparing the visual, with the date. (2).

The Biblical Script Flip

In ancient pagan cultures, the occulted moon was known as a Black Moon and has become a highly valued lunar phase in Wiccan cultures. Think about that. HaShatan’s emissaries have taught us to use the dark, conjunction lunar phase as a guideline to worship, and give praise to Yahuah. But isn’t that just like HaShatan? He will always subvert and corrupt the laws of Yahuah. His doctrine, in regard to the moon, its phases, and what we’ve learned is important to Yahuah, is the exact opposite of Yahuah’s Truth. Give some serious thought to that statement.

If Yahuah says: ‘My witness in the heavens is Bright and Full of Light;’ what would HaShatan say? He would say: ‘No! It is Dark and gives forth no light of its own.’ SELAH. Furthermore, if there appeared those who had the truth and were trying to awaken Yahuah’s Chosen, then would come HaShatan’s emissaries to convince the people: ‘Do not listen to them, for they worship the moon’; which he knows, we know, we are forbidden to do. He has effectively beguiled us, and some of us will stand on this lie, until our dying day.

Once the dark moon occurs in the middle of the month, the lunar phase begins to wax, or increase its light towards the Full Moon, becoming totally, 100% full and bright by the end of the month. Duration of the entire cycle? 29.5 to 30 Days. Again, NASA concurs. They cannot refute the ordained course Yahuah has set for the moon, as its length of days is immutable. However, it is the perception of the moon that has nurtured the lie. Once HaShatan was successful in giving us an alternate perception, the truth became the lie; and the lie became the truth.

The Full Moon is the sign by which we are to count our days. It is the beacon which says: ‘Get ready to begin ‘Counting the Days,’ a New Moon, a New Month is Beginning!’ The Shabbat is ‘fluid’, yet the count of it remains constant; so that from the Creation the Shabbats have always occurred on the 8^th-15^th-22^nd- and 29^th Days of the Monthly Count. This consistency is based on the ‘Rule of Seven’ and is discussed in detail in Chapter 8. Yahuah gave mankind the Full Moon as a clear sign that no one can question or debate its appearance.  It’s either FULLY there for all the world to see, or it’s not. In other words: it is exactly what it is.

We need to recondition our minds and literally see the Light:

The Full New Moon = A New Month = Rosh Chodesh = A New Beginning.