© Copyright Double Portion Inheritance, March 2024
Every year leading up to the season of Passover, many people write to me asking me when the date of Passover will be. It’s easy to just look it up on the internet and find the traditional dates that Judaism goes by. However, the Jewish calendar that is used today is missing the years before the flood, and it is also based on a mathematical calculation, rather than observation of the celestial bodies in the heavens.
What Constitutes a New Moon?
In ancient Yisra’el before the Roman Siege in 70 A.D., the new month was determined by “new moon watchers” who stood on the walls of Jerusalem and they waited for the first crescent moon to appear in the sky. When they spotted the new moon, every 29-30 days, they would report their findings to the Jewish Sanhedrin and then the Sanhedrin would send out couriers to notify the surrounding tribes of Yisra’el that the new month had arrived called “Rosh Chodesh” or “The head of the month.”
In the Fourth Century however, under the Jewish Council called “Hillel II” the Sanhedrin determined that it was too difficult to keep the times and the seasons according to the “sighted moon” in Yisra’el (because they were in diaspora). Therefore, they began using an alternate method of determining a new month based on a Greek Mathematician’s calculations.
Because, they were in exile in the nations, they could not site the moon from Jerusalem. Hence, today the calendar used in Judaism is based on the “conjunction moon” (the dark moon) rather than the “sighted moon” which our Creator commands us to keep.
In Deuteronomy 16:1, the command he gave is to “Observe the month Abib.” The Hebrew word for observe is shamar, which means “To watch narrowly for, to be a watchman.” The Hebrew word for month is chodesh which literally means a renewed lunar cycle, or new moon. In other words, we are commanded to watch for the new moon.
Since 1948, (when Yisra’el was officially reborn as a nation), there has been no excuse to continue using a pre-fixed calendar, but the Jewish Sanhedrin has not made a ruling on this matter yet, as they are still waiting for the Temple to be built first. Therefore, the rest of the Jewish world goes along with the Hillel II Calendar. See the link below for a more detailed explanation of what constitutes a new moon according to Scripture:
Because, they were in exile in the nations, they could not site the moon from Jerusalem. Hence, today the calendar used in Judaism is based on the “conjunction moon” (the dark moon) rather than the “sighted moon” which our Creator commands us to keep.
In Deuteronomy 16:1, the command he gave is to “Observe the month Abib.” The Hebrew word for observe is shamar, which means “To watch narrowly for, to be a watchman.” The Hebrew word for month is chodesh which literally means a renewed lunar cycle, or new moon. In other words, we are commanded to watch for the new moon.
Since 1948, (when Yisra’el was officially reborn as a nation), there has been no excuse to continue using a pre-fixed calendar, but the Jewish Sanhedrin has not made a ruling on this matter yet, as they are still waiting for the Temple to be built first. Therefore, the rest of the Jewish world goes along with the Hillel II Calendar. See the link below for a more detailed explanation of what constitutes a new moon according to Scripture:
There are those within the Hebraic Community who have now eliminated the sighting of the moon from the time-keeping mechanism that YaHuWaH has established. Those who are following the non-canonical Book of Jubilees, have gone with the same Solar Calendar that the Roman Catholic Church uses.
But what does our Creator say? How does he want us to measure TIMES & SEASONS?
Genesis 1:14 And Elohiym said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be FOR SIGNS AND FOR SEASONS [festivals, feasts], and for days, and years:
*Explanation: The sun, moon & stars are given to us as a time-clock to measure the SEASONS, which in Hebrew is the word “mowediym,” which means the festivals or feast days!
Genesis 1:16 And Elohiym made TWO GREAT LIGHTS; THE GREATER LIGHT TO RULE THE DAY, and THE LESSER LIGHT TO RULE THE NIGHT: HE MADE THE STARS ALSO.
Those who have abandoned the Torah for time-keeping, are now consulting the Book of Jubilees, which eliminates the commandment to sight the new moon. See my other blogs for more information:
I have encountered at least ten different followers of Messiah, over the past two years (who were at one time, keeping the sighting of the new moon). These same people have now abandoned biblical time-keeping, in exchange for the Book of Jubilees which is a Pseudepigraphal work.
This means that the writings in this book pretend to have been written by the Zadok Priesthood, but they were not. It is more likely that the book was written by the Essenes in the Qumran Community in the 2nd Century B.C. There is a growing trend in these last days among professing believers, to embrace extra-biblical writings and Gnosticism, in exchange for the 66 inspired books that were canonized by the Kingdom of Judah & the Protestant Churches of England.
They say that the word “chodesh” (new moon) simply means “month,” but they claim it has nothing to do with the object of the moon itself. They will argue that Genesis 1:16 is not describing the the moon, when it says that Yah made the lesser light to rule the night.
But let’s test that theory, shall we? King David repeated Genesis 1:14-16 in Psalms 136, and he identifies the LESSER LIGHT AS THE MOON!
Psalms 136:
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures forever.
7 To him that MADE GREAT LIGHTS: for his mercy endures forever:
8 THE SUN TO RULE BY DAY: for his mercy endures forever:
9 THE MOON AND STARS TO RULE BY NIGHT: for his mercy endures forever.
After YaHuWaH delivered the children of Yisra’el out of Mitzrayim (Egypt), he wanted us to commemorate the time when he delivered us out of the bondage of sin and death. From that point moving forward, YaHuWaH commanded Mosheh (Moses) and Aharown (Aaron) to begin the year in the 1st month called “Abib” or in Modern Hebrew “Aviv” or Nisan.
Shemoth (Exodus) 12:
1 And YHWH spoke unto Mosheh and Aharown in the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt) saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
This was to fall every year 14 days before YaHuWaH’s Passover (Pesach) in the month of the Abib (Aviv). In Nehemiah 2:1 & Esther 3:7, this first month on the Hebrew calendar began to be called “Nisan” while the House of Judah were in Babylonian exile. Today, the rabbinic calendar still uses the Babylonian name of “Nisan” for the month of “Abib.”
The word “Abib” in the Strong’s Hebrew Concordance has the following definition:
The word “Abib” in the Strong’s Hebrew Concordance has the following definition:
# 24 ‘abiyb aw-beeb’ from an unused root (meaning to be tender); green, i.e. a young ear of grain; hence, the name of the month Abib or Nisan:--Abib, ear, green ears of corn (not maize).
Every year in Yisra’el, we determine a New Year by three things according to Genesis 1:14-18: the sun, the moon & the stars. We first determine a New Year by the full rotation of the earth around the sun (365 days) which is called a circuit. The Hebrew word for “circuit” in scripture is seen in the Strong’s Concordance as follows:
#8622 tquwphah tek-oo-faw’ or tquphah {tek-oo-faw’}; from 5362; a revolution of the sun, course, (of time) lapse:--circuit, come about, end.
Here, King Dawiyd (David) speaks of the revolution of the earth around the sun each year which is the same Hebrew word “tquwphah:”
Tehilliym (Psalm) 19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
Secondly, we look for the new moon following the Vernal Equinox (around March 21st - 25th) when the earth has made a full rotation (revolution) around the Sun. Thirdly, we look for the constellation of the Ram over Yisra’el (Aries) because the Ram is symbolic of the first-born son. The Ram was first seen caught in the thickets (Genesis 22:13) when Abraham offered up his first-born son Yitzchaq (Isaac).
Our Messiah also became the first-born of every creature (Colossians 1:15) when he resurrected from the dead, and he has given us the right to become first-born sons when we are born-again of incorruptible seed (1st Peter 1:23).
When the Ram is seen over Yisra’el, and the first crescent moon appears, then we know that it is the month of Abib (when the barley is green). You can download the Stellarium software below to look for the constellations over Yisra’el which prophetically point to YaHuWaH’s Feasts.
*Disclaimer: We are warned in Deuteronomy 18:10-11 not to use the constellations for fortune-telling and divination purposes. Genesis 1:14-16 tells us that YaHuWaH gave us the sun, the moon and the stars for time-keeping.
Finally, when the first ripening of the barley harvest is seen, we can know for sure that the New Year has arrived. We are not supposed to determine our own times and seasons by a pre-determined date. We are meant to be totally dependant upon YaHuWaH to establish the times and the seasons.
As soon as the barley is “Abib” and the new moon appears following the Vernal Equinox, we can accurately say it is “Rosh ha’Shanah” or the “Head of the Year” according to Yah’s rendering of time:
Shemoth (Exodus) 13:
3 And Mosheh said unto the people, Remember this day, in which you came out from Mitzrayim (Egypt), out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand YHWH brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
4 This day came you out in the month Abib (Aviv).
Some people have written to me questioning my use of the term Vernal Equinox, because the pagans also refer to this time of year as an important time for their sun-god worship rituals. But the dictionary also defines this term for us: Vernal Equinox:
Some people have written to me questioning my use of the term Vernal Equinox, because the pagans also refer to this time of year as an important time for their sun-god worship rituals. But the dictionary also defines this term for us: Vernal Equinox:
“Either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic; either of the two times each year (as about March 21 and September 23) when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are everywhere on earth of approximately equal length. ”
As you can see, this term Equinox is simply a marking point for spring & autumn wherein both times of the year, the day-time and the night-time are of equal length, indicating that the earth has made a full revolution around the sun. This is how we know that it is a new solar year. Our Creator’s calendar is based off of these three heavenly luminaries created in Genesis 1:14: The sun, the moon and the stars. Therefore, all three witnesses must testify that it is a new year.
Our Heavenly Father is the one who has the authority to “know” the times and the seasons:
Ma’aseh Shlichiym (Acts) 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power.
Therefore, we cannot presumptuously predict when the New Year begins. It is not determined by the Pope, nor by the Rabbi’s within Judaism, nor by any scientist or astronomer. The times and the seasons are determined by our Heavenly Father, who has put these things into his own power, and it is he who has given us the method by which he wants us to measure them.
Understanding the Two Calendars in Scripture
On the first day of the seventh month of Ethaniym (Tishri), the Yahuwdiym (Jewish) people refer to “Yom Teruah” as their New Year, aka “Rosh Ha’Shanah.” This is reckoned as the Civil New Year, which measures linear time. However, in scripture this day is called “A memorial of blowing trumpets” or “The day of blowing.”
To clear up some confusion, it is important to understand that there are two calendars in Scripture. The calendar that was being used since the beginning (at the creation), is a “Civil Calendar,” which cycles around in the seventh Hebrew month of Ethaniym (Tishri). This calendar measures linear time each year from Yom Kippur to Yom Kippur. It is in this seventh month that we measure Sabbatical Years, aka Shemitta. It is also when we measure fifty-year Jubilee cycles.
The seventh month in the year, is literally called “The birthday of the world,” and it is when Adam was first formed, and the breath of YaHuWaH was breathed into him. To learn more, see this website:
At the time of the Exodus, (Exodus 12:2 & 13:4), YaHuWaH introduced a second calendar, which is a “Sacred Calendar.” This calendar cycles around in the spring, on the first day of the first Hebrew month called Abib (Nisan). This calendar measures the seven annual festivals outlined in Leviticus 23, as well as the three harvest seasons of the year, which are as follows:
1.) The Barley Harvest - The 17th day of Abib in the Spring on the Feast of First-Fruits.
2.) The First Wheat Harvest - The 50th day from First-Fruits in the Summer, which is called Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).
3.) The Second Wheat Harvest - begins in the Fall in the seventh month, and ends with the closing of the Feast of Tabernacles.
From Genesis 1 until Exodus 12:2, scripture uses the Civil Calendar when referring to dates. However, in Exodus 12:2, Elohiym introduced a second calendar. Moving forward, all dates mentioned in scripture, (from Exodus 12:2-Revelation 22:21) are referring to the ones on this Sacred Calendar.
The Sacred Calendar is Seven Months Long
The Sacred Calendar marks the beginning of the Spiritual New Year and it governs the timing of YaHuWaH’s Feasts outlined in Leviticus 23.
YaHuWaH’s Feasts set the appointed times (days) for the manifestation of Elohiym’s redemption in Messiah Yahuwshuwa, which has to do with our spiritual position in him. Passover celebrates the beginning of our salvation through the blood of Yahuwshuwa, (our Passover Lamb), and takes place in the first month on the Sacred Calendar. Consequently, the 1st of Abib (Aviv/Nisan) marks the beginning of Elohiym’s Spiritual New Year in Messiah, that he established at the Exodus:
Shemoth (Exodus)12:1-2 And YHWH spoke unto Mosheh (Moses) and Aharown (Aaron) in the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt) saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
Shemoth (Exodus) 13:
3 And Mosheh (Moses) said unto the people, Remember this day, in which you came out from Mitzrayim (Egypt), out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand YHWH brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
4 This day came you out in the month Abib.
The word “Abib” is #24 in the Strong’s Hebrew Concordance: to be tender; green; young ear of grain; hence the name of the month Abib; green ears of corn (not maize).
Consequently, the Jewish people have a “fiscal” year where they “account” for their harvest. In many businesses today, they have what is called “a fiscal year” where the company does their annual inventory and they report their income to the government. This is the same thing that the Jews mean when they refer to this time of year as a “Civil New Year” called “Rosh Ha’Shanah.” In the 1st month of the year called Abib (Aviv or Nisan), this commemorates the time when YaHuWaH brought Yisra’el out of Egypt. This is to be celebrated 14 days before Passover.
The idea of calling the 1st day of the 7th month of Tishri “Rosh Ha’Shanah” comes from the fact that on the “Rabbinic Calendar” reckoning, they are using the calendar that was instituted before YaHuWaH brought Yisra’el out of Egypt.
However, we cannot justify referring to the Feast of Trumpets as “Rosh Ha’Shanah,” because scripture never calls it that. Scripture calls it “Yom Teruah,” which means “The Day of Blowing.”
Two scriptures are primarily used to defend the Jewish New Year as Rosh Ha’Shanah:
Shemoth (Exodus) 23:16 “The feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labours out of the field.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 23:16 “The feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labours out of the field.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 34:22 “You shall celebrate... the Feast of Ingathering at the turn (revolution) of the year.”
The End of a Seven-Month-Long Sacred Year
The end of the year mentioned in the above scriptures refers to Yisra’el’s Sacred Calendar whereby the feasts are measured on a seven-month-long cycle. These feasts begin with Passover and end seven months later with The Feast of Tabernacles. This agricultural year begins with the spring barley harvest during the season of Passover and ends with the fall wheat harvest on the last day of Tabernacles (Sukkoth).
This agricultural calendar is based on a seven-month-long lunar cycle, which refers to the monthly rotation of the moon around the earth. Thus the Hebrew Concordance describes a revolution of time as “The time of planting and harvests.”
The following words below in Hebrew are used to describe the end of the harvest season:
This agricultural calendar is based on a seven-month-long lunar cycle, which refers to the monthly rotation of the moon around the earth. Thus the Hebrew Concordance describes a revolution of time as “The time of planting and harvests.”
The following words below in Hebrew are used to describe the end of the harvest season:
#8622 tquwphah tek-oo-faw from #5362; a revolution (of the sun) course of time; circuit, come about, end.
#5362 naqaph: to strike with more or less violence; beat, knock together; surround or circulate; cut down, destroy, go around.
This word “naqaph” refers to the season of threshing the wheat. The wheat is “beaten” so that the chaff is left behind and nothing but the wheat is left.
Yisra’el’s lunar-based agricultural year ends at the conclusion of Sukkoth, with the winter wheat harvest at the last feast of the agricultural year which represents “The end-time harvest” for New Covenant believers. The “first-fruits” harvest for those who were redeemed when Messiah resurrected happened during the Spring Feasts representing all those saved under the “Old Covenant” (see Ephesians 4:8-9 & Luke 16:1-31). To find out more about the how to determine a biblical new moon, see the link below:
When is Passover in 2024?
We do not know the exact date of Passover yet, because we are still waiting for the New Moon Watchers in Yisra’el to report to us when the New Moon of Abib is. We are expecting that it will be on April 9th or 10th.
Once the New Moon has been sighted, we count 14 days until Passover/Pesach.
If the moon is sighted on April 9th, we will be keeping Passover on the evening of April 22nd. If the new moon is sighted on April 10th, we will be keeping Passover on the evening of April 23rd.
In the meantime, the Spring Equinox is on March 19th, telling us that we are in a New Solar Year.
However, according to Deuteronomy 16:1, we must also reckon the New Moon of the New Year, and that is yet to be determined.
Those who are searching for the ripe barley in Yisra’el right now, have not found enough ripe barley to be ready to make the First-Fruits Wave Sheaf Offering in time for The Feast of First-Fruits.
And, there are conflicting reports right now about the barley, but the fact remains that those who are only using the barley as a witness, are not taking into account the CONSTELLATION OF THE RAM, which is a SIGN OF THE FIRST-BORN!
Those who are keeping Pesach in March, are keeping it in the month of the FISH, INSTEAD OF THE RAM!
The sign that we are keeping Passover/Pesach in the correct month, is that the RAM SHOULD BE VISIBLE OVER JERUSALEM on April 23rd 2024, which is the first day of Passover!
In Deuteronomy 16:1, the command that YaHuWaH gave is to “OBSERVE THE MONTH ABIB.”
The Hebrew word for “OBSERVE” is “SHAMAR,” which means “TO WATCH NARROWLY FOR, TO BE A WATCHMAN.”
There is no need to watch narrowly for a dark moon, nor a full moon. The only thing that requires WATCHING NARROWLY FOR IS THE SLIVER!
The Hebrew word for “MONTH” is “CHODESH,” which literally means “RENEWED LUNAR CYCLE!”
In other words, we are commanded to watch for the NEW MOON!
Those who have abandoned the Torah, and are now keeping the Solar Calendar from the Book of Jubilees will argue that the word “MONTH” does not mean “MOON,” which is the word “YAREACH.”
The Hebrew word “CHODESH,” does not mean the physical object of the moon itself (Yareach), but the word “CHODESH,” is describing A RENEWED LUNAR CYCLE!
To further corroborate, we have a few other places in Scripture telling us that the yareach (moon) is to be consulted for measuring the time of the festivals:
Tehilliym (Psalm) 89:37 It shall be established forever as THE MOON [YAREACH], and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
Tehilliym (Psalm) 104:19 He APPOINTED THE MOON [YAREACH] FOR SEASONS [MOWEDIYM; FEASTS]: the sun knows his going down.
Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 31:35 Thus says YHWH, which gives the sun for a light by day, and THE ORDINANCES OF THE MOON [YAREACH] and of the stars for a light by night, which divides the sea when the waves hereof roar; YHWH of hosts is his name:
Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 31:36 IF THOSE ORDINANCES DEPART FROM BEFORE ME, says YHWH, then the seed of Yisra’el also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.
The Hebrew word for “ORDINANCES,” in the above passages are as follows:
#2708 chuqqah khook-kaw' feminine of 2706, and meaning substantially the same:--APPOINTED CUSTOM, manner, ordinance, site, STATUTE.
#2706 choq khoke from 2710; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage):--appointed, bound, COMMANDMENT, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, LAW, MEASURE, NECESSARY, ordinance(- nary), portion, set time, STATUTE, task.
See this blog to understand how to follow the biblical reckoning of times and seasons:
As you can see from this image on the Stellarium Software, on April 13th, Pisces the Fish will still be near the Sun over Jerusalem. But Aries, the Ram will begin to move in closer to the Sun.
However, by April 23rd, Pisces the Fish will begin to move out of the path of the sun, while Aries the Ram will be in plain view over Jerusalem next to the Sun, just in time for the Week of Passover & Unleavened Bread.
Genesis 1:14-16 tells us that YaHuWaH has given us the SUN, THE MOON & THE STARS FOR TIMES & FOR SEASONS!
The word “SEASONS” in Hebrew is “Mowediym,” which means “FESTIVALS!”
Also, see my blog:
Is There a Difference Between Astronomy & Astrology?
One gentleman wrote to me on Facebook, and this is what he said:
“Where, in Scripture, is the command that the sun must be in Aries to begin the new year? I know you referenced Abraham and Isaac with the ram, but it seems to me you are just assuming a connection to determining the new moon of the Aviv.”
My response:
It’s in Job 38:32 “Do you bring out the constellations in its season? Or do you lead the Bear with its sons?”
YaHuWaH told Job that he brings out the constellations in it's season!
“First of all, I did not say that the sun must be in Aries to begin the New Year.
I said that the Ram should be visible in the night sky in Jerusalem during the season of Passover.
Where in Scripture does it tell us to go looking for barley?
Obviously, we are commanded to wave the first-fruits of the barley on the Feast of First-Fruits.
So, even though Scripture does not explicitly tell us to go hunting for barley, it is understood that we do it.”
The same thing is true with the constellations, since Genesis 1:14-16 tells us that YaHuWaH has given us the SUN, THE MOON & THE STARS FOR TIMES & FOR SEASONS!
The word “SEASONS” in Hebrew is “Mowediym,” which means “FESTIVALS!”
In Genesis 37, Joseph saw in his dream that the sheaves all bowed down to him. This is a prophetic picture of Messiah, and the 11 tribes bowing down to him.
Yahuwshuwa (being from the Tribe of Judah), means that the other 11 tribes will bow down to him in the future when he returns.
Joseph also had a second dream that the sun, the moon, and the stars bowed down to him, which is yet another prophetic picture of the celestial bodies bowing down to our Messiah.
That’s why I believe we should go by Genesis 1:14-16 first (the sun, the moon and the stars), and then the sheaves of barley are the fourth witness.
That’s not to say that we don’t need the barley, or that the barley is not important. It’s just that the sun, the moon and the stars lead to the time when the barley will be automatically ripe.
Therefore, if we focus first on the sun, secondly on the moon, and thirdly and the stars, the barley will naturally follow.
But by focusing too much on the barley, (before the Spring Equinox), we get ahead of YaHuWaH, and that causes strife and division among believers. I am not saying that we don’t need barley for the First-Fruits wave sheaf offering.
What I am saying, is that the barley will always be ripe at YaHuWaH’s correct timing.
When we try and rationalize when the barley is ready (leaning on our own understanding), without consulting the other time-keeping pieces, we can end up being wrong.
Therefore, when I say that the barley is the fourth witness, I believe that if we go by the Spring Equinox (to determine the solar year); and then the New Moon closest to the Equinox, the barley will be ready at the correct time by default.
It’s like following a recipe to bake a cake, and the recipe says to bake it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. We don’t have to keep on opening the oven to test the cake with a toothpick.
If we trust the recipe or the formula, then we can be sure that after 30 minutes the cake will pass the toothpick test.
It’s the same with the barley. If we follow the pattern of Genesis 1:14-16 with the sun, the moon and the stars, the barley will also be ripe when it is supposed to be.