The New Moon
Have you ever noticed the “New Moon” in the Scriptures? And if so, have you glossed over it, thinking “this odd thing does not apply to me?” The New Moon is not only in the Scriptures, it occurs over 250 times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament.
What this article will explore and explain is as follows:
- Does Yahweh require believers to keep the New Moon?
- If so, how?
- And if the New Moon does apply to believers, how do we determine the time of New Moon? Is it based on the conjunction or the first visible crescent moon in Jerusalem?
But many will ask “Why would saints believe that Yahweh requires believers to observe the New Moon?” According to Paul’s letter to the Colossians, the New Testament assembly is being judged on how we keep Yahweh’s Food Laws (1), Sabbath Days (2), Holy Days (3), and New Moons.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon (#3561), or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (is) of Messiah.
3561 noumenia {noo-may-nee’-ah} or neomhni,a neomenia {ne-o-may-nee’-a} • from of a compound of 3501 and 3376 (as noun by implication of 2250); TDNT – 4:638,*; n f • AV – new moon 1; 1 • 1) new moon 1a) of the Jewish festival of the new moon
First, this verse in Colossians clearly indicates that Yahweh’s Food Laws, Sabbath Days, Holy Days, and New Moons are shadows of things to come, meaning that they have not been done away with. The Greek word translated shadow, #4639 “skia”, means “shadow” or “adumbration”. According to the Heritage Dictionary, “adumbration” is “something that foreshadows or partially or guardedly discloses something or gives a sketchy outline of something”. The definition of foreshadow is “to present an indication or suggestion of beforehand; presage”. And lastly the definition of “presage” is “(1) an indication or warning of a future occurrence; (2) prophetic significance or meaning”.
- For more information on Yahweh’s food laws, please read “What’s for Dinner”
- For more information on Yahweh’s Sabbath, please read “The Fourth Commandment”
- For more information on Yahweh’s feast days, please read “Passover and Easter”, “Chag Hamatzot” (including “Firstfruits” and “The Night to be Much Observed”), “Pentecost”, “Yom Teruah…Day of Shouting”, “Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement”, “Feast of Tabernacles”, and “The Last Great Day”
So, the Food Laws, Sabbath Days, Holy Days, and New Moons not only have not been done away with but are sneak previews of a greater reality to come. Therefore we keep these appointed times and teachings all the more.
And if you look closely at Colossians 2:17, you will notice at the end of this passage the word “is” is added by the translators. If this added word is removed, we get a clear understanding of this passage which should read; “Let no man (i.e. person) therefore judge you…….but the body of Messiah”. Therefore the judge should be the body or assembly of Messiah. The addition of the word “is” has really distorted this passage with many believing that this passage states Messiah’s sacrifice abolished Yahweh’s Food Laws, Sabbath Days, Holy Days, and New Moons.
Messiah makes it abundantly clear in Matthew 5 that he did not come to abolish the law. Messiah also states that nothing shall change in the law until all be fulfilled with the passing of the existing heavens and earth, which will happen with the New Heavens and Earth.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
In fact, not only have Yahweh’s laws not been abolished, they have been magnified. Messiah himself in Matthew 5 gives several examples of Old Testament laws that have been magnified for New Testament believers. Two of those examples are the Old Testament laws for murder and adultery.
Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
The Scriptures tell us that unless a saint’s righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees that he shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven. Selah (i.e. think about it). And we know that the scribes and Pharisees kept all of Yahweh’s laws. Where the scribes and Pharisees failed was their man-made addition to Yahweh’s laws turning the law into legalism, confusing the spirit of the law with the letter of the law.
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Far from being abolished or done away with, Yahweh’s Food Laws, Sabbaths, Holy Days, and New Moon are present symbols and indicators of future spiritual truths. They will, according to Colossians 2:16, be fully realized and fulfilled in the ages to come. Paul warns us here to not worry about non-believers judging us in these things but only to be concerned about the judgment of those in the assembly as to how well we keep these commandments of Yahweh.
So what was the New Testament assembly doing on the New Moon to be judged by other believers? Let us start with the Old Testament law to see how the New Moon was kept in the past. The very first mention of the New Moon is found in Numbers 10.
Numbers 10:10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days (#4150), and in the beginnings of your months (or new moon #2320), ye shall blow with the trumpets (#2689) over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your Elohim: I am Yahweh your Elohim.
There are several Hebrew words in this passage which bear a closer look. The first word is #4150 “moed” or “moedim”. This Hebrew word translated “solemn days” in Numbers 10 means “appointed times”, “meetings”, and “set feasts”. We will see that this Hebrew word “moed”/”moedim” is used over and over in the Scriptures to show Yahweh’s appointed times for believers.
4150 mow`ed {mo-ade’} or mo`ed {mo-ade’} or (fem.) mow`adah (2 Chr 8:13) {mo-aw-daw’} • from 03259; TWOT – 878b; n m • AV – congregation 150, feast 23, season 13, appointed 12, time 12, assembly 4, solemnity 4, solemn 2, days 1, sign 1, synagogues 1; 223 • 1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting 1a) appointed time 1a1) appointed time (general) 1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season 1b) appointed meeting 1c) appointed place 1d) appointed sign or signal 1e) tent of meeting
The second Hebrew word we will review is “chodesh”. As you can see below, the Hebrew word “chodesh” is mainly translated “month”, not “new moon”. The primary meaning of “chodesh” is actually “new moon” which starts the first day of the month. Only by extension did it come to mean “month”, that is, the period between one new moon and the next.
2320 chodesh {kho’-desh} • from 02318; TWOT – 613b; n m • AV – month 254, new moon 20, monthly 1, another 1; 276 • 1) the new moon, month, monthly 1a) the first day of the month 1b) the lunar month
2318 chadash {khaw-dash’} • a primitive root; TWOT – 613; v • AV – renew 7, repair 3; 10 • 1) to be new, renew, repair 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to renew, make anew 1a2) to repair 1b) (Hithpael) to renew oneself
The meaning of “chodesh” is also tied to the first day of the month as we see preserved in a number of passages such as 1 Samuel 20:5, in which Jonathan says to David “Tomorrow is the new moon (chodesh)”. Clearly, in this verse “chodesh” is used to refer to a specific day on which the month begins and not the entire month. Another passage which uses “chodesh” in its primary sense is in Ezekiel 46:1 which talks about “the day of the New Moon (chodesh)”.
The last Hebrew word we will review in Numbers 10:10 is translated in English as “trumpets”.
2689 chatsots@rah {khats-o-tser-aw’} • by reduplication from 02690; TWOT – 726a; n f • AV – trumpet 29; 29 • 1) trumpet, clarion
And we see that these trumpets (i.e. “chatsotsrah”) were not shofars (i.e. rams horns), but two silver trumpets.
Numbers 10:1 And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Make thee two trumpets (2689) of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days (#4150), and in the beginnings of your months (or new moon #2320), ye shall blow with the trumpets (#2689) over your burnt offerings
The blowing of the twin silver trumpets was meant to call the assembly to the tabernacle for a holy convocation, including on the New Moon. We also see the calling of the assembly during the New Moon for a sacred meeting or holy convocation in Isaiah.
Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies — I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. (NKJ)
Let us continue to read in the Law of Moses and throughout the Old Testament about the New Moon, which shows the need for a burnt offering. For believers today there is no need to do burnt offerings. We know that Messiah is our perfect sinless sacrifice and because Messiah is our perfect sacrifice, the law has been changed, doing away with the need to do burnt offerings (Hebrews 7 & 8). So there is no need for burnt offerings for saints today on the New Moon.
Numbers 28:11 And in the beginnings of your months (or new moons #2320) ye shall offer a burnt offering unto Yahweh; ………..this is the burnt offering of every month (i.e. new moon #2320) throughout the months (i.e. new moons #2320) of the year.
2 Chronicles 2:4 Behold, I build an house to the name of Yahweh my Elohim, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons (#2320), and on the solemn feasts (#4150) of Yahweh our Elohim. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
2 Chronicles 8:12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto Yahweh on the altar of Yahweh, which he had built before the porch, 13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons (#2320), and on the solemn feasts (#4150),
2 Chronicles 31:3 He appointed also the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons (#2320), and for the set feasts (#4150), as it is written in the law of Yahweh.
1 Chronicles 23:31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto Yahweh in the sabbaths, in the new moons (#2320), and on the set feasts (#4150), by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before Yahweh:
Ezra 3:5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons (#2320), and of all the set feasts (#4150) of Yahweh that were consecrated,
It is interesting to note that Leviticus 23, which lists all of Yahweh’s feasts or appointed times (#4150 – moedim), is silent about the New Moon. As well, the only reference to the New Moon found in Numbers 28 & 29 is tied to the Feast of Shouting, which is on the first day of the seventh month or New Moon. The reference in Numbers 29 about the New Moon is tied to a burnt offering.
Numbers 29:1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets (#8643-teruah) unto you.
6 Beside the burnt offering of the month (i.e. new moon #2320).
There is certainly not much said about the New Moon Day in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28 & 29, but that does not mean this is not an appointed time of Yahweh’s. As you have read and will continue to read, Yahweh’s New Moons, Sabbaths, and Feasts are linked over and over in the Scriptures (1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Isaiah, and Colossians). Yahweh’s law concerning the New Moon may be an even more profound revelation than the Leviticus 23 appointed times. Remember, Yahweh tells us “here a little, there a little”.
Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
David also kept Yahweh’s ordinances of the New Moon with burnt offerings. But what is different about this passage is there was a custom to have a special meal on the New Moon day.
1 Samuel 20:1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon (#2320), and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. 6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon (#2320): and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon (#2320) was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
The Law of Moses and the New Testament do not command a special meal or having a meal with the King. Although David had a special meal on the New Moon, this does not prove that it is a requirement of Yahweh. In His Word there are no commandments that we have a special meal on the New Moon. It is more then likely that David simply had a tradition of having a good meal on the New Moon.
If saints would like to have a special meal with the gathering of the assembly on the New Moon there is nothing Scripturally that would prohibit this and may be another way to have gladness on the New Moon gathering. And we know that on six of the seven High Days found in Scriptures Yahweh does not command special meals, but many believers have special meals on those days. Yahweh created us with the need to eat on a daily basis. So it makes sense that when Yahweh asks us to rejoice or celebrate that a nice meal would be involved.
We have covered a lot of Scriptures on the New Moon. It is interesting to note that the Law of Moses commands two activities on the New Moon. The first is a burnt offering, which is no longer necessary for believers today. The second is the blowing of twin silver trumpets (Numbers 10:10) to gather the assembly to the tabernacle. We also read in the Scriptures that David and King Saul traditionally enjoyed a special meal on the New Moon day.
But we have an interesting passage from the prophet Amos that appears to prohibit saints from buying or selling or maybe in a broader sense working on the New Moon Day.
Amos 8:4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon (#2320) be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
This is confusing as the Law of Moses has very clear instructions not to do “any work” or “any customary work” for Yahweh’s Sabbaths and Feast Days. But no prohibition of working is mentioned for Yahweh’s New Moon in the Law of Moses. How could this be? What should a believer do?
Not doing any work on the New Moon Day presents a problem because there are Scriptures which show men building and traveling on the New Moon day. Exodus 40 shows the Israelites working on the first day of the month. This work of the Israelites was a direct commandment from Yahweh. The second Scripture, Ezra 7, shows the Israelites traveling on the first day of the month. This Scripture clearly points out that “Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it”. Therefore Ezra was obeying Yahweh’s word.
Exodus 40:1 And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first month (#2320) shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. 6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. 8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. 9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. 10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. 13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. 16 Thus did Moses: according to all that Yahweh commanded him, so did he. 17 And it came to pass in the first month (#2320) in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
Ezra 7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month (#2320), which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For upon the first day of the first month (#2320) began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month (#2320) came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his Elohim upon him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
There are several plausible explanations for Amos 8:5. We know that there is a feast on the first day of the seventh month. This passage in Amos may be referring to the Feast of Shouting, “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath rest, a memorial of blowing of the trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it” (Leviticus 23:24-25).
It is interesting to note that this New Moon day was a Sabbath day. This New Moon day in Amos five could have been the High Sabbath day of the Feast of Shouting. Also, we know that the New Moon day can occasionally fall on Yahweh’s weekly Sabbath. This New Moon day in Amos could have fallen on Yahweh’s weekly Sabbath.
We also know that the Israelites at times ignored Yahweh’s teachings and at other times got overzealous by adding to Yahweh’s teachings. The Israelites have added appointed times not found in the Law of Moses. These appointed times include Purim (Ester 9) and the Feast of Dedication or Lights (John 10:22). Both of these appointed times were not commanded by Yahweh in His Word. The adding of not buying or selling by the Israelites to Yahweh’s teaching may explain this passage in Amos.
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to Elohim for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of Yahweh, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of Yahweh’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of Yahweh.
Trying to make the New Moon day into a Sabbath day of rest is not Scriptural. Yahweh is very clear about His Sabbath days of rest found in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28 & 29 where no “work” or “customary work” shall be done. The fact that the New Moon is not mentioned as a Sabbath rest in the Law of Moses speaks volumes about some trying to make this day a Sabbath day of rest.
Lastly, it is not a good idea to make doctrine unless we have two or three witnesses in Scriptures (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, and Matthew 18:16). Therefore it appears the New Moon Day is not a Sabbath day of rest, but an appointed time with the gathering of the saints.
Although it is not a Sabbath day of rest, there are spiritual requirements on this day like Passover and the non High Days of Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of Tabernacles. It would be wise to minimize work and outside activities on the New Moon Day and focus on the spiritual significance of this day.
There are several prophetic passages about the New Moon. The events depicted in these prophetic passages about the New Moon occur during Messiah’s 1,000 year reign on earth and clearly shows that Yahweh commands all flesh to worship Him on the New Moon Day. So if the Israelites gathered at the temple for a holy convocation on the New Moon day and we see that all flesh will worship Messiah during His 1,000 year reign on the New Moon day, why would believers not worship Yahweh today on the New Moon day?
Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon (#2320) to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh.
Ezekiel 46:1 Thus saith the Sovereign Yahweh; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon (#2320) it shall be opened. 2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before Yahweh in the sabbaths and in the new moons (#2320).
After reviewing many Scriptures on the New Moon, it is clear that Yahweh commands believers today to keep the New Moon. The commandments tie into Colossians 2:16, which shows New Testament believers being judged by their brethren for activities on the New Moon and other Holy Days. And although Scriptures are silent about the New Moon day in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28 & 29, we see over and over in the Scriptures the New Moon linked with Yahweh’s Sabbaths and annual feasts. Why would Yahweh link the New Moon with His Sabbaths and annual feasts if they were not important and not one of His appointed times?
Lastly, we see in the Book of Isaiah Yahweh lamenting the mixture of idolatry with His appointed times, including the New Moon.
Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
So how should saints keep the New Moon Day? We know that the Law of Moses required burnt offerings on the New Moon day. Messiah is our perfect sinless sacrifice and because Messiah was our perfect sacrifice, the law has been changed, doing away with the need to do burnt offerings (Hebrews 7 & 8). So there is no need for burnt offerings for saints today on the New Moon day.
The Law of Moses is clear that on the New Moon the blowing of twin silver trumpets to gather the assembly is required. And if you are going to gather the assembly at the tabernacle, then you are gathering for a Holy Convocation. We see the gathering of saints and worshiping of Yahweh on the New Moon day continuing during Messiah’s 1,000 year reign (Ezekiel 46 and Isaiah 66:23). So for believers today, the gathering of the saints for a Holy Convocation and possibly physically observing the New Moon are important commandments on the New Moon day.
The New Moon is a day of gladness (Numbers 10:10) and a day mirth. The definition of mirth is gladness or gaiety. The New Moon day is a day of joy and celebration!
Hosea 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
And it appears that the New Moon was a spiritual day for the Israelites as some looked for prophets. Therefore reading of prophetic passages from the Scriptures or visiting prophets may be in order during the New Moon day. Prophetic passages not only include foretelling future events, it also includes speech about spiritual matters regarding Yahweh, His Word, and His Kingdom.
2 Kings 4:22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of Elohim (Elisha), and come again. 23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. 24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. 25 So she went and came unto the man of Elohim to mount Carmel.
When should we keep the New Moon? Before we answer this question, we must first understand Yahweh’s calendar. Many people mistakenly look to the Jews for the answer. Just like traditions of men found in different Christian denominations, the same can be found in Judaism. Parts of the current Jewish calendar are incorrect and do not line-up with Yahweh’s calendar. We will review each aspect of Yahweh’s calendar starting with (1) the day, (2) the year, and lastly (3) the month.
Yahweh in His wisdom has given us a calendar in the sky for all to see. He uses the sun and the moon to establish days, months, years, and His appointed times.
Yahweh uses both the sun and the moon to establish His calendar.
Genesis 1:14 And Elohim said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs (#226), and for seasons (better translated appointed times-#4150), and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And Elohim made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
0226 owth {oth} • probably from 0225 (in the sense of appearing); TWOT – 41a; n f • AV – sign(s) 60, token(s) 14, ensign(s) 2, miracles 2, mark 1; 79 • 1) sign, signal 1a) a distinguishing mark 1b) banner 1c) remembrance 1d) miraculous sign 1e) omen 1f) warning 2) token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof
Psalm 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons (better translated appointed times – #4150): the sun knoweth his going down.
Leviticus 23:1 And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts (better translated appointed times – #4150) of Yahweh, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
4 These are the feasts (better translated appointed times – #4150) of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
(1) Yahweh’s Day
First of all, days are determined by the sun. This is one aspect of the calendar the Jews understand. Days begin and end at evening. Most believers use sunset to start the day, but the Scriptures are clear that the day starts at evening. The English word “evening” comes from the Hebrew word “ereb”. “Ereb” can encompass the time just before and after sunset.
It is clear that the sun determines a day and that the beginning of the day starts at evening when the sun sets. We find the day starting at evening in Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, and 31, where the Scriptures read, “the evening and the morning were the first day”, the second day, etc. And as we see in Daniel, the term morning can mean the entire daylight.
Daniel 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
And we know that we are supposed to give thanks to Yahweh throughout the whole day and we see in the following Psalm morning is meant to mean the whole daylight time.
Psalm 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto Yahweh, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
Let us continue to review the definition of a “day”. What is mentioned first in the Genesis creation record—darkness or light?
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
Darkness was there even before the light was introduced. Logically speaking, the light that came later cannot be placed ahead of darkness in regard to time. That is exactly what the word of Yahweh says about each creation day—darkness first, light next.
We also see clearly in Nehemiah the Sabbath beginning at sunset.
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 shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
“Began to be dark” is the time when the sun is beginning to set. Therefore the gates were closed at evening just before the Sabbath commenced.
We also see the day ending at sunset based on the law of paying laborers.
Deuteronomy 24:14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto Yahweh, and it be sin unto thee.
Lastly, we see in Leviticus 23:32 and Exodus 12:18 Yahweh’s feast days going from evening to evening.
Leviticus 23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Exodus 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Before we move on to Yahweh’s year, there is much confusion with the Hebrew word “yowm”, which is translated “day”. As we can see in the attached addendum one, this Hebrew word “yowm” can have other meanings other than the 24-hour day.
(2) Yahweh’s Year
The year is an astronomical event also determined by the sun. It is the point at which the revolution of the earth around the sun comes to its complete cycle. And that cycle begins and ends at the Vernal Equinox, which ends Winter and begins Spring. Yahweh’s calendar is also based on the agricultural cycle. Yahweh called the first month of the year Abib (Exodus 12:2). The Hebrew word “Abib” refers to a developed grain. This can only happen in the Spring in Jerusalem. The Jews wrongly celebrate the New Year at the Feast of Shouting, which is in the fall.
(3) Yahweh’s Month
As we carefully study the moon (1) in the Scriptures, we discover that this heavenly body serves a vital function as a time-keeper for Yahweh’s people so that they can keep His “moedim” or “appointed times”, including Rosh Chodesh and the Seven Annual Feasts. Since these appointments with Yahweh are very, very important for faithful commandment-keeping believers, it follows that we need to ensure that we meet Him on the right days!
(1) For more information on moon facts, please see addendum three and four.
For an example of Yahweh’s judgment on a King who devised a meeting time out of his own imagination (and to top it off, used graven images to worship Yahweh), please see the story of King Jeroboam in 1 Kings 12:20-33 and 14:1-15.
1 Kings 12:32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
1 Kings 14:7 Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith Yahweh Elohim of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, 8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; 9 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: 10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. 11 Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for Yahweh hath spoken it.
Months are determined by the first visible crescent moon in Jerusalem. Why the first visible crescent moon in Jerusalem and not the conjunction as many use?
After much prayer and guidance by the Holy Spirit, we rejected the conjunction method of calculating the New Moon. One of the biggest reasons was that we could not get around the fact that Messiah kept the Feast Days of His time and did not once mention that they were on the wrong days. There is absolutely no doubt that the Jews of the time marked the New Moon by the first visible crescent moon in Jerusalem. The leading historical records and expert scholars are dogmatic and unanimous on this subject. Without this information, it would be easy to buy into the idea that the conjunction sets the New Moon day (see addendum two).
The following Scriptures show Messiah keeping the Feast Days. First we see Yah’shua keeping Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Matthew 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Yah’shua, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? 18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
And not only did Yah’shua keep Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, He kept the Feast of Tabernacles:
John 7:1 After these things Yah’shua walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
14 Now about the midst of the feast Yah’shua went up into the temple, and taught.
And lastly, Yah’shua kept the Last Great Day of the Feast!
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Yah’shua stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
The sighting of the first sliver or crescent of the New Moon marks the beginning of the months. And this first visible crescent is seen in Jerusalem, out of which goes Yahweh’s law.
Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the El of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. (also see Micah 4:2).
Although the sighting of the first visible crescent happens in Jerusalem, there is up to a 24-hour delay before believers should begin the New Moon Day at their locale. What believers must do is simply wait until sunset in their area to start the New Moon day, just like the weekly Sabbath. We would not start the New Moon day at 10:00 am in St. Louis just because the first visible crescent has been sighted at that moment in Jerusalem.
Another reason for making the New Moon day at sunset in our area after the first visible crescent in Jerusalem is that a day cannot simultaneously be part of the old month and part of the new month.
Many people have been led astray by the inaccurate use in modern languages of the term “New Moon”. Modern astronomers adopted this otherwise unused term, which had always referred to the first visible crescent, and used it to refer to the conjunction (when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, at which time it is not visible). The astronomers soon realized that the inaccurate use of the “New Moon” to refer to conjunction would lead to confusion so to be more accurate scientists now distinguish between the “Astronomical New Moon” and “Crescent New Moon”.
To conclude, the New Moon day is an appointed time of Yahweh. It is a time to blow the twin silver trumpets to gather the assembly for a Holy Convocation. It is a day to worship Yahweh and a day of mirth and gladness. And if you are gathering the saints you may want to consider having a special meal. Lastly, it may be a day to seek prophecy.
The New Moon is calculated by the first visible crescent moon in Jerusalem and the New Moon day does not start until sunset in your area. Calculating the New Moon correctly allows believers to meet with Yahweh at His appointed times.
HalleluYah
(3/15a)
Addendum One
The Multiple meanings of the Hebrew word “yowm” that is translated day.
We must understand that sometimes Hebrew and Greek words can have many meanings although they are translated into one English word. At other times the Hebrew or Greek words have a more precise meaning compared to the translated English word. In other words (no pun intended), we should not assume the translation to English is correct. That is why we must go back to the original language.
A case in point is the English word “day” translated from the Hebrew word “yowm”. We have already read in Genesis that “Elohim said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night;” But then we read a few lines later “And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.” How can this be? Well it is a case of this Hebrew word “yowm” having multiple meanings.
3117 yowm {yome} • from an unused root meaning to be hot; TWOT – 852; n m • AV – day 2008, time 64, chronicles + 01697 37, daily 32, ever 17, year 14, continually 10, when 10, as 10, while 8, full 8 always 4, whole 4, alway 4, misc 44; 2274 • 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day’s journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Based on the above definition, the Hebrew word for “day” has multiple meanings. It can be translated for the daylight part of the day. It can be translated as the 24-hour day. Lastly, it can be translated as a period of time. We have already read in Genesis where the Hebrew word “yowm” is both translated as daylight and as the 24-hour day.
But we also have many Scriptures that use the word day to mean a period of time. This period of time could be a year or 1,000 years.
Isaiah 34:8 For it is the day of Yahweh’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
Numbers 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Ezekiel 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with Yahweh as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Psalm 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
We also have in Scriptures the phrase “the day of Yahweh”. When you read the books of Peter, the book of Revelation, and the books of the prophets, do you really thing all those things mentioned in the Scriptures will happen in one literal day when referring to the great and dreadful day of Yahweh? Based on Scriptures, this is impossible.
Addendum Two
Using the Conjunction to set the New Moon Day
After much prayer and guidance by the Holy Spirit, we rejected the conjunction method of calculating the New Moon. As mentioned earlier, we could not get around the fact that Messiah kept the Feast Days of His time and did not once mention that they were on the wrong day. There is absolutely no doubt that the Jews of the time marked the New Moon by the first visible crescent moon. The leading historical records and expert scholars are dogmatic and unanimous on this subject. Without this information, it would be easy to buy into the idea that the conjunction sets the New Moon day.
A lunar conjunction is the event when the earth, moon, and sun in that order are at the same celestial longitude. There are several fallacies connected with the conjunction. One fallacy is that is happens at every place on earth at the same time. The conjunction happens at one spot on earth where that spot is the exact celestial longitude with the sun and the moon. By the very definition of a conjunction the celestial bodies must be in the same longitude. When the moon is conjunct, the whole Earth is not in the same longitude, only the area where the conjunction occurs.
So why would a believer consider using the modern astronomical conjunction of the moon rather than the first visible crescent used in Messiah’s time? As we have learned, the Hebrew word for “New Moon” is “chodesh”. “Chodesh” appears in the Scriptures more than 270 times, yet it is not used even once to denote seeing something (i.e. the visible moon, the crescent, etc.). Rather, the Hebrew word signifying the physical, observable moon is #3391 “yerach”.
Did you know that there is a Hebrew word for “crescent”? That Hebrew word is #7720 “saharonim”. However, it is used exclusively in connection to heathen idolatry (Judges 8:21 & 26 and Isaiah 3:18), and is never associated with the “New Moon” or “month”. Another interesting note is the prominent use of the crescent moon in Islam.
Another argument for using the conjunction rather the first visible crescent is found in Psalm 81. The Hebrew word “keceh” in this Psalm verse 3 may be incorrectly translated and could be translated “concealment”. Therefore the trumpets should be sounded when the moon is concealed or dark (i.e. conjunction) to signal New Moon Day.
Psalm 81:1 Sing aloud to Elohim our strength; Make a joyful shout to the Elohim of Jacob. 2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute. 3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon (#3677-keceh) on our solemn feast day. (NKJ)
3677 kece’ {keh’-seh} or keceh {keh’-seh} • apparently from 03680; TWOT – 1006; n m • AV – appointed 2; 2 • 1) full moon
3680 kacah {kaw-saw’} • a primitive root; TWOT – 1008; v • AV – cover 135, hide 6, conceal 4, covering 2, overwhelmed 2, clad 1, closed 1, clothed 1; 152 • 1) to cover, conceal, hide 1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be covered 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cover, clothe 1c2) to cover, conceal 1c3) to cover (for protection) 1c4) to cover over, spread over 1c5) to cover, overwhelm 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be covered 1d2) to be clothed 1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself
Also, it is easy to make an argument for the New Moon starting at concealment (i.e. conjunction) since the same way that the earth started in darkness (Genesis 1:2) and the same way that a day starts in darkness (evening), that the New Moon would also start in darkness, which would be the conjunction.
Yahweh is perfect and symmetrical. When you see a quarter moon, the month is ¼ over. When you see a full moon the month is half over. When you see a waning ¼ of a moon, the month is ¾ over. And when the moon is dark again at the conjunction, it is resetting the new month. If someone was marking the new month by visually sighting a crescent moon, then when you see a quarter moon it would not be ¼ of the month over. When you see a full moon it would not be ½ of the month over. Plus what is the opposite of a full moon? While of course that would be no moon, which is the moon’s conjunction. Those that use the conjunction will argue that using the first visible crescent sighting would throw off the symmetrical sighting of the whole moon cycle and Yahweh’s appointed times.
Another argument for the New Moon starting at conjunction is that predicting the first visibility of the young lunar crescent is a problem which has challenged astronomers and mathematicians for more than four millennia. It is the opposite, or very easy, to calculate the moon’s conjunction.
Lastly, if you are spending a lot of time looking at the sky to calculate the first visible crescent, it has the appearance of someone worshipping celestial bodies. Yahweh prohibits worshiping any celestial body.
Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which Yahweh thy Elohim hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
Addendum Three
Moon Facts
The moon moves through one complete cycle (new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter, new moon) in approximately 29.5 days. The exact average is 29 days, 12 hours and 43 minutes. Since we cannot split a day in half, this means that some lunar months will last 29 days, but other lunar months will last 30 days.
The 29.5 days is an average, since the moon’s orbit around the Earth is an ellipse (i.e. slightly squashed circle) and the moon speeds up as it gets closer to Earth and slows down as it moves away from the Earth during its orbit. For the calendar year 2015-2016, the moon’s astronomical conjunction varies from 29 days, 9 hours, and 16 minutes (March-April) to 29 days, 17 hours and 41 minutes (September- October).
Some interesting facts about the moon are as follows:
- As the moon orbits the Earth, we see the sunlit part of the moon. The moon is not a light source because it reflects light from the sun.
- The moon appears to change shape but what we are actually seeing is the moon lit up by the light from the Sun from different angels on different days.
- The moon orbits near the equator of the Earth.
- People in different hemispheres see the moon in a slightly different ways. In the Southern Hemisphere, people see the moon “upside down” so the side which is shining (sunlit) seems the opposite from the Northern Hemisphere.
- Looking down from the North Pole we would see the Moon orbiting counterclockwise from west to east.
- The moon causes many of the tides in the Earth’s oceans. This is because of the gravity force between the Earth and the Moon.
- The full moon is a lunar phase occurring when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun and three bodies are aligned in a straight line. It appears as an entire circle in the sky.
- The moon is about 250,000 miles from the Earth.
- The moon orbits Earth at an average speed of 2,288 miles per hour.
- The moon travels a distance of 1,423,000 miles around the Earth.
- The moon has a diameter of 2,000 miles.
- The surface of the moon has about the same area as the continent of Africa.
An interesting side note is the prophetic passage found in Isaiah 30:26, which points to the time of Messiah’s kingdom on earth when “the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun”.
Addendum Four
30-day months
It is interesting to note in the book of Genesis that in times past months were 30-days long. Let us review. If you read Genesis 7, you will find that Noah entered the ark on the 17th day of the second month.
Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
As we continue to read in Genesis, Noah came out of the ark on the 17th day of the 7th month, 150 days later. So it appears that there were 30-day months back in the time of Noah.
Genesis 8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
We also see in Revelation that during the tribulation, months will again be 30 days in length.
Revelation 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.