The First Biblical Day
You have just been shown how the Word of God testifies that the word "month" means in Hebrew "new moon" and the word "moon" for "a month." You also were shown how the new moon was used cleverly to determine the start of the month. Next we’re going see how all this fits into God’s timing.
Remember that the concept of a “day” in God’s time begins in the evening. That is, the start of the day. See the diagram below.
Notice that Hebrew people living in the day—in the period of sunlight—obviously cannot see the moon.
Notice at night, the stars and moon are clearly visible, except on a cloudy night.
Notice the moon’s waning crescent is viewable (shown above at a late phase of the moon) in the evening and the moon would in due time determine the new month for the Hebrews and any other peoples of ancient times.
Notice in illustration above, the next day begins at evening; where the moon’s crescent is now even smaller or "waning" (diminishing).
In the case illustrated above, it is nearing a new moon darkened phase of the moon and could be about the 26th day of the month.
One might be quick to mention that “well that is all fine and sounds good, but what about on a cloudy night when the moon was not visible?”
Good question. Sure cloudy days or evenings happen all the time.
The Holy Bible clearly tell us that God ordained the seventh day. The Great "I AM" or "YHVH" clearly told Moses and the children Israel when it was. So they very likely did not necessarily rely totally on the moon for finding the seventh day. All they had to do was count!
Having said that as the biblical Scriptures will show, the Hebrews were constantly viewing the moon and certainly keeping time by it. There are points when even certain biblical characters such as David could clearly predict when the new moon was coming.
Let me state that if you were dependent solely on the sighting of the crescent as the rabbis of Judaism later were (who changed times), you could likely have the wrong time and be far off calculation for any appointed time of God. It's pretty clear the Hebrews were very concerned and watched regularly the moon and its timed phases.
I will discuss what all this means and how much of an impact it already had in the Bible later on.
Now let’s make sure this lines up with the Holy Scriptures, for indeed we have no idea if it states that anyone in Israel or Moses or Abraham’s time even saw the crescent moon to determine it to be a new month. All we do know that somehow the new moon determines a month or new moon to new moon.
Its always a good idea to begin somewhere, so let' start looking "in the beginning."
First I 'd like share briefly with you a bit about this part of the study. When I came realize what I was seeing of this Sabbath study, I realized I had to find in the Word exactly where it showed clearly that the first day began with the new light. So I prayed to God to show me this, and to reveal it if it was His will and if it indeed is to be found in the Bible, let me find it.
The next day there it was right smack in the face. A few days later I had more scriptures I had totally over looked. God is truly awesome! Jesus said "Seek and you shall find, ask and it shall be given."
Matthew 7:7 (KJV)
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
This Witness is True!
Notice in the beginning, of all places, what may be a perfect clue in Genesis 1-2
Genesis 1:1-5 (KJV)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
[3] And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. [4] And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. [5] And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Notice closely what is being described. The Word says the earth was “without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” In other words, we begin with a state of total darkness with no form, a void, for at this point in the text, no luminosity or light is mentioned.
Then, the text changes, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
Why is this Scripture a clue or significant?
Ask your Friend's Rock!
Suppose someone you knew, brought a large rock in to a room without any windows. You, who are blind folded, then come into the room after closing the door behind you. When you remove the blind fold. You can see and now realize its totally black because no lights are on in the room.
Question: Can you see you the rock in your friends hand?
No, you most likely can not. Nor could likely find your friend unless he/she makes a noise. But if your friend then lit a lighter or a match, now you can begin to see your friend and the rough surface of the rock that he/she is holding. Notice here, that the rock’s surfaces and shape is only visible when the light is applied. Before the light faintly illuminated the room, you had essentially witnessed darkness— a void— without form.
The Scripture continues:
[4] And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. [5] And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”
Notice that it was the on the first day God Almighty showed forth light or luminosity!
This also matches perfectly the concept of the "new moon phase." In beginning there was darkness, total darkness and a void much what you would see if you looked at the moon in very last moon phase, or that part of the last part of the lunar phase, which the moon is completely darkened —as dark as all the surrounding space or the void areas of the sky. The "sky" is the darkness which is separated amongst luminaries—the stars or the sun reflection off the moon only when visible.
So then the scripture states that God created light and this was also on the first day.
Our second witness can be found in the book of Samuel regarding the story of a young David who is hiding from king Saul. Notice what is being stated here.
1st Samuel 20:1-21:7 (KJV)
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? [2] And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. [3] And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the YHWH ( the LORD) liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. [4] Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. [5] And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, 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. [7] If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. [8] Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the YHWH ( the LORD) with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father? [9] And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? [10] Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?
[11] And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. [12] And Jonathan said unto David, O YHWH ( LORD) God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; [13] YHWH ( the LORD) do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. [14] And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not: [15] But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when YHWH ( the LORD) hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. [16] So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let YHWH ( the LORD) even require it at the hand of David's enemies. [17] And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. [18] Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. [19] And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel. [20] And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. [21] And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as YHWH ( the LORD) liveth. [22] But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for YHWH ( the LORD) hath sent thee away. [23] And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, YHWH ( the LORD) be between thee and me for ever.
[24] So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. [25] And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. [26] Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. [27] And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? [28] And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem: [29] And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table. [30] Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? [31] For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. [32] And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? [33] And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. [34] So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
[35] And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. [36] And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. [37] And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? [38] And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. [39] But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. [40] And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
[41] And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. [42] And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of YHWH ( the LORD), saying, YHWH ( the LORD) be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
[21:1] Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? [2] And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. [3] Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. [4] And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. [5] And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. [6] So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before YHWH ( the LORD), to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away. [7] Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
In the holy text above notice that David says "to morrow is the new moon." We can see it is not yet the first day of the new month.
The word "month" in our Bibles is from the same Hebrew word as used in this Scripture for "new moon" or in Hebrew "chodesh."
chodesh, Hebrew 2320, Strong’s
chodesh, kho'-desh; from Hebrew 2318 (chadash); the new moon; by implication a month :- month (-ly), new moon.
chadash, Hebrew 2318, Strong’s
chadash, khaw-dash'; a primitive root; to be new; causative to rebuild :- renew, repair.
Notice that in order for David to have known this he would have had to have been previously taught it. Also David, like his kinsmen, of the day clearly watched or witnessed regularly the moon cycles. Therefore they were familiar with the lunar time, which as will be shown shortly does not change.
Originally I first believed this was clear evidence of the last moon phase beginning at about the 28th day which starts a dark new moon phase going to the first day. But realize this is what astronomers today tell us. I also learned this from another Christian website who had a great understanding of the Sabbath or so it seemed at first.
Can we or should we only rely on man-made finite knowledge from astronomers or others or should we go to the source in the Bible, the Word of God?
We must rely only on the Word.
Look at the following illustration.
The Word of God is clearly speaking about the first day of the new month and we have the witness from the Scriptures because it clearly says the second day of the same month or new moon.
[24] So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. [25] And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. [26] Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. [27] And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
Notice the scripture says "when the new moon [new month's moon] was come." This tells us that the new month has come or the first day of the month. We can be fairly sure of this as the Word says next ". . .it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, . . ."
So we see that scripture states "the second day" of the same month.
1st Samuel 20:34 (KJV)
So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
Here again it states the second of the Month.
As David stated to Jonathan, he would hide until the evening of the third day. David after coming out of hiding says to priest that he has not been near a women for these three days.
1st Samuel 21:5 (KJV)
And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
The Word of God is clear, and every word is stated therein for a specific reason. No matter how mundane, or repetitive, or insignificant at times the Hebrew or Greek text may seem to us, clearly God inspired all of it and left us clues all over it for somebody, at some appointed time, to find and learn from.
Let's now continue to glean the Word of God for more treasure.
Next article: God's "Faithful Witness."