Enoch and His Calendar Secrets Complete

As it is Written
Episode 41: The Secrets of Enoch
First Step
He is perhaps the most mysterious figure in all of Scripture. The attention Scripture gives him may be fleeting, what is said leaves the reader craving more. From Enoch schools of mysticism have been founded, breakaway sects created and alternate scriptures and calendars have been credited to him.
First Step
Enoch is hailed as a prophet of mysteries and a man so righteous that he earns a unique tour of heaven. When he returns he is called a genius, a mystic or even an angel. And then Enoch is said to have written all these secrets down for us, and they survive even amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls and are alluded to in Jude.
First Step
One important thing we should know off the bat is the meaning of his name. Enoch is the Greek version of his name. In Hebrew it is actually chanok, from a root that means to be trained, dedicated. This is the same root used to describe Abrahams retinue of 318 trained men and is also used for Hanukkah.
First Step
If we just look at the name alone, it implies that Enoch was the first dedicated or trained man in Scripturetrained in the mysteries of the Cosmos. But we should also bear in mind Cains son also had this name, so perhaps one was trained in evil and the other in good?
First Step
But who was Enoch really? What does Scripture really say? And have we lost critical information about him? Did he write books that should have been part of our Bible but were lost or suppressed? Did he take a tour of heaven and leave behind a first hand account of what it was like? What can we know?
Chanok |
The Biblical Record
We start our tour where we must: From the Scripture itself. It will not take very long for me to quote every Biblical reference about him, and that is what adds to Enochs mystery and the need to know more about him. Lets see what Genesis has to say about this first enigma in Scripture
The Biblical Record
Jared lived 162 years, and became the father of Enoch. Then Jared lived 800 years after he became the father of Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. Enoch lived 65 years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God 300 years after he became the
The Biblical Record
father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:18-24 NAU) After this mention in Genesis 5, Enoch next appears on a lineage list in Tanakh (1 Chronicles 1:3) and in Luke 3:37 as Yshuas ancestor.
The Biblical Record
Then we get a little more information on the man in two later NT books: Hebrews and the Epistle to Yehudah or Jude. Both of these references are useful because they open a window on what was thought to be true about Enoch whether it was scriptural or not. Lets see what Paul and Yehudah say
The Biblical Record
By faith Enoch was translated and did not taste death; and he was not found because Elohim had translated him: for, before he translated him, there was testimony of him that he pleased Elohim. (Hebrews 11:5- AENT) This testimony Paul refers to may be found in other early sources outside of Scripture as we will see. Moving on
The Biblical Record
And of them also prophesied Enoch who was the seventh from Adam when he said: "Behold, Master YHWH comes with myriads of his Set Apart believers; to execute judgment upon all and to convict all the wicked because of all the deeds they have wickedly committed; and because of all the hard speeches which they, sinners without Elohim, have
The Biblical Record
uttered. (Epistle of Yehudah 1:14-15-AENT) Thats all that made it into the official record, but a little thing like canon has not stopped many other folks from speculating about Enoch and adding to his story. Almost all of these accounts are very ancient, pre-dating the NT
Josephus
Josephus Bar Matthias, Jewish historian [37 CE to ca. 100 CE], writing from Jerusalem and later Rome
The Extra-Biblical Record
The historian Josephus relates the story about how the Greek translation of the OT was completed in about 280 BCE. King Ptolemy wanted a copy of the Torah in Greek for his library, so 72 scholars from Israel were commissioned to translate it into Greek.
Also according to Josephus a kind of miracle occurred where each scholar produced identical/verbatim copies of the text in Greek. But the period between this incident and the oldest surviving manuscripts spans more than 700 years and there is much uncertainty about the details of the Greeks development.
What I can say with some certainty is this: The original translation was only for the first Five Books of Moses. The rest was done over a much longer period of time by separate scholars like Aquila and some others. By the time the full corpus of Tanakh appeared in Greekmaybe 100 BCEthose Jews added more books.
To be fair, the final list of canonical books in Israel was not completed until almost 200 years later. But even during the first century, it was clear that books Greek Jews liked Israeli Jews did not. By the year 90 CE, Rabbis ruled that only books originally done in Hebrew could be accepted into the Jewish canon.
In recent years though, we found the Rabbis were not always correct in making these decisions. For example, an Aramaic copy of the book of Tobit was found amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls and it proved the Greek version the Rabbis banned was a translation from Aramaic or Hebrew. They read Tobit in Israel!
The Rabbis also largely accept the historical testimony of 1-2 Maccabees as accurate for telling the Hanukkah story, though it was not written in Hebrew or Aramaic either. (If it was, those copies have not survived.) In due time, these extra books on the Greek side would be called by Protestants Apocrypha, or hidden.
The Roman Catholics however accepted them in their canon, calling them deuterocanonical or second canon after the other Tanakh books. Whatever the case on canonicity may be, there is no doubt these books are ancient and that they contain valuable historical information on how the Bible was being thought about back then.
My quoting though of these books should in no way imply that I accept them as authoritative, inspired canon. But like other sources I use, I do believe in studying the full interpretive sweep of ancient literature. And the fact is Yehudah and Paul knew of & may have been influenced by these sources popularity
Enoch pleased the Lord and was transferred to heaven, an example for the conversion of all generations. (Wisdom of Sirach, 44:16 NJB) No one else has ever been created on earth to equal Enoch, for he was taken up from earth. (Wisdom of Sirach, 49:14 NJB)
These apocryphal texts obviously dont add a whole lot to what the Scripture said. We will be analyzing the actual apocryphal book of Enoch a little later on. But there are other pre-NT resources we should look at. Josephus only mentions Enoch in passing
Then his son Enoch succeeded him, who was born when his father was 162 years old. Now he, when he had lived 365 years, departed and went to God; where it is that they have not written down his death. (Josephus, Antiquities,1:85)
And indeed, as to Elijah, and as to Enoch, who was before the deluge, it is written in the sacred books that they disappeared: but so that no one knew that they died. (Josephus, Antiquities, 9:28) The historian Philo however, (ca. 20 BCE to 50 CE), clearly wanted to delve into greater detail about Enoch-
Philo
Philo Judaeus, Jewish historian [ca. 20 BCE 50 CE] writing from Alexandria, Egypt
Why the man who lives a life of repentance is said to have lived 365 years? [Genesis 5:23]. In the first place, the year contains 365 days; therefore, by the symbol of the solar orbit, the sacred historian here indicates the life of the repentant man. In the second place, as the sun is the cause of day and night, performing
his revolutions by day above the hemisphere of the earth, and his course by night under the earth, so also the life of the man of repentance consists of alternations of light and darkness; of darkness, that is, of times of agitation and circumstances of injury; and of light, when the light of virtue and its radiant brilliancy arises. In the third place, he
has assigned to him a complete number, as the sun is ordained to be the chief of the stars of heaven, under an appointed number, in the time which came before the period of his repentance, to lead to the oblivion of the sins previously committed; as Elohim is good he bestows the greatest favors most abundantly and at the
same time, he erases the former offenses of those who devote themselves to him, and which might deserve chastisement, by a recollection of their virtues. Why, when Enoch died, the sacred historian adds the assertion, "He pleased Elohim?" [Genesis 5:24]. In the first place, he says this because, by such a statement, he implies that the
soul is immortal, inasmuch as after it is stripped of the body, it still pleases a second time. In the second place, he honors the repentant man with praise, because he has persevered in the same alteration of manners, and has never receded till he has arrived at complete perfection of life; for behold, some men appear to be readily sated after they
have only tasted of excellence; and after a hope of recovery has been given to them, they relapse again into the same disease. What is the meaning of the expression, "He was not found because Elohim translated him?" [Genesis 5:24]. In the first place, the end of virtuous and holy men is not death but a translation and migration, and an
approach to some other place of abode. In the second place, in this instance something marvelous did take place; for he was supposed to be carried off in such a way as to be invisible, for then he was not found: and a proof of this is, that he was sought for as being invisible, not only as having been carried away from their sight, since translation
into another place is nothing else than a placing of a person in another situation; but it is here suggested, that he was translated from a visible place, perceptible by the outward senses, into an incorporeal idea, appreciable only to the intellect. This mercy also was bestowed on the great prophet, for his sepulcher also was known to no one.
And besides these two there was another, Elijah, who ascended from the things of earth into heaven, according to the divine appearance which was then presented to him, and who thus followed higher things, or, to speak with more exact propriety, was raised up to heaven. (Philo, Questions and Answers on Genesis, 1:83-86)
Between linking Enoch with both Moses and Elijah and also drawing the parallel of Enochs 365 years to the number days in the year, Philo is clearly suggesting Enoch had special access to heavenly mysteries. Philo may have gotten that idea not so much from Scripture as he did from legends circulating at that time.
While the actual origin time of the Book of Enoch is unclear, we do know its core formed popular oral legends that clearly were known to Philo, Paul and Jude. And now versions of Enochs adventures have been found in Hebrew, amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls. Lets take a look!
The Dead Sea Scrolls
I know the mysteries of the Lord which the holy ones have explained and showed me and which I read in the heavenly tablets. And I saw written in them that one generation after another will do evil in this way, and evil will last until generations of righteousness arise and evil and wickedness shall end and all violence shall cease from the earth on
themAnd now please go to your son, Lamech, and explain to him that this child is his son in truth and without lie. Dead Sea Scrolls 4Q204-En (Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English by Geza Vermes, p. 514-15) ..the soul of all the sons of man. And behold these are the pits for their prison. They were made for the final day of the
great judgment which will be imposed upon them. There I saw the spirit of a dead man complaining and his moaning rising to heaven and crying and complaining. Dead Sea Scrolls 4Q206:12, p. 515 And beyond those mountains roughly northwards, on their eastern side, I was shown other mountainsnard, cinnamon
and pepper. And from there I was taken to the east of all those mountains, far from them, to the east of the earth and I was taken over the Red Sea and greatly distanced myself from it. And I passed to the Paradise of righteousness. Dead Sea Scrolls 4Q206:26, p. 515 This Hebrew book (ca. 200 BCE) is the oldest version of Enoch known.
The later versions in Greek, Coptic and other languages are more complete but all agree on this basic story contour. Enoch is taken up to heaven, given a special tour of its secret places and writings, then shown Sheol and other parts of the earth and then he writes many books about it for us to read.
There is also an astronomical book attributed to Enoch found amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls as well. This and related literature has given rise to a new calendar theory which had the Hebrew feasts on a solar calendar, and saying that Enoch kept a 364 day solar year. We will look at these claims and see if they are true.
But before doing that I must point this out: Even among the Roman Catholics who accept some of the books we call Apocrypha, they did not include the Book of Enoch as canonical-so its not strong even there! Only the Ethiopian Church accepts a later and more robust version of Enoch than is in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
As time went on, the version attested to in Hebrew fragments at Qumran got expanded into other versions that have questionable information. Also, according to Gershom Scholem who was the 20th centurys leading authority on Jewish mysticism, these Enochian traditions would become part of the later Merkava Mysticism.
Merkava, or chariot is a mystical school largely based on the teachings of Ezekiels vision of wheels within wheels. It flourished between the 3rd and 8th centuries, CE. It is actually the next logical development in the Enochian tradition from Scripture to lesser apocrypha to Dead Sea Scrolls and now here.
This mystical tradition will also link Enoch to a special angel named Metatron, who is also symbolically linked to Messiah. The heresy though that arises is that Enoch as Metatron is sometimes called the One Redeemer which of course takes this away from Yshua and commits horrendous sin.
The other problem is that the Enochian view is that the Sons of Elohim (Watchers) were angels who married and procreated with human women. But again Yshua said Messengers do not marry nor are given in marriage, so this is impossible--this whole story re: Enoch and the Watchers is false!
But lets look at the overall story of the Book of Enoch briefly
After Enoch witnesses these angels procreate, he talks about bad angels given forbidden knowledge to this group of giants that come as offspring. With that knowledge, they create chaos upon the earth. Then Enoch is taken up to heaven where he gets a kind of grand tour of the wonders there.
He also apparently gets to fly over other key regions of the earth and learn those secrets too. Like a precursor of Virgil or Dante, Enoch even gets a brief tour of hell. He hears warnings and rebukes from YHWH against these wicked men and angels and he watches the cosmic war happen.
It is in fact 1 Enochs emphasis on angel-ology that caused the Rabbis to reject it as canonical text. There is also not enough emphasis on righteousness or obedience, except to say that Enoch himself is worthy. After the war, Enoch returns briefly to talk to his son, whom he instructs to call his son Noah, and the book ends.
When I read this book, I clearly can understand why it was popular with a lot of individual believers. But I also understand why it was rejected in all of the Jewish and almost all of the Christian bodies of faith. There are things in here that clearly are against what Yshua taught
Next Week
But that doesnt mean other parts from this tradition are false. As long as we focus on what can be proven directly from Scripture and astronomy we will be fine and not go into error. This includes, as I said before, the rediscovery of what some are calling The Calendar of Enoch, and thats what we will talk about next week.
Next Week
Episode 42: Did Enoch Have a Calendar? Part 1
As it is Written
First Step
Last week we began investigating the life of the Prophet Enoch. While Scripture gives us very little details about his life, his impact upon mystical and Jewish folk tradition remains quite amazing. Enoch became part of some of the oldest apocryphal tradition known and was mentioned in the NT.
First Step
Enoch is hailed as a prophet of mysteries and a man so righteous that he earns a unique tour of heaven. When he returns he is called a genius, a mystic or even an angel. And then Enoch is said to have written all these secrets down for us, and they survive even amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls and are alluded to in Jude.
First Step
Enoch also has several works attributed to him amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls and the book known as 1 Enoch, which we went over briefly, is canonized in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In Jewish mysticism, Enoch is a kind of founding father of what is now called the Merkava School.
First Step
All this, and we have barely scratched the surface of his popularity and influence, whether he wrote any of these books or not. There is also a sequel, 2 Enoch, where the prophet has even more spectacular adventures with angels and demons and so on. Enoch is even present at Creation itself!
First Step
And then there are two other odd entries in the Enoch Library. First is the Book of Jubilees which seems to be aware of and adapting the Enochian narrative for its own purposes, retelling the story of the angels (Watchers) who interbred with women and bore giants. And then it makes this odd statement:
First Step
And all the days of the commandment will be 52 weeks of days, and (these will make) the entire year complete. Thus it is engraven and ordained on the heavenly tablets. And there is no neglecting (this commandment) for a single year or from year to year. And command thou the children of Israel that they observe the years according
First Step
to this) reckoning--364 days, and (these) will constitute a complete year, and they will not disturb its time from its days and from its feasts; for everything will fall out in them according to their testimony, and they will not leave out any day nor disturb any feasts. But if they do neglect and do not observe them according to His commandment, then
First Step
they will disturb all their seasons, and the years will be dislodged from this (order), [and they will disturb the seasons and the years will be dislodged] and they will neglect their ordinances. And all the children of Israel will forget, and will not find the path of the years, and will forget the new moons, and seasons, and sabbaths, and they will go wrong as to all
First Step
the order of the years. For I know and from henceforth will I declare it unto thee, and it is not of my own devising; for the book (lies) written before me, and on the heavenly tablets the division of days is ordained, lest they forget the feasts of the covenant and walk according to the feasts of the Gentiles' after their error and after their
First Step
ignorance. For there will be those who will assuredly make observations of the moon--how (it) disturbs the seasons and comes in from year to year ten days too soon. For this reason the years will come upon them when they will disturb (the order), and make an abominable (day) the day of testimony, and an unclean day a feast day, and they will
First Step
confound all the days, the holy with the unclean, and the unclean day with the holy; for they will go wrong as to the months and sabbaths and feasts and jubilees. For this reason I command and testify to thee that thou mayst testify to them; for after thy death thy children will disturb (them), so that they will not make the year 364 days only, and for this
First Step
reason they will go wrong as to the new moons and seasons and sabbaths and festivals, and they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh. (Book of Jubilees,6:30-38, from Old Testament Pseudepigrapha) A 364-day calendar? Didnt these guys get the memo that the tropical year is 365.2422 solar days long?
First Step
As weird as this sounds, not only is the author of Jubilees serious about this, but an Aramaic version of this 364 day calendar has been found amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls and was used by the Essenes. Its namethe Astronomical Book of Enoch. And it dates to about 200 BCE. Some say its millennia older
Calendar Review
There are basically two series of mysteries I need to explore about the 364-day Enoch Calendar: How can it work and if it works, what is its place in history? But before that I need to give a basic review of my other calendar research and then see how this EC might fit in, if it does.
Wheel of Stars
Calendar Review
As many of you know, I wrote a book a few years ago called Wheel of Stars. Its purpose was to look at how the ancient Hebrews tracked time because it was a known fact the Rabbinic calendar was not around or in force in either Moses or Yshuas daythe whole Biblical record.
Calendar Review
To use just one example, the current Rabbinic calendars most ancient piece is the 19 year lunar or Metonic cycle. Named after a Greek (Meton) who lived in Babylon, he noticed that if you add 7 lunar leap months over 2-3 year intervals every 19 years, the total period (solar vs. lunar) differs by only a few hours.
Calendar Review
But Meton only made this discovery in 432 BCE. Some other scholars think an earlier guy named Kidnu did much of the grunt work for Meton in about 500 BCE, but no historian sees this discovery going back much further than that. Problem is, Moshe died 900 years EARLIER, so he couldnt use this!
Calendar Review
And even if by some miracle this Metonic cycle was known by some ancient elite, it wasnt the way the Egyptians balanced the year and the way Moses, a Prince of Egypt, learned to balance the year to keep spring and fall feasts on time. So it was this problem that led me investigate what Moses did use.
Calendar Review
As my discovery deepened, I found out that Scripture did far more than answer this question for me definitively. I discovered that there was not a single overall calendar in Scripture. There were at least 4 separate but inter-related calendars, each to a different purpose.
Calendar Review
Basically, one calendar of course was for keeping festivals like Pesach and Sukkot on time by using both the solar and the lunar year. Another calendar kept track of the priestly service cycles, synched to the Hebrew solar year. Still another calendar focused on prophecy cycles for YHWH alone, and so on.
Calendar Review
At the heart of my studies was this clear separation from when Adam and company used solar cycles just to plant and harvest and when Moses came along and was forced to introduce the new and full moon cycles to count to the festivals. This solar calendar was based on a 360 day year, a complete circle.
Calendar Review
360 day math was all over the Scripture, and its a complex topic that I cannot go into right now. To give you a brief idea though, Daniel and Revelation contain references to 3 year long periods. These are called time, times and half a time or 42 months. Normally this adds up to 1,260 days
Calendar Review
42 x 30 = 1,260 (The Beast persecutes the woman for 42 months) Time (360) + Times (360*2 or 720) + half a time (180) = 1,260 days The assumption of course is that we have 12 months, each 30 days long. Confirmation of this is in Genesis Noah is clearly counting consecutive 30 day months, not lunar months.
Calendar Review
42 x 30 = 1,260 (The Beast persecutes the woman for 42 months) Time (360) + Times (360*2 or 720) + half a time (180) = 1,260 days Daniel (12:11) also references a 3 year period that is 1,290 days. That means a leap month is added.
Calendar Review
In other words, with each 360 day year being 5-6 days shy of the tropical year, an entire 30 day month was added, and the 1260/1290 references in Daniel and Revelation show this was done within a 7 year period. From this point, simple mathematics tells us exactly when to add these leap months. Now lets talk about Noah
Calendar Review
Remember the flood starts on the 17th day of the 2nd month and ends the 17th day of the 7th month, just after 150 days have passed, or day 151. There is no way you can get at 5 30 day months in a row in a lunar system, so the months must be solar. I also confirmed this in the writings of Josephus and Philo (long story).
Calendar Review
But the reason you would have to have 5 consecutive 30 day months in a row for Noah is a matter of simple math. Start the count on the 17th day of the 2nd month and include it in your calculations. You will now have 14 days from the 17th to the 30th day of that month.
Calendar Review
You also have 17 additional days in the seventh month to account for, and this totals 31 days, leaving a remainder of 120 days for the four middle months (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th). So since your 2nd month was 30 days long, and the 3rd-6th months also must be 30 days long, that means 5 30 day monthsimpossible with the moon!
360 Math
I am not spending a whole lot of time on this, but fortunately the math is pretty easy. 360 days is the mean (average) between the lengths of the lunar (354) and the solar (365.2422) year, so it is easy to balance the two with this number. Heres how it works
360 Math
1) At the end of every 6th year, ADD a 30 day leap month. 2) Do this 6 times in 36 years (end of every 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th, 30th and 36th) years. 3) Add 3 more 360 day years (years 37, 38 and 39). 4) Add 30 more days between year 39 and 40.
360 Math
5) Add up all the days and divide by 40: 14,610 days / 40 = 365.25 days per year. 6) This is as accurate as the Julian calendar, but not as accurate as our Gregorian (current) calendar. 7) To fix this, repeat the 40 year cycle an additional 98 times99 in alland when the last 40 (of 4,000 years) comes you OMIT the leap month.
360 Math
The math clearly works, but it is not practical because the calendar will get out of season before it is balanced by the omission of a leap month. Even 2-3 weeks out of season is impractical and it is not balanced for a 1000+ years. This cannot be used to seed and harvest!
360 Math
So I was faced with a bit of a dilemma. I knew the 360 day calendar worked mathematically, but it didnt work for what mankind needed it most for. I thought the answer was simply for man to look up at the stars to tell them when to plant regardless as to the 360 day month they were in, but that never totally satisfied me.
Chanok |
The New Calendar Emerges
What I was looking for then was a Practical Solar calendar devoid of paganism that Adam, Noah and others could use to do crops in their proper season. And here in ancient records was a calendar that purported to not only be able to do that, but to help the Hebrews keep lunar feasts on time.
If true, it would be the best of all worlds. It would explain exactly how the stars helped the Hebrews keep the seasons properly. I had long known the stars were used in Scripture, such as calling the New Moon nearest the VE Abib, but this new system did the same thing in a very interesting manner.
The question of course was: How could this work with only 364 days in its year? I know on the face of it this sounds contradictory, but bear with me as I lay this foundation out step by step. Then, after showing how it works, we can return to the discussion on what its role in history might be.
Each side of this pyramid has 91 steps, which adds up to 364 days. The top step then is day 365.
An advantage of the 364 day year is that it is the product of 52 x 7, so each year begins on the same weekday.
So if New Years Day is a Wed, the last day of that year will be a Tues and year 2 starts on a Wed, and so on.
The amazing secret of this calendar is that it merges the solar day count with the 7 day Shabbat count to balance.
Heres how it works 1) Lets say March 22nd was a Wed. 2) The VE would not be known to the second as we do today, but would instead be defined in the stars about a day later. 3) In our current Gregorian calendar, this sighted event almost always translates to 3/21 @sunset.
4) Because you started on a Wed, you will end on a Tues, 52 weeks later, on day 364. 5) In terms of our Gregorian calendar, that will be 2 calendar days earlier than where you started, so starting on March 22nd (ignoring leap years) 364 days later will bring you to Tues March 20th.
6) At that point, lets say you ran out of days on March 20th and its a Tues. 7) Since the year ended before the VE you go to the next Wed, 3/28 and call that new years day. 8) Thats all there is to it! Setting the new year to start on Wed synchronizes the 364 day count to the tropical year. But theres one more fact to bear in mind
9) Technically speaking, I am just using the Gregorian calendar for convenience and clarity. But all the ancients needed to know was that if they did not see the VE in the stars when the Enoch year ended, they had to add a week. Otherwise, whenever the VE did happen in the stars before years end, take the next Wed after that.
Proving the Cycle
This calendar accurately tells people when to plant and when to harvest. Each year its first day (a Wed) will be within the range of the week of the VE (the week of March 21st by Gregorian calendar) capturing the perfect time of spring planting. But since I know this sounds still a bit odd, let me take you through a cycle
Proving the Cycle
1) We just went through year 1, starting on Wed 3/21 and ending on Tues 3/20 364 days later. Because this was before 3/21 @ sunset, the next year would begin Wed, 3/28, i.e. a week is added to the current year. 2) In year 2, 364 days after 3/28 brings us to Tues 3/26, making Wed 3/27 the Wed after VE the start of year 3.
Proving the Cycle
3) If we encounter a Gregorian Leap Year (Feb. 29th), this calendar is unaffected as the 7 day week remains the same. 4) In other words, this calendar always has 52 or 53 weeks, starts on a Wed, ends on a Tues, and Gregorian Leap Years have no influence.
Proving the Cycle
5) Year 4 goes as expected, with 364 days bringing us to Wed, March 24th. Incidentally the day still ends at sunset, so the daylight part of Wed is for the old year and sunset to midnight part of Wed is for the new year. 6) Year 5 then ends Tues, March 22nd, and this is also the Wed after VE, sunset, March 23rd.
Proving the Cycle
7) Year 6 began as we saw Wed, March 23rd and will end 364 days (52 weeks) later on Tues March 21st at sunset. 8) This is a little tricky because by experience, the ancients clearly knew the year was ending Tues night just hours before the VE would have been seen in the stars. They could have therefore called the next day new years.
Proving the Cycle
9) However, I believe they would have rigorously enforced this one rule of the calendar. Year 6 ends Tues, Mar 26th and year 7 starts Wed, Mar 27th. 10) From here the cycle will simply repeat this way into infinity, always framing VE week. Being tied to the stars, it never goes out of date. Heres how the months fall each year
Proving the Cycle
Vernal Equinox Month 130 days Month 230 days Month 331 days (Summer Solstice) Month 430 days Month 530 days Month 631 days (Fall Equinox) Month 730 days
Proving the Cycle
Month 830 days Month 931 days (Winter Solstice) Month 1030 days Month 1130 days Month 1231 days (Vernal Equinox) Begin Year 2, Wednesday after VE. And, in case you are wondering why start always on Wed, heres why
Proving the Cycle
God said, 'Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night, and let them indicate festivals, days and years. Let them be lights in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth.' And so it was. God made the two great lights: the greater light to govern the day, the smaller light to govern the night, and the stars. God set them in the vault of
Proving the Cycle
heaven to shine on the earth, to govern the day and the night and to divide light from darkness. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came: the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-19 NJB) So this is one way of interpreting Genesis, to align a calendar with when the stars, sun and moon were made!
Next Week
At this point then, we know this calendar works. Its mechanism is beautiful, elegant, simple, perfectly accurate and, above all, Scriptural. But was it really the calendar of Adam and Enoch? Can history prove that claim one way or the other? And what does it mean in relation to our Hebrew calendar? Join me next week for
Next Week
As it is Written
Going Deeper
12. ...But you have changed your works, 13. [and have not done according to his command, and transgressed against him; (and have spoken) haughty and harsh words, with your impure mouths, 14. [against his majesty, for your heart is hard]. You will have no peace. Dead Sea Scrolls fragment of the Book of Enoch, 4Q201
Going Deeper
Milik, Jazef. T., ed. The Books of Enoch: Aramaic Fragments of Qumran Cave 4 (Oxford, 1976) Printed book. General Collections, Library of Congress.
First Step
Last week we continued our studies into the prophet Enoch, exploring the possibility that he may have developed a Hebrew solar calendar. We looked at the mechanism that Enoch may have proposed, compared it the 360 calendar found in Scripture and determined EC does work amazingly well.
First Step
But now we need to turn our attention to another series of questions, this time from history and the documented record. What can the Dead Sea Scrolls tell us in concert with other ancient records about if this calendar and if it was actually used? Also, was its potential original use perverted later?
First Step
Right now, in terms of the small fragments we have from the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Astronomical Book of Enoch and the tiny fragments from First Enoch, go back no earlier than about 200 BCE. We must bridge a significant gulf of time from there to get to Moses, Abraham or earlier.
First Step
But first, before I can outline the right approach, I need to address some misconceptions from some folks who are turning to this calendar today The following is given from the website: http://bayithhatorahblog.tk/
Spinning History
I am quoting from it not to bash it per se, but because I feel it gives the best attempt on the web to explain ideas that are incorrect. In other words, though I disagree, I admit they have done the work to put their position together! But history can lead well meaning people to error without right context. Heres what they said
Spinning History
In fact, according to the T'nach, only the sons of Zadok (the Zaddikim or Sadducees) will have the right to make sacrifices in the New Mikdash; see Ezek. 40:46. This means that the Dynasty of Zadok, the First High Priest in the Mikdash, will be restored. These items would include such items as the Mikdash incense, the anointing oil of the
Spinning History
priesthood, the ashes of the Red Heifer, and the Ark of the Covenant. Josephus, himself a priest of the Pharisees who had no knowledge of the Oral Law being given on Mt. Sinai, relates that the Sadducees reflected the traditions of the Fathers, which seems to have been the forerunner of the Oral Law, and was also observed as law by the
Spinning History
Pharisees. It follows then
that at the time of the First Holy Mikdash, it was not taught that the Oral Law was given to Moses.
The article starts out with accurate information. It is true the sons of Zadok ruled the priesthood from the time of David until the end of the Maccabean Revolt, ca. 164 BCE.
Spinning History
It is also true that Ezekiel prophesied a restored Zadokite priesthood and that the Sadducees take their name from Zadok. But the Sadducees departed from those traditions and became corrupt, even though Scripture never suggests Zadoks ways were changed either from Davids or Moses time.
Spinning History
The fact is, priestly families did bicker between each other for power, but this happened because of wickedness, not because the system was altered. For example, the priesthood was taken away from the sons of Eli in 1 Samuel because Eli turned a blind eye to his corrupt sons. By one system they came to power and lost power!
Spinning History
Here is where we get into a bit of really lazy language: What they said about Josephus. The website essay claims that Josephus both was and was not aware of the more ancient traditions of the Zadokites! You have: Josephushad no knowledge of the Oral Law being given on Mt. Sinai, contrasted with
Spinning History
[Josephus knew] that the Sadducees reflected the traditions of the Fathers, which seems to have been the forerunner of the Oral Law, and was also observed as law by the Pharisees. Josephus was a Pharisee, so how is it that he has no knowledge of what their oldest traditions were? He says:
Spinning History
The family from which I am derived is not an ignoble one, but has descended all along from the priests; and as nobility among several people is of a different origin, so with us to be of the sacerdotal dignity, is an indication of the splendor of a family. Now, I am not only sprung from a sacerdotal family in general, but from the first of the 24 courses; and as among
Spinning History
us there is not only a considerable difference between one family of each course and another, I am of the chief family of that first course also; nay, further, by my mother I am of the royal blood; for the children of Asamoneus, from whom that family was derived, had both the office of the high priesthood, and the dignity of a king,
Spinning History
for a long time together. (Life of Josephus,1:1-2) Throughout the Scripture the calendar secrets always resided with two groups: Priests and kings. Josephus is descended from both groups, as is the other Jewish historian Philo, writing from Alexandria Egypt about 70 years earlier. This brings us to my research
Wheel of Stars
Spinning History
So if anyone is going to know these ancient secrets, it is Josephus and Philo. This is why in Wheel of Stars I spent a lot of time discussing this ancient knowledge from Josephus and Philo and that it neither contradicted Scripture, nor history, nor physics. In sum, if EC is right, Josephus and Philo would have known about it!
Spinning History
On the contrary, a smaller body of law was, at that time, referred to as TRADITION. Both groups adhered to this tradition. To justify and venerate their own rulings, the Pharisees began to call their own legislation the very Word of Gd. In this way they set themselves above their vanquished foe, the Sadducees, and rewrote history.
Spinning History
The funny thing about rewriting history, of course is that if you point out theres no evidence for it all the folks on the other side will say is: See how well they covered up the truth? But most who study know how hard it is to get everyone on the same page and there should always be SOME proof of the original truth.
Spinning History
The fact is, it was the Sadducees who corrupted themselves, not the Pharisees. The Sadducees, who never had a single major opinion ever rule in Israel, were not trusted by the people. The Sadducees as high priests answered to PHARISAIC laws and were appointed by Romans!
Spinning History
I could put a dozen quotes from Josephus proving the Pharisees ruled the calendar in all things, but I know these opponents will simply cry the winners write history and allege cover-up again. Instead, I think what I need is an unimpeachable source from the beginning of time. Someone like
What did Yshua say?
Spinning History
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the throne (korsiya- ) of Moshe. Therefore everything that they say to you that you should keep and do. But not according to their deeds, for they talk, but do not. (Matthew 23:2-3-AENT)
Note: Not just seat of Moshehis throne, meaning they interpret Torah!
Spinning History
While the Pharisees were criticized for loading up with human traditions that Yshua directly says forsook the Torah, the calendar was not under his rebuke. This evidence here is that Yshua says the Pharisaic calendar (not the Rabbinic which came later) was the right systemback at least to Moses!
Spinning History
The reason I can be so confident on this point is simple: Yshua never argued with the Pharisees on when Shabbat or a Great Feast was and he attended every one of them! And for their part, the Pharisees never accused Yshua of following a calendar different from theirs either! So heres the key question
Spinning History
Given the critically high stakes on both sides of debate between Yshua and the Pharisees, wouldnt a calendar difference between them (if it existed) have to come up at some point in 3 years? Or are we really going to think neither side thought it relevant when to observe Pesach, Shavuot and so on?
Spinning History
This is where our other first century witnesses come into play. Josephus and Philo, descendants from priests and kings on both sides of their family tree, clearly knew what the REAL calendar was from deepest antiquity. They wrote about it in detail. So, if EC is real, they knew of it! Now lets continue with the quote
Spinning History
On the contrary, a smaller body of law was, at that time, referred to as TRADITION. Both groups adhered to this tradition. To justify and venerate their own rulings, the Pharisees began to call their own legislation the very Word of Gd. In this way they set themselves above their vanquished foe, the Sadducees, and rewrote history. The truth, however,
Spinning History
has come back to bite them in the form of the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Sadducees. But regarding the calendar, the Torah teaches the sun is to govern "their appointed days" and the moon, the season. The days are determined by the travel of the sun's annual circuit through the 6 gates of the eastern horizon. Originally then, it seems observation of
Spinning History
the New Moon was not for the purpose of determining the calendar. Even the Mishna ("Tosefta Nazir") acknowledges the existence of the solar year and sets its length at 364 days. Jehuda the Persian, in the 9th Century CE, wrote that the Jews "had always reckoned by solar months (Sachau, p. 69). -Also reprinted from Qumran.com
Spinning History
There is a good deal here I agree with, but I think its the application of these facts which becomes problematic. That the New Moon was not used originally is very factual, simply because the Scripture itself tells us that new and full moon cycles were not needed before Moses because the Hebrews relied on a solar year!
Spinning History
The problem is though in not recognizing that Exodus 12:1-2 re-set the calendar. The lunar month of Abib is now to be the beginning of your months, the start of your year YHWH declares this! But Abib was also tied to the solar year, as the time of the barley. We had to get the season right too!
Spinning History
In the month of Xanthikos, which is by us called Nisan, and is the beginning of our year, on the 14th day of the lunar month, when the sun is in Aries, (for in this month it was that we were delivered from bondage under the Egyptians,) the law ordained that we should every year slay that sacrifice which I before told you we slew when we came out of Egypt,
Spinning History
and which was called the Passover; and so we do celebrate this passover in companies, leaving nothing of what we sacrifice till the day following. (Antiquities, 3:248)
Notice that Josephus the Pharisee gives us star-zodiac information, along with the day of the lunar month. Stars, sun and moon work together
Spinning History
On the 4th day of the week of the sons of Gamul in the first month of the first year. On the 5th day in the week of Jedaiah corresponding to the 29th day of the lunar month, which falls on the 30th day of the solar month. Mishmarot A (4Q320), as translated by Geza Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, p. 336
A Guide to Dead Sea Scrolls Classification
(4Q320) 4 = the cave designation it was found in. Q = Qumran, the location of the cave. 320 = This was the 320th manuscript found in that cave.
Spinning History
Some scholars have argued that lunar months are not used at all in determining Great Feasts, but I strongly disagree. If they did, that was un-Scriptural. When we read a bit deeper into the Dead Sea Scrolls Enochian traditions, we find something quite different and in line with the other sources
Spinning History
And this is his birthday on which he (is to be/was?) born; in the foot of the Bull (Taurus-AGR). He will be meek, and his animal is the Bull.
4Q186, fragment 1, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, p. 358
And they are not only tracking the sun thru the zodiacbut the moon also
Spinning History
IVand on 13 and 14 Pisces; and on 15 and 16 Aries; on 17 and 18 Taurus; on 19 and 20 and 21 Gemini; on 22 and 23 Cancer; on 24 and 25 Leo; on 26, 27 and 28 Virgo; on 29 and 30 LibraTishri. On 1 and 2 Scorpio. 4Q318, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, p. 361 Sun and moon are linked to Zodiac!
The Details Emerge
Getting back to my previous point, Josephus and Philo must have known about this calendar. Now I believe it is possible to read their texts in light of what we know and see that they are referring to it in at least a broad sense. Philo in particular makes a comment that is hard to explain otherwise
The Details Emerge
Moses puts down the beginning (arche: ) of the vernal equinox as the first month of the year. (Life of Moses, 2:222) This is a very curious phrasing in Greek. The vernal equinox is fixed to a particular day of the year, so why specify beginning? Why not just say VE day?
The Details Emerge
Part of the answer is that the VE is a kind of choreography that can unfold over 24-48 hours from when it actually happens to when the stars show it is passed. The difference between knowing the moment of VE as opposed to when it is perceived marks the boundary between ancient and modern method.
The Details Emerge
Since the ancients needed more time/evidence to confirm the VE, this is why Philo says beginningwhich means he is framing VE week as opposed to VE day. This is process confirmed by Dead Sea Scrolls researchers Ben Dov (Head of All Years, p. 16-17) and Geza Vermes, whom I now quote
The Details Emerge
The Qumran sect rejected this seemingly artificial system [the 19 year Metonic lunar cycleAGR] and adopted instead a chronological reckoning, probably of priestly origin, based on the sun, a practice attested to also in the Book of Jubilees and 1 Enoch, and fully laid out in a series of calendrical documents (4Q320-30). The outstanding
The Details Emerge
feature of this solar calendar was its absolute regularity in that, instead of 354 days, not divisible by seven, it consisted of 364 days, i.e. 52 weeks precisely. Each of its four seasons was 13 weeks long, divided by three months of 30 days each, plus an additional remembrance day (1QS x, 5) linking one season to another (13 x 7 = 91 = 3 x
The Details Emerge
30 +1). In tune with this way with the laws of the Great Light of heaven (1QH xii, 5) and not with the festivals of the nationsIts unbroken rhythm meant furthermore that the first day of the year and of each subsequent season always fell on the same day of the week. For the Essenes this was Wednesday, since according to
The Details Emerge
Genesis 1, 14-19, it was on the fourth day that the sun and the moon were created. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, p. 78 As we saw last week, there is no question whatsoever that such a system is eternally perfect and accurate.
The Details Emerge
But the final question we need to address this week is this: What is the relationship between the Aramaic fragments on this calendar found among the Dead Sea Scrolls and the later fuller traditions that end up in the Greek, Latin and Ethiopian versions of 1 Enoch, Jubilees, and similar works? To answer that, lets go here
The Details Emerge
The published and unpublished Qumran fragments show, when they are compared with the Ethiopic and Latin versions, that the ancient translators of the book did their work with remarkable care. Though these two granddaughter translations are separated by the Greek translation from the Hebrew original, they largely agree with the Hebrew.
The Details Emerge
The implication is that the Ethiopic and Latin forms of the book are reliable indicators of the original text and can thus be used as authentic reflections of what the author wrote in the mid-second century B.C.-James Vanderkam, The Dead Sea Scrolls: Book of Jubilees, (Missouri Review, Spring 2011) also from:
The Details Emerge
http://www.missourireview.org/content/dy namic/view_text.php?text_id=1943 James VanderKam is a Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame and has edited Discoveries in the Judaean Desert for Oxford Press. He is currently working on a new book titled The Dead Sea Scrolls Today with William B Eerdmans.
Next Week
So now that we know that the astronomical data in all versions of these works is reliable both in terms of content across several languages and in terms of its accuracy as a calendar, we are ready to move to the final considerations. Our final test: To prove this calendar is really part of Scripture itself.
Next Week
Once that is dealt with, we will close the Enoch series by explaining what this calendar was really for and how that original intention has been misunderstood. Please also bear in mind that I am not in any way endorsing the extra-biblical contradictory information with regards to Enoch.
Next Week
I will not sanction the idea of angels inter-breeding with humans to make giants, as mentioned before, because this goes against Yshuas own words. Anything then that contradicts Torah or Yshua in these resources must be discarded as heresy. It is what is left in terms of ancient calendar that I believe is most helpful to us.
Next Week
It is also wrong to say, as some scholars do, that lunar months were never a part of calculating the Feasts, again because Scripture says no. But we will find together what this solar mechanism was really used for: Something amazing, beautiful and Scriptural that no one has thus far has considered. Join us then for
Next Week

As it is Written
First Step
Last week we made some great strides separating the proverbial wheat from the chaff. While no believer should wholeheartedly endorse every detail in this extra-biblical literature, certain astronomical and mathematical principles lined up with Scripture and wider history to tell us a great story
First Step
That story basically showed a chain of evidence that began with Yshua endorsing the calendar he knew as from people who sat on Moses throne (Matthew 23:1-2). We saw that while both Yshua and the Pharisees had a ton of criticisms for one another, neither accused to other of being on the wrong calendar!
First Step
From that point, we went into the wider first century history of Josephus and Philo, Jewish historians descended from priests and kings who kept the calendar secrets. Going further back we found further attestation in the Dead Sea Scrolls that painted a gloriously intricate picture of the calendar of Enoch (EC).
First Step
But only now do we get to the heart of the matter: Is it really Scriptural after all? And, even if it is Scriptural, are the claims about how it should be used accurate? The foundation has been laid, and now it is time to lift off the veil and tell the truth!
The Testimony ofNoah?
The first thing we need to establish is this: The timeline is not based on the tropical year (from fall or spring equinox) but on when Noah was born:
In the 600th year of Noah's life, in the 2nd month, and on the 17th day of the month, that very day all the springs of the great deep burst through, and the sluices of heaven opened. And heavy rain fell on earth for 40 days and 40 nights. That very day Noah and his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth boarded the ark, with Noah's wife and the three
wives of his sons, and with them every species of wild animal, every species of cattle, every species of creeping things that creep along the ground, every species of bird, everything that flies, everything with wings. One pair of all that was alive and had the breath of life boarded the ark with Noah, and those that went aboard were a male and
female of all that was alive, as God had commanded him. Then Yahweh shut him in. (Genesis 7:11-16 NJB) After 150 days the waters fell, and in the 7th month, on the 17th day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. (Genesis 8:3-4 NJB)
So the timeline breaks down this way 1) Flood begins, Noahs family shut in: 17th day of 2nd month. 2) After 150 days from when it started, flood waters recede; Ark rests on the mountains of Ararat: 17th day of 7th month. 3) After 150 days = day 151, encompassing 5 months to the day.
In the 600th year of Noah's life, in the 2nd month, and on the 17th day of the month(Genesis 7:11-NJB) It was in the 601st year of Noah's life, in the 1st month and on the 1st of the month, that the waters began drying out on earth. (Genesis 8:13 NJB) Next lets see the one system of timekeeping this can not be
Its simple physics. As we saw before, the lunar month is 29.53 solar days long, so depending on when the conjunction and crescent are timed to happen, you will have either a 30 or a 29 day month, usually alternating. Noahs count, which takes place when neither sun nor moon can be seen requires five 30 day months in a row.
And while it does sometimes happen that you have 2 30 day months in a row, having five 30 day months in a row is impossible in a lunar-based calendar! This is because the start and end months must leave remainders that equal 31 days, and that leaves 120 days for the 4 full months in between.
Heres the one way to add it up if we are in a lunar system to account for the greatest number of days
1) Flood starts 17th day 2nd month. 2) There can be no more than 30 days in a lunar month, so only 14 days (max) remain after 17 days, if we include day 17 itself. 3) To those 14 days add 17 at the end, accounting for 1 month out of 5.
4) Since at least one of any lunar month in the middle of the count (4 total months) must be 29 days, that total can never exceed 119 days. (Any variation of 30+ 29 + 30 + 30). So 31 (14 days remaining from month 1 + 17 days into the last flood month) + 119 = 150; we need to account for 151, so we are 1 day short.
5) This is a very generous and extreme example. More than likely, a normal half-year interval would have had 1-2 additional 29 day months, making this total 2-3 days short! 6) But while the text seems pretty clear that we need to start our count with the 17th day of the 2nd month as day 1, the ending date is not clear in the Hebrew.
7) This is because the phrase is after 150 days, the Ark rested on the mountains of Ararat, as opposed to and on the 151st day the Ark rested on the mountains of Ararat! 8) The most natural assumption is that it is an indirect reference to day 151, but really any number greater than 150 is also after 150 days.
9) While this may seem a bit nit-picky, it really isnt. There is no reason for Moses to not say 151st day when he keeps giving us precise dates elsewhere, e.g., slaughter the Passover lamb on the 14th day in the first month at twilight. 10) But in order to traverse 5 months by any measure and be after 150 days by the 17th, gives a handful of days only.
In the 360 calendar, which is Scriptural, every month is 30 days long throughout the year. So including the 17th day in the 2nd month guarantees 14 days left over after the Flood began, plus the other 17 days in the 7th month, a.k.a. day #151. But look what happens with the middle months, meaning 3, 4, 5 and 6:
Total days accounted for thus far: 31 (14 from month 2; 17 from month 7). 17th day of 7th month must be after 150. Days left to go in months 3-6: 120. 4 months of 30 days each = 120. And of course 120 + 31 = 151 which is after 150 days certainly, and so 360 does work. But look at Enoch now
The Testimony ofNoah? Like the 360 day system, we have 12 months of 30 days each. But we also have 4 remembrance days, one for each solstice or equinox, or 364 total. The practical effect of adding a remembrance day for each of the 4 seasons is that every third month will have an extra 31st day.
So, if we pick the right time of year for Noahs birth, we can arrange the months in such a way that the 2nd and 7th months from his birth will add up to after 150 days. Lets see how
Month 1 (Noahs birth) on remembrance day for the Fall Equinox September 23rd. Month 2 (first flood month) begins on September 24th. The Flood begins 17 days later or October 11th. The month is 30 days long, ending October 24th. Month 3 begins on October 25th and ends 30 days later, on November 24th.
Month 4 begins on November 25th and ends on December 26th. Because this is the time of the solstice, there is a 31st day or remembrance day for the solstices approximate time. Month 5 begins on December 27th and ends 30 days later, or January 26th. Month 6 begins on January 27th and ends 30 days later, or February 26th.
Month 7 is only counted to the 17th day and would have had a remembrance day if counted to its end. This is when the Ark is on Ararat. Now add it up! Month 2: 14 days| Month 3: 30 days Month 4: 31 days| Month 5: 30 days Month 6: 30 days| Month 7: 17 days TOTAL 152 days!
The Testimony ofNoah? So both 360 and Enoch calendar systems yield a number that is after 150 days151 for 360 and 152 for Enoch. 152 days is the outer limit of how many days you can have in any counting of 5 solar months. But this gets back to the original question: Why the vague language?
In other words, why write in such a way that covers the counting methods of both systems? I believe the answer is that Moses did this on purpose, as a way to tell us both systems were valid and in force. Moses, even as a prince of Egypt, would have been aware of the 360 day yearthey also used it!
The evidence that I have seen also strongly suggests that Moses had very sophisticated astronomical training as a Prince of Egypt. Both Philo and Josephus write that Moses surpassed the skill of the best tutors in all his subjectsa fact St. Stephen also alludes to in Acts. More on this in 2 weeks by the way
In any case, my point is that Moses used his knowledge to merge the two systems into a master-method to track the solar tropical year. Then when writing Genesis, he used vague language to point to this same master system, to show that both in a sense worked, without explaining directly what he did! Now lets go to
The Problem with 30 CE
While writing Wheel of Stars I found out about an issue that I couldnt completely solve. My science adviser, Bill Welker, has two physics degrees, works on classified satellites for the government and can build telescopes from scratch in his spare time. We found something very rare in the year Yshua died.
Many years of research had led me to conclude that every once in a great while, the timing of the vernal equinox and the spring new moon can get very, very close togetherwithin a few hours of one another. Later astronomical research proved these occurrences happened 24 times in about 5,500 years.
This was the case in the year Yshua died, where the vernal equinox and spring new moon came within 5 hours of one another. I knew theoretically speaking that there were rare times when the stars would overrule the moon, and force what would have been a 30 day month to end on its 29th day.
I called this VE trumps all because the stars and sun outrank the moon (Revelation 12:1-2), but I never thought I would actually see one! To make matters even worse, Bill proved that astronomical factors (too close to the horizon, etc.) made it impossible to see the New Moon for 3 nights in a row!
So the stars are telling you its spring, the barley is also telling you its spring but you need a New Moon time to count your Hebrew days from! As I said, this is very rare and it is clearly a worst case scenario, but surely the Pharisees and Sanhedrin had the knowledge to for even this contingencyand its the EC!
2 weeks ago, we saw the actual EC 7 year cycle in action. It will always repeat exactly that way, unto infinity. And because it is tied to the spring equinox and the stars, it will never, ever go out of date. But for the folks who are working the EC all the time for centuries on end, it really becomes helpful in this case.
When any EC year starts, the calendar experts know exactly how many days they had to add to have it start on time. (Watch Secrets of Moses coming in 2 weeks for proof!) Because its 364 days, they also know every year will begin and end on a Wed. They also will know where that day falls either before or after VE.
In other words, the 364th day would be known a year in advance to fall say 2 days before the VE, which will require more days be added to get the following year starting the Wed after VE. To put it another way, they will know VE is exactly on the 30th day of EC 12th month, 2 days before new year.
Hypothetically speaking, if the skies in 30 CE were also cloudy for a few days and the stars could not be seen either, this advance date will let them know when to call the Solar Year. We dont know the weather for 30 though. The fact is, you need multiple witnesses from math and observation to keep it on time, so next step is to
Now Count the Moon
Now Count the Moon
Because the Feasts are all tied to the New and Full Moons, obviously all the calendar folks in Israel would be counting from that cycle all the time. But there would be other moon specialists who had additional skills and knowledge counseling Israel. The last full moon of the year will always be the one for Purim.
Now Count the Moon
It is at this point that the moon experts begin the critical task of tracking that years last two weeks. (If there is a leap month, Purim is in 2 Adar, so its always the last full moon before Pesach.) These moon experts, according to the Talmud, Dead Sea Scrolls, etc., kept detailed records for centuries.
Now Count the Moon
The records would show them the full spectrum of lunar timing and they may have been supplemented by astronomical drawings also mentioned in the tradition
Tell us in what form you saw the moon; was it before or behind the sun? Was it to the north or the south (of the sun)? What was its elevation on the horizon? Towards which
Now Count the Moon
side was its inclination? What was the width of its disk? If he answered before the sun, his evidence was worthless. (Rosh Hashanna 2:3 Rodkinson)
This is the kind of data the moon experts were recording and tracking over the long haul. It was enough to cover all the moons eccentricities...
Now Count the Moon
R. Gamaliel had on a tablet, and on a wall of his upper room, illustrations of the various phases of the moon, which he used to show to the common people, saying: "Did you see the moon like this figure or like this?" (Rosh Hashanna, 2:5 Rodkinson)
So they also collected visual records of the moon as well, like the Essenes:
Now Count the Moon
On the 5th day of the (solar) month, 12 fourteenths of the moons surface was covered and thus it enters the day. On the 6th day, 13 fourteenths of the moon are covered and thus it enters the day. On the 7th day of it, 14 fourteenths of its surface is covered and thus it enters the day. 4Q317, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, p. 360.
Now Count the Moon
The Essenes counted in 14 day cycles, from New to Full and from Full to New, for a total of 28 days. But because the total month is 29.53 solar days long, the darkness period that is before the first crescent and after the last crescent will vary. By counting in 14ths, the Essenes have synched math to observation.
Now Count the Moon
End 28 count
Start 28 count
Now Count the Moon
While the percentages must be approximate, the general math works. The nearest multiple of 14 near 100% is 98. A 98% full moon will, without question, be perceived as totally full by the ancient naked eye. The Essenes then count roughly 14 periods of 7% each to reach the mathematical full moon.
Now Count the Moon
After that, the clearest and most unmistakeable sign in the entire month is when what was a full moon the previous night is no longer full the next night. This brings us to the last full moon before Pesach and our experts. The same data we have been tracking now becomes critical, as the Talmud says:
Now Count the Moon
After this they introduced the younger (witness) and he was examined; if their testimony was found to agree, it was accepted as valid; the remaining pairs (of witnesses) were asked leading questions, not because their testimony was necessary, but only to prevent them departing, disappointed, and to induce them to come again often, the chief of
Now Count the Moon
the Beth Din then said: "It (the new moon) is consecrated," and all the people repeated after him: "It is consecrated; it is consecrated." Whether the new moon was seen at its proper time (after 29 days) or not, they used to consecrate it. R. Elazar b. Zadok said: If it had not been seen at its proper time it was not consecrated, because it
Now Count the Moon
had already been consecrated in heaven (i.e., of itself). -Rodkinson Mishnah, Rosh Hashanna, 2:3-4
Incidentally, notice the Rabbis didnt need the witnesses to prove what they already knew. Rather, they wanted people to feel encouraged to come and give testimony, because they needed constant data.
Conclusions
Calendar experts, detailed astronomically accurate drawings, precise observations recorded for centuries on end. All these things, and more, would give the Sanhedrin the ability, to completely comprehend any variation in the lunar cycle. They may not have understood everything we do now
Conclusions
Keplers laws of planetary motion, tracking elliptical orbits, precession of the moon, etcbut they would know what all that behavior was and could predict the next step even without todays precision theories. All told, this data could easily tell them if the New Moon was coming in an early, normal of late timing that year.
Conclusions
Once the Purim full moon then stops being fullagain this is the easiest sign the entire monththe early, normal or late moon data which is both predictable and cyclical will give them a final, certain answer. If its an early moon year, they will count 15 days from the end of the full moon to start of the next lunar year.
Conclusions
If its a normal moon year the hard count to the next New Moon is reduced to 14 days. And if its a late moon year its only 13 days from the end of the Purim full moon to the next New Moon of Abib, which kicks of the Hebrew lunar year. So in 30 CE, even if nothing could be seen, they knew what day to call.
Conclusions
The start of spring then trumped the New Moon simply because the EC count and the moon count told them both were coming at the same time. But with the moon invisible, the stars brought in the year, exactly as the Scripture demands in Genesis 1:1419, Job 38:31-33 and countless other places.
Conclusions
There were also calculated math back ups hidden in the Torah text that would enable the priests to accurately predict Abib NMs from both 1 and 5 years in advance, but thats a much longer story for later. While I know a lot of technical stuff and math has dominated this study of the Enoch Calendar
Conclusions
We can never lose sight of the beautiful truth that it is real, Scriptural and it works. But, as we have also seen, its use has been perverted by some to suggest that there was no role for the moon in pointing to the Great Feasts, and that is just as bad a heresy as the other extreme, like Lunar Sabbath.
Conclusions
Noahs situation, like 30 CE, represents a kind of worst case scenario. Noah could not see sunrise or sunset, and much of the moon and stars were obscured while shut in the Ark 40 days and nights of the flood. Such a precision count that he gives then proves the need for sighting and calculation to work together!
Conclusions
In the end though, what this does is tell us exactly how the earliest Biblical people used the sun and stars to seed and harvest. In some cases it may even help us figure out the exact day a given event with then happened, but I will leave that for another time. But I end with a caution: just because Enoch and his calendar are real
Conclusions
doesnt mean that we must accept a lot of the later un-Scriptural stories that are given in these extra-biblical books. They are like the Rabbis who have a kind of fragmentary memory of the real calendar, but its inter-cut with a lot of later and unreliable traditions, so we need to separate fact from myth.
Conclusions
At the end of the day, I think we should take Pauls great advice (AENT)
Explore everything and hold fast to the good, and fly from everything evil. And may the Elohim of peace sanctify you all, perfectly, and keep blameless your whole spirit and your soul and your body till the coming of our Master Y'shua the Mashiyach.
-1 Thessalonians 5:21-23

Enoch and His Calendar Secrets Complete

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Enoch and His Calendar Secrets Complete

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As it is Written

Episode 41: The Secrets of Enoch

The Biblical Record

The Biblical Record

The Biblical Record

The Biblical Record

The Biblical Record

The Biblical Record

The Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Dead Sea Scrolls

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

The Extra-Biblical Record

Episode 42: Did Enoch Have a Calendar? Part 1

Episode 42: Did Enoch Have a Calendar? Part 1

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

The New Calendar Emerges

Proving the Cycle