YRR has released two audio MIni-Pods covering the topic of The Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread, Abib 14.
This two-part series demonstrates that the Hebrew text of the book of John (MS. Vat.ebr.100) establishes that Abib 14 is a High Sabbath and the first day of the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread.
The MIni-Pods can be accessed and listened to at the following links:
In the Hebrew New Testament book of John (MS. Vat.ebr.100), there is a seeming anomaly regarding the burial and anointing of the body of Yahushua the messiah.
The Hebrew text suggests that the burial of Yahushua’s body by Joseph of Arimathea occurred during the late afternoon of Abib 14. Later, he returned on Abib 15, sometime after sunset, with Nicodemus to anoint the body.
This circumstance would contradict the Greek texts, which have both events occurring during the late afternoon of Abib 14 before sunset.
By Night
The relevant passage of John 19:38-39 when translated from the Greek and Hebrew texts, is as follows:
• Greek – After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Yahushua, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Yahushua, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. NICODEMUS ALSO, WHO HAD AT FIRST COME TO HIM BY NIGHT, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. They took the body of Yahushua, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
• Hebrew – After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who remained hidden for fear of the Jews because he was the disciple of Yahushua, asked Pilate that he would give permission to take Yahushua from the cross. And Pilate permitted to him. THEN JOSEPH CAME WITH NICODEMUS TO YAHUSHUA IN THE NIGHT, bringing a mixture of myrrh (about a hundred pounds). They took the body of Yahushua, bound it in linen cloths, and anointed the body with precious ointments as is the custom of the Jews to embalm.
It is evident that the Hebrew text has Joseph and Nicodemus return to the tomb after sunset, at night, to anoint Yahushua’s body with precious ointments. This also means that this occurred on Abib 15.
It would be remiss of the Yahu Ranger Report if, at this time, there was not issued the report of an approaching Sabbath Year beginning at sunset on March 22 (Abib 1) of the Gregorian Year 2023.
For various reasons, there are those who would dismiss any consideration of the validity of Sabbath Years or Jubilee Years as commanded in Scriptures. (Lev. 25: 1-13)
The Yahu Ranger Report strongly disagrees with this position.
First, the knowledge of the Sabbath and Jubilee Years is essential for reconstructing the chronological framework of ancient Israelite history.
Second, once the true Sabbath and Jubilee years are ascertained, it allows us to “clock in” and discover which years are presently Sabbaths and Jubilees. This knowledge holds great significance for the followers of Yahweh.
The book of Hebrews, for example, notes that “The Law,” of which the Sabbath and Jubilee Years are a part, is “a shadow of the coming good things.” (Heb. 10:1) The Sabbath day, to demonstrate, was reckoned as a type of the great sabbatism and rest into which the people of Yahweh will one day enter. (Heb. 3:7-4:13)
Yahweh’s work is to be done on the Sabbath, which includes his work by the Assembly on that day.
This day also encompasses celebrating the Sabbath as a שבתון (sabbathon; special Sabbath), prostrating before (worshipping) Yahweh, teaching and study, and priestly duties.
As we have previously stated, the Sabbath day is a day to be remembered and kept sacred, as Yahweh intended. (Gen. 2:2-3)
Yahweh commands us:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it sacred. (Exod. 20:8)
It is to be celebrated as a sabbathon, or special kind of Sabbath. Celebration of the Sabbath, accordingly, is itself a work of Yahweh.
The Hebrew word שבתון (sabbathon), on the one hand, derives from the term שבת (Sabbath), i.e., to “cease” from some action or work. Yet it means “a time of rest,” “a sabbatism or special holiday,” or more properly, “a special time of ceasing.”
The Sabbath was made for ἄνθρωπον (anthropon; mankind), not mankind for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)
This statement means that the Sabbath Days of Yahweh were meant to assist mankind.
Therefore, Sabbaths are meant to bring mankind closer to Yahweh and eternal life. It is a time for mankind to refresh himself and rest from his work of creating a livelihood and from doing his own concerns.
The Sabbaths are a time for one to turn toward creating his or her perfected innermost self and establishing their relationship with Yahweh.
Accordingly, on that day, the discussion, work, labor, and activity required must deal with Yahweh and the work he desires that we accomplish.
This study shall provide an in-depth examination of what is proper and improper for the observance of the Sabbath day.
Indeed, it is one thing to conclude that Yahweh established the seventh day of the week as a Sabbath. Still, it is quite another to know what keeping the Sabbath actually entails.
Work Not to be Done According to the instructions from Scriptures, there are several things that one must not do on the Sabbath Day (whether the weekly Sabbath or a High Sabbath).
Primary to the instructions regarding the Sabbath Day is that you are not to do “מלאכת (malakath; work, employment),” or “מעשה (maseh; activity, product creation),” or any “עבד (abad; servile labor).” (Exod. 20:8-11, 23:12; Deut. 5:12-15)
Employees working for you and even livestock so employed must also cease doing such work on the Sabbath. (Exod. 20:8-11, 23:12; Deut. 5:12-15)
It would be remiss of the Yahu Ranger Report if, at this time, there was not issued the report of an approaching Sabbath Year beginning at sunset on March 22 (Abib 1) of the Gregorian Year 2023.
For various reasons, there are those who would dismiss any consideration of the validity of Sabbath Years or Jubilee Years as commanded in Scriptures. (Lev. 25: 1-13)
The Yahu Ranger Report strongly disagrees with this position.
First, the knowledge of the Sabbath and Jubilee Years is essential for reconstructing the chronological framework of ancient Israelite history.
Second, once the true Sabbath and Jubilee years are ascertained, it allows us to “clock in” and discover which years are presently Sabbaths and Jubilees. This knowledge holds great significance for the followers of Yahweh.
The book of Hebrews, for example, notes that “The Law,” of which the Sabbath and Jubilee Years are a part, is “a shadow of the coming good things.” (Heb. 10:1) The Sabbath day, to demonstrate, was reckoned as a type of the great sabbatism and rest into which the people of Yahweh will one day enter. (Heb. 3:7-4:13)
For those who are interested in observing the Sabbath years it would be very beneficial, at least from Yahweh’s perspective, to know what month actually begins the Sabbath year, Abib or Tishri.
There are many who actually believe that the Sabbath year begins with the seventh month of Tishri and not with the first month of Abib (Nisan).
It has also been extrapolated by many that not only should Sabbath years commence according to a Tishri reckoning but that every year should begin with the seventh month of Tishri.
If one believes that such a notion is found in Scriptures, then it is suggested that one take a closer look at the relevant facts of the matter.
In order to addess this issue we must contend with the concept that the Jews, from the time of their return to Judaea from Babylon in 538 B.C.E. until the end of the Bar Kochba revolt (135 C.E.), officially began their Sabbath years with Tishri 1 (Sep./Oct.) of the sixth year of the Sabbath cycle, as had become their custom sometime after the Bar Kochba war.
For quite some time now, the serious student of Yahweh’s sacred calendar has recognized that there is a lack of knowledge and understanding regarding the scriptural concept of the Sabbath and Jubilee Years.
It seems that, for many, this subject is irrelevant for us today.
We at the Yahu Ranger Report would have to strongly disagree with those adhering to this “Irrelevant” attitude.
Therefore, to illustrate the importance of the Sabbath years and Jubilees as proclaimed in Scriptures and its relevance for us today, the following has been extracted from the publication by Qadesh La Yahweh Press titled “The Sabbath and Jubilee Cycle.”
InPart 1andPart 2of our quest for the location of the Scriptural International Dateline (SIDL) the stage has been set for the final conclusion.
In Part 3 our final evidence will be presented to discover the location of the SIDL.
Scriptural Definition Our conclusion will begin by referencing the scriptural definition for the International Dateline which begins with an important passage found in the book of Job:
A חקחג (khoq khug;statute of an arch/circle) upon the face of the waters AS FAR AS the תכלית (thaklyth; boundary between) light עם (em; beside) darkness. (Job 26:10)
The wordחג(khug), which, as we have already demonstrated inPart 1,means a “circle, compass, arch.” The term חק (khoq) means, a “statute, law,” “something prescribed, a statute or due . . . prescribed limit, boundary, (BDBG: The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew and English Lexicon)” “prescribed, appointed . . . boundary . . . set time . . . statute, (SHL: Student’s Hebrew Lexicon)” “portion, limit (of life) . . . specific time . . . moment . . . boundary, limit (for the sea) . . . definition, rule, prescription, (CHAL: A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament)” “an enactment; hence an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage. (Strongs, Heb. #2706)”Continue reading “The Scriptural International Dateline – Part 3”→
We concluded our previous excursion in Part 1 by providing various references proving that Scriptures demonstrate the concept of a round or spherical earth.
As we proceed to discover the Scriptural International Dateline, in Part 2 we will investigate other sources supporting the idea of a spherical earth.
These sources will include ancient and late Jewish views along with references from ancient Greek philosophers and geographers. Also, additional citations from Scriptures will be provided.
We will address one of the most important issues regarding the scriptural calendar, one upon which all other definitions must rely, the question of “What constitutes the Scriptural International Dateline?”
It is at this line that any new date begins. Despite its importance, the scriptural definition for the International Dateline is the most obscure and least understood, rarely even coming up in the calendar conversation. It has puzzled men ever since they began to sail around the globe.
The evidence will show that the Scriptural International Dateline is drawn along the line of sunset as it extends across the globe on the day of the vernal equinox at the very moment that the line of sunrise is determined from the city of Jerusalem.Continue reading “The Scriptural International Dateline – Part 1”→