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How we kept the Feast of Tabernacles

Messianic Israelite

Messianic Israelite

Active Member
So I apologise for not getting back to some of you this past 9 days. I have been away keeping a Mitzvah in the Bible, the Feast of Tabernacles. For those of you who have not heard of this Biblical festival, I believe the first mention of the festival is in Leviticus 23:33-35 where it says "33 And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Yahweh. 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work...on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you". We followed the instruction in the Bible to dwell in temporary dwellings such as tents or booths. Leviticus 23:42 says "42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are home-born in Israel shall dwell in booths; 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Yahweh your Elohim. "

I and my family made our yearly trip to Bethel, Pennsylvania in the U.S.A to observe the Feast of Tabernacles. We spent the first day greeting brethren and sisters and setting up our tents. Once the Feast began, we studied the Word of Yahweh and offered songs of praise to Yahweh for the seven days and then also observed the Last Great Day. It was such a wonderful feast and it gave us the opportunity to observe what the Kingdom will be like. Just a beautiful atmosphere of Philadelphia (brotherly love) was in the camp as we worshipped Yahweh. We observe the New Moons to determine our Feast Days as commanded Isaiah 66:23. Most people don't realise that you can tell when Yahweh's holy days are by observing the New Moon. The New Moon means a new scriptural month has begun. Interestingly and fascinating to me, the seventh scriptural month began on September 1 2019 this year. That was therefore the Feast of Trumpets. Septum of course means seven in latin and was originally the seventh month, not the 9th in our calendar.

The Assemblies of Yahweh, the religious organisation I belong to, have a beautiful campsite at their international headquarters and the weather was picture perfect every day. Every day was sun-filled and glorious. We got no rain and the winds were kept at bay. We heard some amazing special song offerings to Yahweh. One of them was a rendition of this song:

I can honestly say that you missed another great feast, with great spiritual lessons and brethren and sisters rejoicing and serving each other, doing what they can to help each other. It is a shame that Chr-stianity and even Judaism to the most part do not observe the holy days which Yahshua the Messiah kept (John 7). If you work out the Biblical calculations to when the Messiah was born, you'll find he was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and circumcised on the eighth day, so this is an even doubly more important Feast to observe. If you have any questions about the Feast of Tabernacles observation, I'll be happy to answer your questions. I just wanted to let you know where I've been for the past week and a half. It was indeed a mountain top experience and one I wish I could share with each and every one of you.
 
Tumah

Tumah

Veteran Member
I can honestly say that the worst part of RF is that we can't downvote posts like yours.
 
IndigoChild5559

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
Messianic Israelite said:
So I apologise for not getting back to some of you this past 9 days. I have been away keeping a Mitzvah in the Bible, the Feast of Tabernacles. I just wanted to let you know where I've been for the past week and a half. It was indeed a mountain top experience and one I wish I could share with each and every one of you.
Click to expand...
I'm a little confused. Sukkot, or the feast of booths, doesn't start in 2019 until the evening of Sunday, October 13. This is when it is the 15th of Tishrei, the seventh month, the order of months being:
1. Nisan
2. Iyar
3. Sivan
4.Tammuz
5. Av
6. Eluv
7. Tishrei

Can you help clear this up for me?
 
Last edited:
Rival

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
IndigoChild5559 said:
I'm a little confused. Sukkot, or the feast of booths, doesn't start in 2019 until the evening of Sunday, October 13. This is when it is the 15th of Tishrei, the seventh month, the order of months being:
1. Nisan
2. Iyar
3. Sivan
4.Tammuz
5. Av
6. Eluv
7. Tishrei

Can you help clear this up for me?
Click to expand...
I may be completely wrong here, but if you start your year in spring (March), as many calendars do, then count 7 you end up with September. He posted this on the 25th. 25 - 10 = 15.

Also he said,
Messianic Israelite said:
We observe the New Moons to determine our Feast Days as commanded Isaiah 66:23. Most people don't realise that you can tell when Yahweh's holy days are by observing the New Moon. The New Moon means a new scriptural month has begun. Interestingly and fascinating to me, the seventh scriptural month began on September 1 2019 this year.
Click to expand...

Also, although I have serious reservations about your practice @Messianic Israelite, I'm glad you had a nice time.
 
Last edited:
Messianic Israelite

Messianic Israelite

Active Member
IndigoChild5559 said:
I'm a little confused. Sukkot, or the feast of booths, doesn't start in 2019 until the evening of Sunday, October 13. This is when it is the 15th of Tishrei, the seventh month, the order of months being:
1. Nisan
2. Iyar
3. Sivan
4.Tammuz
5. Av
6. Eluv
7. Tishrei

Can you help clear this up for me?
Click to expand...

Good morning IndigoChild. I can understand why you might want this clarified. If the Jews observe the Laws of Yahweh and specifically the holy days just as do the Assemblies of Yahweh, you would have naturally assumed that we would keep the holy days at the same time. As you will know, since the dispersion the Jews have not followed an observable calendar. Yet the advance calculation as a system of calendar compilation cannot be supported from the scriptures. The Jews employ an astromical conjunction of the new moon rather than to use a visible sighting, which isn't Biblical.

As a result, the scriptural method is followed by the Assemblies of Yahweh. We all look for the new moon and report this to the international headquarters with photographic evidence. Genesis 1:14 clearly tells us that the moon is to be used to set the moedim. The first month of Abib is determined by Deuteronomy 16:1, the new moon of green ears in March or sometimes later in April.

I'll get back to you with more information on this later today hopefully, but for now I'll leave it as that.
 
Tumah

Tumah

Veteran Member
Rival said:
I may be completely wrong here, but if you start your year in spring (March), as many calendars do, then count 7 you end up with September. He posted this on the 25th. 25 - 10 = 15.

Also he said,
Click to expand...
The new moon for that month was on Aug. 30. Aug 30 + 15 = Sept. 13.
Moon Phases 2019 – Lunar Calendar

It still doesn't make any sense though. The vernal equinox was on March 20. The following new moon was on April 5. Sixteen days later (the original meaning of the term is when the moon was first visible which will be the next night of the listed new moon) was of course, Passover. The new moon 7 months later is on September 28. Sixteen days from then will naturally be the first day of Tabernacles.

upload_2019-9-26_20-30-3.png


So... I don't know what they're doing.
 

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Rival

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
Tumah said:
The new moon for that month was on Aug. 30. Aug 30 + 15 = Sept. 13.
Moon Phases 2019 – Lunar Calendar

It still doesn't make any sense though. The vernal equinox was on March 20. The following new moon was on April 5. Sixteen days later (the original meaning of the term is when the moon was first visible which will be the next night of the listed new moon) was of course, Passover. The new moon 7 months later is on September 28. Sixteen days from then will naturally be the first day of Tabernacles.

View attachment 33211

So... I don't know what they're doing.
Click to expand...
I tried :neutral:

Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
 
IndigoChild5559

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
Messianic Israelite said:
Good morning IndigoChild. I can understand why you might want this clarified. If the Jews observe the Laws of Yahweh and specifically the holy days just as do the Assemblies of Yahweh, you would have naturally assumed that we would keep the holy days at the same time. As you will know, since the dispersion the Jews have not followed an observable calendar. Yet the advance calculation as a system of calendar compilation cannot be supported from the scriptures. The Jews employ an astromical conjunction of the new moon rather than to use a visible sighting, which isn't Biblical.

As a result, the scriptural method is followed by the Assemblies of Yahweh. We all look for the new moon and report this to the international headquarters with photographic evidence. Genesis 1:14 clearly tells us that the moon is to be used to set the moedim. The first month of Abib is determined by Deuteronomy 16:1, the new moon of green ears in March or sometimes later in April.

I'll get back to you with more information on this later today hopefully, but for now I'll leave it as that.
Click to expand...
I hope we can have a lovely and constructive chat about this. I have no wish to argue. I'm simply curious how you ended up with a different calendar.

Figuring how the month begins via sighting rather than astronomically is going to throw it off by a day or two, and only on a particular month when there is cloud cover, not over the course of the year, therefore not by a whole month. Certainly it would not set the year backwards.

Abib (also pronounced aviv, and means spring) roughly corresponds to the month of April. During the Babylonian captivity it began to be referred to as Nisan, which is the month I gave you as the first month.

It roughly corresponds to the month of April, but does move around considerably when you remember that the calendar is lunar and some years are leap years. This year, 5779, was a leap year if I remember correctly. Did you do the extra month? That would throw us off by a month if you didn't.
 
Messianic Israelite

Messianic Israelite

Active Member
Tumah said:
The new moon for that month was on Aug. 30. Aug 30 + 15 = Sept. 13.
Moon Phases 2019 – Lunar Calendar

It still doesn't make any sense though. The vernal equinox was on March 20. The following new moon was on April 5. Sixteen days later (the original meaning of the term is when the moon was first visible which will be the next night of the listed new moon) was of course, Passover. The new moon 7 months later is on September 28. Sixteen days from then will naturally be the first day of Tabernacles.

View attachment 33211

So... I don't know what they're doing.
Click to expand...

@Tumnah Good afternoon.
The term vernal equinox, the spring day when nights are the equal length, is not found in the Sacred Scriptures, nor is it even alluded to in the Word of Yahweh. The Bible was meant to be understood, not by using veiled technical terms and ideas. Would a little shepherd lad, such as was David, living constantly out in the open fields tending flocks be able to determine an astronomical conjunction of the new moon? Would it not be more simple for Almighty Yahweh to allow the movement of this great sign in heaven to determine a division of time? The renewal of the moon each month would be so obvious that no-one could mistake what was happening. Therefore each one who reads the Bible can comprehend the simple directions.

As Chr-stianity sees it, calculation of the calendar in advance depends primarily upon the vernal equinox as it's starting point, while using an astronomical conjunction of the new moon rather than sighting a visible new moon.

I want to state emphatically that there cannot be a month without a visible moon. The hebrew word 'Chodesh' is from a prime root meaning "to be new or cause to rebuild". There you have it precisely. Unless there is a lumination from a rebuilding moon, there cannot be a new month, a lunation. In fact, the English word month is derived from mona, the Anglo Saxon word meaning "moon". Incidentally, Gesenius indicates that the root for chodesh (chadash), when used in the Kal verbal formation future tense, means to be new and then, "also to polish a sword". Etymologists have well observed that its primary sense is that of cutting or polishing. It is from the same word family as chadar, chadaq, and the signification of newness of the moon appears to proceed from that of a sharp, polished, splendid sword, as is the appearance of the new crescent moon.

The Bible is perfectly clear when we do not seek to support the concept of a humanly-invented calendar as the Jews have adopted since their dispersion. I know that we are obeying the correct time for Yahweh's Holy Days because we have seen the New Moons which have confirmed the days of our holy days.

That aside we have to consider a few things such as the intercalary month. As you will know, the solar year is composed of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds while the lunar month is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds. This means that the lunar month is not divisible equally into a solar year. The 12 month year of the strictly lunar calendar is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar year. Therefore, the feasts of Yahweh would float around the year out of their accurate seasons if it were not for the intercalary month every several years to adjust the calendar to keep the feasts in their seasons.

The Muslims do not use an intercalary month; therefore, their feasts circulate around the seasons of the year. Yahweh has commanded us to keep His feasts in their seasons, Deuteronomy 16:6. Next year will probably be an intercalary month for us, but this is another reason why there may be a discrepancy between us and the Jews keeping the holy days at different times. Sometimes we do actually keep the holy days at the same time, though.

Additionally, Orthodox Jews observe two days consecutively rather than the single day which is legislated in the Sacred Scriptures, with the exception of several holidays such as the fast of the Day of Atonement. The reason for this is because of the dispersion and the Jews wanted to be certain in keeping one of their days correctly. But, Yahweh's Law is perfect. Any addition to the law becomes a burden.

I hope that helps clear things up.

Just as a note, these are the dates when the New Moon was spotted this year:
  • September 1, 2019 New Moon Ethanim (7th Month)
  • August 3, 2019 New Moon Elul (6th Month)
  • July 4, 2019 New Moon Av (5th Month)
  • June 5, 2019 New Moon (4th Month)
  • May 6, 2019 New Moon Sivan (3rd Month)
  • April 7, 2019 New Moon Ziv (2nd Month)
  • March 8, 2019 New Moon Abib (1st Month) - New Year Day
 
Tumah

Tumah

Veteran Member
Messianic Israelite said:
@Tumnah Good afternoon.
The term vernal equinox, the spring day when nights are the equal length, is not found in the Sacred Scriptures, nor is it even alluded to in the Word of Yahweh. The Bible was meant to be understood, not by using veiled technical terms and ideas. Would a little shepherd lad, such as was David, living constantly out in the open fields tending flocks be able to determine an astronomical conjunction of the new moon? Would it not be more simple for Almighty Yahweh to allow the movement of this great sign in heaven to determine a division of time? The renewal of the moon each month would be so obvious that no-one could mistake what was happening. Therefore each one who reads the Bible can comprehend the simple directions.
Click to expand...
There seem to be a number of assumptions here.
Are you a Protestant? I see no reason at all to consider that the Torah should have been able to be understood by an ignorant shepherd living on his own out in the middle of nowhere. The majority of Torah Laws require civilization and they require central court systems. You won't find any verses that say, "just try to figure it out on your own". You will find verses that say, "go to the Sages and ask them".

That being said, would I expect a shepherd living 300 years ago to be able to determine the time of the equinox? Yes. Cultures all over the world were familiar with the equinox and solstice.

As Chr-stianity sees it, calculation of the calendar in advance depends primarily upon the vernal equinox as it's starting point, while using an astronomical conjunction of the new moon rather than sighting a visible new moon.

I want to state emphatically that there cannot be a month without a visible moon. The hebrew word 'Chodesh' is from a prime root meaning "to be new or cause to rebuild". There you have it precisely. Unless there is a lumination from a rebuilding moon, there cannot be a new month, a lunation. In fact, the English word month is derived from mona, the Anglo Saxon word meaning "moon". Incidentally, Gesenius indicates that the root for chodesh (chadash), when used in the Kal verbal formation future tense, means to be new and then, "also to polish a sword". Etymologists have well observed that its primary sense is that of cutting or polishing. It is from the same word family as chadar, chadaq, and the signification of newness of the moon appears to proceed from that of a sharp, polished, splendid sword, as is the appearance of the new crescent moon.
Click to expand...
What is the purpose of explaining this?

The Bible is perfectly clear when we do not seek to support the concept of a humanly-invented calendar as the Jews have adopted since their dispersion. I know that we are obeying the correct time for Yahweh's Holy Days because we have seen the New Moons which have confirmed the days of our holy days.
Click to expand...
What is this argument? You know that you are doing the right thing, because you're doing the thing you think you should be doing...?

That aside we have to consider a few things such as the intercalary month. As you will know, the solar year is composed of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds while the lunar month is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds. This means that the lunar month is not divisible equally into a solar year. The 12 month year of the strictly lunar calendar is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar year. Therefore, the feasts of Yahweh would float around the year out of their accurate seasons if it were not for the intercalary month every several years to adjust the calendar to keep the feasts in their seasons.
Click to expand...
What is the purpose of this information?

Muslims do not use an intercalary month; therefore, their feasts circulate around the seasons of the year. Yahweh has commanded us to keep His feasts in their seasons, Deuteronomy 16:6. Next year will probably be an intercalary month for us, but this is another reason why there may be a discrepancy between us and the Jews keeping the holy days at different times. Sometimes we do actually keep the holy days at the same time, though.
Click to expand...
Congratulations...

Additionally, Orthodox Jews observe two days consecutively rather than the single day which is legislated in the Sacred Scriptures, with the exception of several holidays such as the fast of the Day of Atonement. The reason for this is because of the dispersion and the Jews wanted to be certain in keeping one of their days correctly.
Click to expand...
Thank you for explaining to me what my religion does.

But, Yahweh's Law is perfect. Any addition to the law becomes a burden.
Click to expand...
For someone who can't stand the Law, I can see how any addition would become a burden.

I hope that helps clear things up.
Click to expand...
Some things.

Just as a note, these are the dates when the New Moon was spotted this year:
  • September 1, 2019 New Moon Ethanim (7th Month)
  • August 3, 2019 New Moon Elul (6th Month)
  • July 4, 2019 New Moon Av (5th Month)
  • June 5, 2019 New Moon (4th Month)
  • May 6, 2019 New Moon Sivan (3rd Month)
  • April 7, 2019 New Moon Ziv (2nd Month)
  • March 8, 2019 New Moon Abib (1st Month) - New Year Day
Click to expand...
A day late each time. Maybe you need to move to a time-period where the lights of your cities and the cities that neighbor you, don't detract from the light of the sky.
 
IndigoChild5559

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
IndigoChild5559 said:
I hope we can have a lovely and constructive chat about this. I have no wish to argue. I'm simply curious how you ended up with a different calendar.

Figuring how the month begins via sighting rather than astronomically is going to throw it off by a day or two, and only on a particular month when there is cloud cover, not over the course of the year, therefore not by a whole month. Certainly it would not set the year backwards.

Abib (also pronounced aviv, and means spring) roughly corresponds to the month of April. During the Babylonian captivity it began to be referred to as Nisan, which is the month I gave you as the first month.

It roughly corresponds to the month of April, but does move around considerably when you remember that the calendar is lunar and some years are leap years. This year, 5779, was a leap year if I remember correctly. Did you do the extra month? That would throw us off by a month if you didn't.
Click to expand...
Bump for @Messianic Israelite
 
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