Passover, the Story

The Yahu Ranger Report has added a new Deep Dive discussion titled Passover, the Story.

Using AI to bring Scripture to life, this discussion aims to provide a clearer understanding of the Passover supper and the practice of eating unleavened bread for seven days, while also summarizing the experience of the Exodus. This event marked the first time the Israelites were commanded to sacrifice and eat a Passover animal.

These discussions are adapted from the original “Yahu Ranger Report” Topics and Mini-Pods, drawing every insight directly from that research.

Think of it as sitting in on an engaging, unhurried Bible study between friends — except the friends just happen to have all the research from the Yahu Ranger archives at their fingertips, and they’re not afraid to push each other (or you) toward deeper understanding.

Dive in! Let the dialogue draw you closer to the truth of Yahweh.

Listen to the Deep Dive now:

Passover, the Story

For a complete list of available Deep Dives, please visit the  Yahu Ranger Deep Dive page.

We’ll be adding new Deep Dive conversations regularly, and every new release will land straight in your inbox alongside the regular Yahu Ranger Report updates.

Thank you for walking this road with us. We hope these conversations stir your enthusiasm, sharpen your mind, and draw you ever closer to the wishes of Father Yahweh and His Son, Yahushua the Messiah.

In Yahweh’s service,

The Yahu Ranger Team

The Pharisaic Calendar and Court – Pt. 2

The Calendar Court

The Hillelic system for determining the New Moon Day and how to intercalate the year operated through a court panel of three judges.25 In the time of the Temple, these judges represented the Court of Elders and, after the Temple’s destruction in 70 C.E., the Great Sanhedrin of Pharisees.

The Mishnah reports:

The intercalating of the month and the intercalating of the year (are decided upon) by three (judges). So (says) Rabbi Meir. But Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel says: The matter is begun by three, discussed by five, and decided upon by seven; but if it is decided upon by three the intercalation is valid.26

Later, the number of the assembly of participating members was changed to 10 judges.27 The leading judge was the Nasi. New Moon Days were sanctified by at least two of the three members of the court.28 Continue reading “The Pharisaic Calendar and Court – Pt. 2”

The Pharisaic Calendar and Court – Pt. 1

In 41 C.E., the Aristocratic system of determining new moons and the intercalation of a year, previously calculated only by the priests who were the descendants of Aaron, the high priest, was officially usurped by the Nasi (head of the Sanhedrin) of the Hillelic Pharisees.

Thus began a process wherein the Hillelic party, starting with Gamaliel I, using the “traditions of their fathers” and heavily influenced by Babylonian customs, instituted a series of modifications that forever changed the requirements for determining the beginning of a month and a year in what became known as Orthodox Judaism.

These new calendar regulations were created for two reasons: Continue reading “The Pharisaic Calendar and Court – Pt. 1”

Passover – The 7-Day Festival

Many find the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread to be the most complex of Yahweh’s sacred days.

This prompts the question: why does so much confusion surround it?

To address this situation, it is important to note that the expectation to observe Yahweh’s sacred days dates back to Adam and Eve.

Let’s consider a few relevant passages from Scriptures.

And eloahim said, Let there be luminaries in the open expanse of the heaven to divide between the daytime and the night and let them be for signs and for מועדים (moadim; APPOINTED TIMES) and for days and years; and let them be for illuminations in the open expanse of the heaven to give light on the land; and it was so. And eloahim made the two great luminaries: the great luminary for ruling the day and the smaller luminary for ruling the night, and the stars. And eloahim set them in the open expanse of the heaven to give light upon the land and to rule over the daytime and over the night, and to separate between the light and the darkness. (Gen. 1:14-18)

He (Yahweh) made the moon for the מועדים (moadim; appointed times), the sun knows where he enters in. (Psalm 104:19)

Yahweh’s Festival Days are clearly designated as the moadim, or appointed times, which supports the fact that these Festival Days were observed from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden.

Abraham Kept the Festival Days
At a minimum, the Scriptures indicate that Abraham, who lived long before the Torah of Moses was established, observed Yahweh’s Festival Days. Scriptures tell us:
Continue reading “Passover – The 7-Day Festival”

The Math of Passover & Unleavened Bread

A popular Sacred Name group once published a list, “10 Key Passover Facts,” in their Jan-Feb 2018 magazine.

We will address Fact #5, which reads:

While leavening is not prohibited on Passover day, Abib 14, it is disallowed with the Passover memorial, Exodus 12:8. The Passover is a time of removing leavening in preparation for the Feast of Unleavened Bread that follows.

Modified Version
For many, this statement seems reasonable because it reflects the contemporary acceptance, by most people, of a modified version of the Hasidic/Pharisaic practice of Passover and Unleavened Bread. This modified practice encompasses the dates from Abib 14 to Abib 21, resulting in a total observance of 8 days.
Continue reading “The Math of Passover & Unleavened Bread”

Beginning the New Year – Part 2

In our previous discussion, Beginning the New Year – Pt. 1, we explored the Hebrew terms תקופה (tequphah) and תקופת (tequphath).

We learned that a tequphah refers to a solar event and marks a specific point in time, which could be an equinox or a solstice.

We also noted that a tequphath represents a season of the solar year. The two seasons used for calculating Festival Days are spring-summer and autumn-winter.

With this understanding, we will continue in Part 2 by examining the Festival of Tabernacles and the Festival of Ingathering. We will uncover how both festivals relate to determining the scriptural New Year.

Khag of Tabernacles
We need to understand the distinction between the labels “the Khag (Festival) of Ingathering” and “the Khag of Tabernacles.” The latter is actually just a part of the former. The instructions from the books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus regarding the seven-day Khag of Tabernacles state:

Continue reading “Beginning the New Year – Part 2”

Passover & Water Baptism – Pt. 1

Prior to the observance of Passover during our present time, there frequently emerges a serious quest by some newer followers of Yahweh to experience a proper and valid water baptism.

The reason being that the majority of Sacred Name groups of today assert that in order for a person to partake of the Passover meal or emblems they must have undergone a mandatory water baptism in the proper name of the messiah.

It is also maintained by most of these groups that before the death of Yahushua the messiah, in order to partake of the Passover meal, all men had to be fleshly circumcised.

Different Passover Systems
We must first admit to a basic difference in the opinion about Passover. To begin with, many are often unaware that there were several different Passover systems practiced by the ancient Jews.

Continue reading “Passover & Water Baptism – Pt. 1”

Circumcision & Passover – Pt 1

There is a belief among some proclaimed followers of Yahweh that in order for men to partake of the Passover, they must first be circumcised of the flesh.

Fleshy circumcision is also held by some as a proof that Passover is not an actual Festival or Feast Day for the reason that the lack of circumcision would prevent individuals from participating in a required sacred day of Yahweh.

What do Scriptures actually say concerning this issue?

If you are interested in finding out the truth of the matter then it would be advantageous for you to continue with our investigation.

Before we can directly address the issue of circumcision as it relates to Passover we must first determine if Scriptures demand fleshy circumcision in order for men to be saved.

Usually two reasons are given by the advocates of circumcision:

• Abraham was circumcised and he was commanded to circumcise all the males of his household.

• Fleshly circumcision is required in the written Torah of Moses (Old Covenant).

Continue reading “Circumcision & Passover – Pt 1”

Passover – C. O. Dodd’s Failing

There are those who would point to Leviticus 23:6 and insist that Abib 15 is the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread which continues through Abib 21.

And on the fifteenth day of the same month is a festival of unleavened bread unto Yahweh: seven days you must eat unleavened bread. (Leviticus 23:6)

An additional reference is also given from Numbers:

And on the fifteenth day of this month is a festival; seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. (Numbers 28:17)

For those who observe a form of the Pharisaic/Hasidic practice for the Festival of Unleavened Bread (System B and System G), these passages from Leviticus and Numbers are held as proof that the first day of the 7-day Festival of Unleavened Bread is Abib 15.

It is evident that when these two passages are closely examined in context, the results reveal the opposite and actually support Passover Day, Abib 14, as being the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (System A).

Continue reading “Passover – C. O. Dodd’s Failing”

Passover-Abib 14 is a Festival Day!

An overwhelming amount of evidence supports the observance of Passover and Unleavened Bread for seven days, specifically from Abib 14 to Abib 20. This study will demonstrate that this was the practice of Yahushua the Messiah and the early assemblies later referred to as the Quartodecimans (System A)

However, many individuals stubbornly disagree with this conclusion despite the evidence and continue to follow a modified version of the Pharisaic/Hasidic practice (System B). This newer practice incorporates an eight-day observance of eating unleavened bread, extending from Abib 14 to Abib 21 (System G).

Continue reading “Passover-Abib 14 is a Festival Day!”

New Moons – Visibility or Calculation?

When discussing the determination of New Moons, whether by visibility or calculation, several questions arise regarding the truth of the matter as presented by Yahweh.

Many religious leaders have convinced a significant number of people that one must not only see the visible crescent of the new moon but also assess the greenness of the barley crop to determine the New Year.

These leaders assert they possess the true criteria for establishing Yahweh’s calendar and claim that their knowledge and understanding are derived directly from the Scriptures.

Additionally, these religious leaders assert that their method for determining New Moons is relatively straightforward and rooted in Scriptures. They claim it is so simple that Yahweh has made it accessible for almost anyone to determine the start of months and years, regardless of their circumstances.

However, not everyone may find it easy—if you do not have perfect vision or are not a farmer, you might encounter some challenges.

Continue reading “New Moons – Visibility or Calculation?”

Passover – Egyptian Confirmation

Many followers of Yahweh may be unaware of a remarkable source that provides evidence for the practice of the 7-day Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread, which occurs from Abib 14 to 20.

This source comes from an extra-biblical work known as the Book of Yashar, or Sefer Ha-Yashar.

While the current copy of the Book of Yashar should not be considered authoritative like Scriptures, its insights regarding the Passover of the Exodus are nonetheless quite informative and interesting.

Book of Yashar
– 81:5 And the children of Israel TRAVELED FROM EGYPT AND FROM GOSHEN AND FROM RAMESES, AND ENCAMPED IN SUCCOTH ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY of the first month.

Continue reading “Passover – Egyptian Confirmation”

37. Passover – Deuteronomy and Ezekiel

Many promote a form of the Hasidic/Pharisaic 8-day practice of Passover and Unleavened Bread, observing it on Abib 14-21.

Two scriptural passages that are misinterpreted and then used as proof against the 7-day Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread practice of Abib 14-20 are Deuteronomy 16:8 and Ezekiel 45:21.

Before addressing these two passages, we will quickly recap the two positions.

7-Day View
• Abib 14, Passover day, is a Festival Day and High Sabbath. It is the first day of Passover week and the 7-day Festival of Unleavened Bread. One commences eating unleavened bread just after sunset at the beginning of Abib 14.

Continue reading “37. Passover – Deuteronomy and Ezekiel”

What Is Truth?

This question is one of the most profound statements in Scriptures, spoken by an unlikely figure.

The New Testament refers to him as Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect (governor) of Judea under Emperor Tiberius from 26 to 36 C.E.

The events unfolded when Yahushua the Messiah was brought before Pontius Pilate by the Jewish religious leaders, who sought to have him executed by the Roman authorities.

Historical evidence dates this event to Abib 14, Passover day, in the year 30 C.E., corresponding to Thursday, April 6.

Could Pilate grasp some sense of truth from Yahushua?

Continue reading “What Is Truth?”

36. Passover – Atonement on the 9th?

Although all of the evidence from Scriptures unequivocally makes “between/among the arabim (evenings)” begin at sunset and end at dark, there is one challenge made by the advocates of
System B (the Hasidic position) which must be addressed: their interpretation of Leviticus 23:26-32.

This single passage is the mainstay defense used by all of those claiming that at least one arab (evening) represents the last few hours of a day (System B and System D).

Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
Though the section begins by stating that “on the tenth day of this seventh month is a Day of Atonement,” a sacred convocation, and a day of humbling, i.e., fasting,1 it later gives a statement which is popularly translated to mean: Continue reading “36. Passover – Atonement on the 9th?”