When was Yahushua Born?
(And, when did He Die?)
By
Gary Primo
Nov. 26, 2016
The attached video has been presented on YouTube by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, making the case for a spring birth in regards to the Messiah. I am sure that the vast majority of us have long believed he was born in the fall, on or around the Festival of Rosh Hashanah or what is also known as the Feast of Trumpets. There are a number of good reasons for this belief.
However, the case that Cahn makes for a spring birth is also very compelling. At first viewing I was very intrigued and considered the possibility that we may have all been wrong all this time. However, I did as I am constantly reminding everyone to do on a regular basis. I took the time to search and prove all things. And, again, that is exactly what I am admonishing you all to do in this case as well. Do not use my studies as the basis for your belief. I am human and; therefore, fallible and am open to challenge. Believe no man, but search and prove all things for yourselves, like the noble Bereans were praised for doing.
You may also notice how Cahn plays down the real source of the December 25th celebration. He merely attributes it to a celebration of the winter solstice. At no time does he mention that it really celebrated the birth of the very first anti-messiah, Tammuz. Being a Rabbi, I would assume that he has knowledge that the Greek “Jesus Christ” is really a made over version of Tammuz. After all, the Jewish authorities helped to create him (Jesus).
Let me start by declaring that this is in no way some kind of personal attack on Jonathan Cahn. I consider him to be a well educated man, truly dedicated to Yahuwah and to the truth. Even so, he is human and capable; therefore, of error. So I will be kind and only say that I believe (after checking the facts) that he is in error. All I can do at this point is point out the discrepancies that I have found and let the reader be the judge.
So, the first thing one should do is examine the video. You may want to view it more than once to make sure you have everything straight and take notes as you go to use in your study afterwards.
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dcy1VF3OOk
Watching Sheep by Night
The first point that Cahn brings up is concerning the shepherds watching the sheep by night when the angel appeared to them declaring the birth of Yahushua.
Luke 2:7 - And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 - And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. {watch: or, the night watches }
9 - And, lo, the angel of Yahuwah came upon them, and the glory of Yahuwah shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
15 - And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which Yahuwah hath made known unto us. {the shepherds: Gr. the men the shepherds }
16 - And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Cahn makes the assertion that the Shepherd would only have been out at night watching the sheep during the birthing season – in the Spring of the year. However, other sources contradict that assertion.
http://www.bible-history.com/links.php?cat=39&sub=414
Leading Sheep Guidance for the sheep. The Eastern shepherd never drives his sheep as does the Western shepherd. He always leads them, often going before them. "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them" (John 10:4). This does not mean that the shepherd is always in front of his sheep. Although he may be usually in that position when traveling, he often walks by their side, and sometimes follows behind, especially if the flock is headed for the fold in the evening. From the rear he can gather any stragglers, and protect such from a sly attack from a wild animal. If the flock is a large one, the shepherd will be in front, and a heifer will follow behind.23 Isaiah speaks of the omnipresent LORD in a double relationship to His people: "For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the GOD of Israel will be your reward [rear guard]" (Isaiah 52:12). The skill of the shepherd, and personal relationship to them is clearly seen when he guides his sheep along narrow paths. The Shepherd Psalm says: "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness" (Psalm 23:3). The grain fields are seldom fenced or hedged in Bible lands, and sometimes only a narrow path runs between the pasture and these fields. The sheep are forbidden to eat in the fields where crops are growing. Thus in guiding the sheep along such a path, the shepherd must not allow any of the animals to get into the forbidden area, because if he does, he must pay damages to the owner of the grain. One Syrian shepherd has been known to guide a flock of one hundred fifty sheep without any help, along such a narrow path for quite a distance, without letting a single sheep go where he was not allowed to go. [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands]
Protecting Sheep from Robbers Protection of sheep from robbers and wild animals. The sheep need to be guarded against robbers not only when they are in the open country, but also when they are in the fold. The bandits of Israel are not apt to pick locks, but some of them may manage to climb up over the wall, and get into the fold, where they cut the throats of as many of the animals as possible and then sling them over the wall to others of their band, and all of them attempt to escape without being caught.34 JESUS described just such operations: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10). The shepherd must be on guard constantly for such an emergency, and must be ready for quick action to protect his rights in the flock.
http://www.bible history.com/links.php?cat=39&sub=414&cat_name=&subcat_name=Shepherds
Protecting Sheep from Wild Animals The wild animals of Israel today include wolves, panthers, hyenas, and jackals. The lion has not lived in the land since the days of the Crusaders. The last bear was killed over half a century ago. David as a shepherd lad experienced the coming of a lion and of a bear against his flock, and by the LORD's help, he was able to slay both of them (I Samuel 17:3437). Amos tells of a shepherd attempting to rescue one of the flock from the lion's mouth: "As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear" (Amos 3:12). One experienced Syrian shepherd is reported to have followed a hyena to his lair and compelled the animal to give up his prey. He won his victory over the wild beast by himself howling in characteristic fashion, striking on rocks with his heavy staff, and flinging deadly stones with his slingshot. The sheep was then carried in his arms back to the fold. The faithful shepherd must be willing to risk his life for the sake of the flock, and perhaps give his life for them.
Raids RAIDS PRACTICE AMONG ARAB DESERT TRIBES. When there is no strong ruler among the desert tribes of Arabs, (who is able to keep peace between the tribes) then some of the tribes may revert to the old pastime of raiding another tribe. They will select a tribe that is well supplied with cattle and goods, and will send out scouts to familiarize themselves with the tribe they wish to raid. They will organize their forces and plan to arrive there on a set night and usually in the dark of the moon. They will come up in stealth. One of the men or boys will approach the tents in order to attract the attention of the dogs, and then this young man will run in a different direction in order to attract the dogs away from the tents. When the place is sufficiently cleared of the dogs, then the men will rush in from different directions, untie the camels, drive off the sheep and cattle, and steal all the valuable property they can, to take home to their tents and give to their sheik. This will be done amid the screaming of the women. The men who oppose them are overcome. But the raiders are careful not to harm the women, and they are careful not to shed blood. Mohammedan religion permits raids, but does not allow lives to be lost in the process. If blood is shed then a "blood feud" is started, and this is a very serious matter, for they often run for generations. The tribe will endeavor to kill as many as were killed in the raid. [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands]
Shepherd in Easton's Bible Dictionary a word naturally of frequent occurrence in Scripture. Sometimes the word "pastor" is used instead (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 44:28; Jer. 25:34, 35; Nahum 3:18; John 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4). The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Israel were very onerous. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief (see 1 Sam. 17:34).", Deane's David.
http://www.hethathasanear.com/Birth.html
On the night in which Yeshua was born, the angelic message came to those priests of the Temple whose duties had been designated, often from their youth, to "keeping watch over their flock." These were not just any flock and herd. The shepherds who kept them were men who were specifically trained for this royal task. They were educated in what an animal that was to be sacrificed had to be and it was their job to make sure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged or blemished. During lambing season the sheep were brought to the tower from the fields, as the lower level functioned as the birthing room for sacrificial lambs. Being themselves under special rabbinical care, these priests would strictly maintain a ceremonially clean birthing place. Once birthed, the priestly shepherds would routinely place the lambs in the hewn depression of a limestone rock known as "the manger" and "wrap the newborn lambs in swaddling clothes," preventing them from thrashing about and harming themselves "until they had calmed down" so they could be inspected for the quality of being "without spot or blemish" (In fact the Mishnah (Baba K. vii. 7) expressly forbids the keeping of flocks throughout the land of Israel, except in the wilderness - and the only flocks otherwise kept, would be those for the Temple-services (Baba K. 80 a) & Alfred Edersheim, the Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, chapter VI).
Yeshua was born earlier, in the fall, during the festival of Sukkoth, "the Feast of Tabernacles." Yeshua was 33 1/2 years old at the time of his death. His ministry begins at age 30 (Luke 3:23). with his baptism by John the Immerser approximately six months prior to the first Passover of His ministry (John 2:13, John 1:33-34, John 2:23). The second Passover is recorded in John 5:1. If the "feast" mentioned here is not the Passover Feast, then it would be one of the other two major feasts, either the Feast of Weeks (seven weeks after the second Passover) or the Feast of Tabernacles (six months after the second Passover) - but, still occurring within the same year. The third Passover, at the feeding of the 5,000, is mentioned in John 6:4 with the fourth and final Passover, coming when he is crucified, mentioned in John 11:55. Using this chronological information, it appears that Yeshua's ministry lasted around 3 1/2 years. He was crucified at Pesach (Passover) which occurs in the spring (John 19:13-15). So, dialing back six months to the beginning of his public ministry at age 30 would place it into early fall (September or October as there are six months between Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles) which would also be when Yeshua was born 30 years earlier - not in December. Sukkoth (the feast of Tabernacles) is also marked in late September to early October (depending on the lunar cycle). John 1:14 tells us that the Word became flesh and "dwelt" among us. The Hebrew word for "dwell" used in Exodus 29:45 is shakan and means "tabernacle". By inserting the proper wording, the scripture now reads, "The Word became flesh and Tabernacled among us". It would be so like the Father to arrange it this way.
That sheep only give birth in the spring is true for most sheep in the world. However, the Awassi, a fat-tailed sheep, is a local breed found only in southeastern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Cyprus and Israel. It has been found that when rams are introduced to the ewe Awassi flock while the lambs were weaning from spring birth, the sheep give birth in autumn - indicating that they had become pregnant while the lambs were still weaning. So, given the fertility of the Awassi sheep, the number of lambs required for Temple sacrifices and the skill of the Temple Priests in managing sheep found locally; it is entirely plausible for the Messiah to have been born in the autumn as the scriptural account mentioned above indicates. My experience has shown it to be safer to view the world from the Truth found in scripture rather than to bend the Truth of scripture to the vantage point of the world's speculations. Not everything is as it seems.
When I first heard Cahn make this statement I thought that it could not possibly be true. These other sources make it perfectly clear that there were at least two other very good reasons for the shepherds to be out at night guarding the sheep in the fall (or any other) season – thieves and wild animals. Also for the birthing of the fat-tailed sheep that were peculiar to Bethlehem for the Temple sacrifices and which also gave birth in the fall.
Many of these flocks could have been quite large. The naturally growing food for them would be limited; therefore, some of the food had to be stored for winter. Therefore, the shepherds would have had to travel with their flocks to find adequate grazing lands. This would be when threats from thieves and wild animals would have been most prevalent. The sheep would be out in open fields completely unprotected. Is it realistic to believe that they would do so with so precious a commodity? Remember, the sheep were not only for food and sacrifices, but were used as currency at the time. The sheep used for the sacrifices also had to be without spot or blemish; therefore, the shepherds were constantly mindful to protect them from even getting bruised. And we all know how cautious the Jews are with money. I am sure that there would have been shepherds guarding them at all times.
The last reference makes it clear that the shepherds referred to in Luke were watching over the sheep that were raised specifically for sacrificial purposes close to Bethlehem. The sheep that were raised there were known as fat-tailed sheep. The fat tail was the most favoured part of the animal as far as eating goes. This specific breed can and does give birth in the fall. All the references Cahn makes to the birthing of the lambs could; therefore, equally apply to the fall births of this particular breed of sheep. It is difficult to believe that the shepherds would have abandoned their posts guarding these very special sheep unprotected while they went to see the wonder that the angel described. But this passage does not say that ALL the shepherds went to the stable; so perhaps they did leave a couple behind to tend to any birthing duties.
Cahn claims to be quoting the Talmud as his source for this information: however, he does not reference where in the Talmud.
So we will have to mark a big “?” beside this argument by Cahn. However, I did find the information about the sheep being laid in a manger and being wrapped in “swaddling clothes” to be new and quite interesting; but it could just as easily been referring to the fat-tailed sheep being born in the fall.
Taxation
I had thought that the following might have provided a clue
Luke 2. 1 - And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 - (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
This was a second census. There was a previous one in 6-5 BC. This earlier census would have been the one that marked the birth of Yahushua. Since the Herod that officiated at the “Massacre of the Innocents” died in 4 BC., this census would had to have occurred within the 2 years prior.
http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/firstcensus.htm
The question concerning Quirinius also involves the date of the census described in Luke 2. It is known that Quirinius was made governor of Syria by Augustus in AD 6. Archaeologist Sir William Ramsay discovered several inscriptions that indicated that Quirinius was governor of Syria on two occasions, the first time several years prior to this date [4. Robert Boyd, Tells, Tombs, and Treasure (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1969), p. 175]. Within the cycle of taxation-censuses mentioned above, an earlier taxation would be dated from 10-4 BC [5. Cf. Bruce, Christian Origins, pp. 193-194 with Boyd, Tells, p. 175. Bruce prefers the date 10-9 BC for the empire-wide census, with that which took place in Judea occurring a few years later. Boyd places the date of the earlier census 6-5 BC, which coincides closely with the accepted dates for Jesus' birth]. Another possibility is Bruce's suggestion that the Greek in Luke 2.2 is equally translatable as "This enrollment (census) was before that made when Quirinius was governor of Syria" [6. Bruce, Christian Origins, p. 192]. This would mean that Luke was dating the taxation-census before Quirinius took over the governorship of Syria. Either possibility answers the question raised above [7. While ruling out the two-date approach to the governorship of Quirinius, Sherwin-White basically vindicates Luke's account, while still finding more problems that does Bruce (pp. 162-171)].
Luke 2:3 - And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 - And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 - To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Note that this was not a tax directed specifically at the Jews alone. Verse one states that “all the world should be taxed. So this was a tax imposed on all nations within the Roman Empire; and because of the census being taken first, I can only conclude that it was some sort of head tax.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson-fausset-brown/luke/luke-2.html
“2. first . . . when Cyrenius, & c.--a very perplexing verse, inasmuch as Cyrenius, or Quirinus, appears not to have been governor of Syria for about ten years after the birth of Christ, and the "taxing" under his administration was what led to the insurrection mentioned in Acts 5:37 . That there was a taxing, however, of the whole Roman Empire under Augustus, is now admitted by all; and candid critics, even of skeptical tendency, are ready to allow that there is not likely to be any real inaccuracy in the statement of our Evangelist. Many superior scholars would render the words thus, "This registration was previous to Cyrenius being governor of Syria"--as the word "first" is rendered in John 1:15 , 15:18 . In this case, of course, the difficulty vanishes. But it is perhaps better to suppose, with others, that the registration may have been ordered with a view to the taxation, about the time of our Lord's birth, though the taxing itself--an obnoxious measure in Palestine--was not carried out till the time of Quirinus.
3. went . . . to his own city--the city of his extraction, according to the Jewish custom, not of his abode, which was the usual Roman method.”
“One of the main responsibilities of the Roman provincial governor was to oversee the collection of taxes.
Taxes proper were of two kinds. There was the tax on landed property and the poll tax — tributum soli or agri and tributum capitis … As Judaea was (after 6 A.D.) an imperial province, its taxes were paid not into the aerarium, or treasury of the Senate but into the fiscus or imperial treasury [Muirhead, 1907, p. 44].
The Romans exacted from the Palestinians (to the same extent as from the natives of other countries subject to Rome) a water-tax, a city-tax, a tax on such necessities of life as meat and salt, a road-tax and a house tax [Klausner, 1929, p. 188]. Frontier taxes were especially difficult. At every stopping place some tax was levied. The result was that sometimes the price of a good exceeded one hundred times its original cost. Despite the tremendous tax burden, a portion of the Jews became wealthy through trade. Shipping was one of their chief concerns.”
Who ruled Jerusalem at the time of Yahushua’s Birth?
Most Christian commentators place the Messiah’s birth at 3-4bc. In the video, Cahn points to 6bc as the year of his birth. At first I thought he may have been wrong on that point also; however, we will do a thorough study on this matter as well and see what comes out.
https://www.reference.com/history/julius-caesar-s-nephew-ed77d4afad19f991?qo=contentSimilarQuestions
Julius Caesar's great-nephew was Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire. He was born Gaius Octavius in 63 BC, the son of Caesar's niece Atai. Caesar had no sons of his own so he named Octavius as his heir.
Upon his adoption, he took his grand-uncle's name which historians abbreviate as Octavian. After Caesar's assassination, Octavian formed an alliance with Mark Antony to wage war against the conspirators. Octavian and Antony warred against each other several years later, culminating in Octavian's victory at the battle of Actium in 31 BC. In 27 BC, the Roman Senate bestowed upon him the title of Augustus.
This was who ruled the entire Roman Empire at the time of Yahushua’s birth – Caesar Augustus. His rule would continue till his death in 14bc. If born in 6bc, Yahushua would have been 19 or 20 years of age when Caesar Augustus died.
https://www.reference.com/history/first-roman-emperor-ccb296443a3a2f81?qo=cdpArticles
Augustus Caesar, also known as Gaius Octavius, was the first Roman emperor, and ruled the Roman Empire between 31 B.C. and his death in A.D. 14. Some historians date his reign beginning in 27 B.C., when he dispensed with republican titles and accepted the title "Augustus."
It is not clear as to when emperor worship began in Rome. I imagine it began with this man. Today we have another man claiming to be “God on Earth” – the Pope. Like I have for a long time maintained, the RCC is nothing more than the continuation of the Roman Empire, and has indeed ruled since the supposed defeat of Rome, and does indeed rule the world up to this very day. And, as the Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel imply, will rule up until the second coming of HaMashiyack.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quirinius
After the banishment of the ethnarch Herod Archelaus in 6 AD, Iudaea (the conglomeration of Samaria, Judea and Idumea) came under direct Roman administration with Coponius appointed as prefect. At the same time, Quirinius was appointed Legate of Syria, with instructions to assess Iudea Province for taxation purposes.[8] One of his first duties was to carry out a census as part of this order.[9]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_of_Quirinius
The Census of Quirinius was a census of Judaea taken by Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, Roman governor of Syria, upon the imposition of direct Roman rule in 6 CE.[1] The Jewish historian Josephus portrays the annexation and census as the cause of an uprising which later became identified with the Zealot movement.
The author of the Gospel of Luke uses it as the narrative means by which Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5),[2] and places the census within the reign of Herod the Great, who actually died 10 years earlier in 4 BCE.[3] It is argued that no satisfactory explanation has been put forward so far to resolve the contradiction,[4] and Raymond E Brown considered that "most critical scholars think that the author of the gospel made a mistake".
This was not the same Herod that officiated over Judah at the time of Yahushua’s birth. That Herod was Herod the Great who died in 4bc. Since his decree to kill all Jewish male children less than 2 years of age, Yahushua must have been born within 2 years of Herod’s death – 4-6bc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great
Herod (/ˈhɛrəd/; Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס, Hordos, Greek: Ἡρῴδης, Hērōdēs; 74/73 BCE – 4 BCE),[1][2][3][4][5] also known as Herod the Great and Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea,[6][7][8] referred to as the Herodian kingdom. The history of his legacy has polarized opinion, as he is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea, including his expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (Herod's Temple), the construction of the port at Caesarea Maritima, the fortress at Masada and Herodium. Vital details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus. Herod also appears in the Christian Gospel of Matthew as the ruler of Judea who orders the Massacre of the Innocents at the time of the birth of Jesus. Despite his successes, including singlehandedly forging a new aristocracy from practically nothing,[9] he still garnered criticism from various historians. His reign polarizes opinion amongst scholars and historians, some viewing his legacy as evidence of success, or a reminder of his tyrannical rule.
Upon Herod's death, the Romans divided his kingdom among three of his sons and his sister—Archelaus became ethnarch of the tetrarchy of Judea, Herod Antipas became tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, Philip became tetrarch of territories east of the Jordan, and Salome I was given a toparchy including the cities of Jabneh, Ashdod, and Phasaelis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#New_Testament_references
Main article: Massacre of the Innocents
Herod appears in the Gospel according to Matthew (2:1-23), which describes an event known as the Massacre of the Innocents. According to this account, after the birth of Jesus, some magi (astrologers) from the East visited Herod to inquire the whereabouts of "the one having been born king of the Jews", because they had seen his star in the east (or, according to certain translations, at its rising) and therefore wanted to pay him homage. Herod, as King of the Jews, was alarmed at the prospect of a usurper. Herod assembled the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the "Anointed One" (the Messiah, Greek: Ὁ Χριστός, ho Christos) was to be born. They answered, in Bethlehem, citing Micah 5:2. Herod therefore sent the magi to Bethlehem, instructing them to search for the child and, after they had found him, to "report to me, so that I too may go and worship him". However, after they had found Jesus, they were warned in a dream not to report back to Herod. Similarly, Joseph was warned in a dream that Herod intended to kill Jesus, so he and his family fled to Egypt. When Herod realized he had been outwitted, he gave orders to kill all boys of the age of two and under in Bethlehem and its vicinity. Joseph and his family stayed in Egypt until Herod's death, then moved to Nazareth in Galilee to avoid living under Herod's son Archelaus.
Regarding the Massacre of the Innocents, although Herod was guilty of many brutal acts including the killing of his wife and two of his sons, no other contemporary source refers to the massacre.[38] One reason that has been put forward for the lack of other sources for the alleged massacre is that Bethlehem was a small village, and thus the number of male children under the age of two might not have exceeded 20.[39] Of recent biographers of Herod, most doubt the event took place,[40] with one exception, Stewart Perowne, who deems the killing "wholly in keeping with all that we know of him."[41] Other scholars such as Jack Finegan,[42]A. Schalit,[43] and Richard T. France[44] support the historicity of the event, or at least state there is nothing impossible about this command from Herod.[45]
Something is certainly amiss in Luke’s recollection of events. All of these events had to have happened before 4bc, when Herod died. Let’s take another look at Luke 2:1-2.
Luke 2:1 - And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 -(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Verse two is the one that is suspect. Why is it in brackets?
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson-fausset-brown/luke/luke-2.html
2. first . . . when Cyrenius, &c.--a very perplexing verse, inasmuch as Cyrenius, or Quirinus, appears not to have been governor of Syria for about ten years after the birth of Christ, and the "taxing" under his administration was what led to the insurrection mentioned in Acts 5:37 . That there was a taxing, however, of the whole Roman Empire under Augustus, is now admitted by all; and candid critics, even of skeptical tendency, are ready to allow that there is not likely to be any real inaccuracy in the statement of our Evangelist. Many superior scholars would render the words thus, "This registration was previous to Cyrenius being governor of Syria"--as the word "first" is rendered in John 1:15 , 15:18 . In this case, of course, the difficulty vanishes. But it is perhaps better to suppose, with others, that the registration may have been ordered with a view to the taxation, about the time of our Lord's birth, though the taxing itself--an obnoxious measure in Palestine--was not carried out till the time of Quirinus.
Brackets are normally used by writers to clarify a point made in a statement. I use them all the time for that purpose. They also indicate that whatever statement they wrap themselves around, did not appear in, nor were intended to be part of the original document. So; therefore, I would contend that Luke 2 was added for clarification purposes by some latter Greek translator, and was not part of the original copy (which, according to the RCC, does no longer exist). Due to many other distortions of the truth in the New Testament by Greek translators, this entire verse becomes suspect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus
Beyond the frontiers, he secured the Empire with a buffer region of client states and made peace with the Parthian Empire through diplomacy. He reformed the Roman system of taxation, developed networks of roads with an official courier system, established a standing army, established the Praetorian Guard, created official police and fire-fighting services for Rome, and rebuilt much of the city during his reign.
Counting Backwards from the Time Yahushua began his Ministry
Luke 3:1 - Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 - Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson-fausset-brown/luke/luke-3.html
1, 2. Here the curtain of the New Testament is, as it were, drawn up, and the greatest of all epochs of the Church commences. Even our Lord's own age ( Luke 3:23 ) is determined by it [BENGEL]. No such elaborate chronological precision is to be found elsewhere in the New Testament, and it comes fitly from him who claims it as the peculiar recommendation of his Gospel, that he had "accurately traced down all things from the first" ( Luke 1:3 ). Here, evidently, commences his proper narrative.
the fifteenth year of Tiberius--reckoning from the period when he was admitted, three years before Augustus' death, to a share of the empire [WEBSTER and WILKINSON], about the end of the year of Rome 779, or about four years before the usual reckoning.
Pilate . . . governor of Judea--His proper title was Procurator, but with more than the usual powers of that office. After holding it about ten years he was ordered to Rome, to answer to charges brought against him, but ere he arrived Tiberius died (A.D. 35), and soon after Pilate committed suicide.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius
Tiberius (Latin: Tiberius Caesar Dīvī Augustī Fīlius Augustus;[1][2] 16 November 42 BC – 16 March 37 AD) was a Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Born Tiberius Claudius Nero, a Claudian, Tiberius was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Octavian, later known as Augustus, in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great
Herod (/ˈhɛrəd/; Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס, Hordos, Greek: Ἡρῴδης, Hērōdēs; 74/73 BCE – 4 BCE),[
Herod also appears in the Christian Gospel of Matthew as the ruler of Judea who orders the Massacre of the Innocents at the time of the birth of Jesus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas
Herod Antipater (Greek: Ἡρῴδης Ἀντίπατρος, Hērǭdēs Antipatros; born before 20 BC – died after 39 AD)
He is best known today for accounts in the New Testament of his role in events that led to the executions of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth.
And so, we have one Herod (the Great) attempting to kill the Messiah soon after his birth and Herod’s son (Antipater) actually killing Yahushua as an adult.
So, it was Herod the Great who was responsible the killing of the Innocents. He died in 4 BC. That means that the latest that Yahushua could have been born was 4 BC, but since Herod killed all the children under two years of age, 6 BC is likely the more accurate date. This would mean that Cahn is correct in establishing the date of Yahushua’s birth no later than 6 BC.
Well this creates a problem in that if he was born in 6 BC, he would have begun his ministry in 24 BC (30 years old) and would have been crucified in 27/28 BC. (at age 33 ½ years).
Most biblical scholars place the death of the Messiah in 31AD; however, that cannot be true if he were born in 6BC. They base their understanding on the fact that the Passover in 31AD fell on a Wednesday.
Well, it just so happens that in the year 28 BC the Passover also fell on a Wednesday. (Check chart below). This would be a full three years prior to when most scholars place the Crucifixion (31 AD). However, as we see above, the math is pretty irrefutable.
This point in history (24BC) also marked the beginning of both John the Baptist’s ministry and Yahushua’s. John began in the spring, likely around Passover (also the season in which John was born). It appears to be the only date reference given in the NT. So, if we can determine what year this was, we can count back 30 years to the time of Yahushua’s birth. Anyone reading this would assume that Tiberius’ reign began when the former Emperor died in 14bc. Add 15 years to that time would make the commencement of John’s ministry in 29bc. Thus, if both he and Yahushua were 30 years old at the time, they would have had to of have been born in 1bc. This would place the crucifixion in 33bc, when Yahushua would have been 33 ½ years of age. However, the Passover on that year occurred on a Saturday and could not have been the year Yahushua died.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_of_Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus occurred in 1st century Judea, most probably between the years 30 and 33 AD. Jesus' crucifixion is described in the four canonical gospels, referred to in the New Testament epistles, attested to by other ancient sources, and is established as a historical event confirmed by non-Christian sources,[1] although, among historians, there is no consensus on the precise details of what exactly occurred
However, if we if we begin counting four years earlier (10bc), we end up with 25bc being the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius. Add 3 1/2 years and we get a 29bc date for the crucifixion, which would conclude that Yahushua was born in 4bc, which is the commonly accepted year of our Saviour’s birth. However, this creates yet one more point of confusion.
Passover on a Wednesday
There is one more factor to figure into the equation as to what year Yahushua was born and that is to determine first what year he died. We know that according to prophesy, Yahushua was to be cut off in the middle of the week (Wednesday). So we need to determine which year did the Passover occur on a Wednesday? Let’s examine the following chart.
Passover dates 26-34 A.D.
The following astronomical data in the first three columns below was obtained from the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department. The pertinent file may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/spring-phenom .
Note. The times of day given in the second and third columns have been adjusted +2 hours from U.S. Naval Observatory figures to account for the difference between Jerusalem Israel and Greenwich England (universal) time.
It should also be noted that the first evening of a visible crescent moon (column 4) always occurs only minutes after sundown, which is at the very beginning of a new day on the Hebrew calendar. This Hebrew day correlates to the following day on our Gregorian calendar as noted in the chart below (column 5). Column 6 is Passover dates for the given years.
* Midnight at the end of the given day.
** Conjunction occurs too late in the day for crescent to be seen from Jerusalem the next evening.
This chart shows that there were two years in the grouping in which the 14th (Passover) lands on a Wednesday (highlighted in yellow). The first was in 28ad. The second was in the year 31 AD. Take away 33 ½ years from the 28ad mark and we end up at the Feast of Tabernacles in 6 BC. If we go by the year 31ad, we end up with his birth having to be in 3bc. Since Herod the Great would have already been dead for 1 year, this cannot be the year Yahushua was born (nor, therefore the year (31AD) that He died). It would have had to have been the earlier date – 6BC for his birth and 28AD for when he died.
You might have noticed that I highlighted two other dates on the chart (in green) – 27 and 30ad. Notice that the Passover was on a Friday in each of these years. Each of these preceded a year in which the Passover occurred on a Wednesday. Could this be another source of confusion concerning the “Good Friday” doctrine? I can’t say for sure, but it is an interesting possibility.
I also contacted Harold Smith of the “He That Has An Ear” website, a teacher whom I well respect on such matters, for an answer to this question. The following was his answer.
Yeshua was 33 1/2 years old at the time of his death. His ministry begins at age 30 (Luke 3:23 - click highlighted words to view content). with his baptism by John the Immerser approximately six months prior to the first Passover of His ministry (John 2:13, John 1:33-34, John 2:23). The second Passover is recorded in John 5:1. If the "feast" mentioned here is not the Passover Feast, then it would be one of the other two major feasts, either the Feast of Weeks (seven weeks after the second Passover) or the Feast of Tabernacles (six months after the second Passover) - but, still occurring within the same year. The third Passover, at the feeding of the 5,000, is mentioned in John 6:4 with the fourth and final Passover, coming when he is crucified, mentioned in John 11:55. Using this chronological information, it appears that Yeshua's ministry lasted around 3 1/2 years - making him 33 1/2 when He was crucified at Pesach (Passover) which occurs in the spring (John 19:13-15).
However, John’s gospel is the only one that mentions Yahushua going to Jerusalem some time following His baptism for the Passover. All the other gospels have Him going immediately into the wilderness to be tempted of Satan immediately following His baptism and afterward going to Capernaum where He began to preach. None of the gospels mention a six month period between the baptism and the 1st keeping of the Passover following His baptism. However, from what John writes, one can assume that it was before that Passover.
Then, as Harold points out, there are 3 Passovers mentioned in John within the time frame of Yahushua’s ministry. The first occurred sometime after he began His ministry. The only real clue to this rendering is that Yahushua “began to be about thirty years of age” when he was baptized and began His ministry.
Luke 3:23 - And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
The way this is worded, it would seem that it was very close to his actual birthday when he was baptized and began his ministry. And since we know it was sometime before that first Passover recorded in John, and we also know that Yahuwah uses His set-apart days for significant events (which Yahushua’s baptism would qualify as) one can logically assume it was around the fall festival season when He began to be about thirty years of age, and when he was baptized and began his ministry.
So, If he turned 30 during the fall festival season. It is obvious that that is when He was born.
It also would make perfect sense that if John began his ministry at Passover, Yahushua would have begun His in the fall at the Feast of Tabernacles, with both dates corresponding with their births.
The Mystery of Abia (Abiyah)- VTM 16:28
Luke 1:5 -There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
8 - And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before Elohim in the order of his course,
9 - According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of Yahuwah.
Let’s now try to determine when Zacharias served in the temple.
Abia
http://www.angelfire.com/nv/TheOliveBranch/append179d.html
III. "THE COURSE OF ABIA" (Luke 1:5).
This was the eighth of the priestly courses of ministration in the Temple (I Chron. 24:10), and occurred, as did the others, twice in the year.
The "Courses" were changed every week, beginning each with a Sabbath. The reckoning commenced on the 22nd day of Tisri or Ethanim (Ap. 51. 5). This was the eighth and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles = the "Great Day of the Feast" (John 7:37), and was a Sabbath (Lev. 23:39)
The first course fell by lot to Jehoiarib, and the eighth to Abia or Abijah (1Chron. 24:10).
Bearing in mind that all the courses served together at the three Great Feasts, the dates for the two yearly "ministrations" of Abiah will be seen to fall as follows:
The first (*1) ministration was from 12 - 18 Chisleu = December 6 - 12.
The second ministration was from 12 -18 Sivan = June 13 - 19.
The announcement therefore to Zacharias in the Temple as to the conception of John the Baptist took place between 12 - 18 SIVAN (June 13 -19), in the year 5 B.C. After finishing his "ministration", the aged priest "departed to his own house" (Luke 1:23) which was in a city (*2) in "the hill country" of Judah (verse 39).
The day following the end of the "Course of Abia" being a Sabbath (Sivan 19), he would not be able to leave Jerusalem before the 20th.
The thirty miles journey would probably occupy, for an old man, a couple of days at least. He would therefore arrive at his house on the 21st or 22nd. This leaves ample time for the miraculous "conception" of Elizabeth to take place on or about the 23rd of Sivan (*3) - which would correspond to June 23 -24 of that year. The fact of the conception and it's date would necessarily be known at the time and afterwards, and hence the 23rd of SIVAN would henceforth be associated with the conception of John the Baptist as the 1st of TEBETH would be with that of our Lord.
Well, this information certainly contradicts what Cahn claims – but also what numerous other sources say. Cahn has the order of priestly service beginning 4 days after the spring equinox and the raising up of the first tabernacle (tent), as do many other sources. And I will admit that his reasoning does make a great deal of sense. However, the source above places the beginning of the new Priestly calendar on the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth), which is a High Set-Apart day known as Shmini Atzeret. Yet, the Jews have long set the beginning of the new year at Rosh Hashanah – the only high day that occurs both at the beginning of the month and at the new moon. Why this priestly calendar would begin on the last day of tabernacles I do not know.
However, even with this starting date, the course of Abiyah still lands in the spring (May/June) and the winter, December. The only difference is that instead of beginning their service for any given year in the spring, they begin in the fall (or winter).
I do not agree with this report, but in this case, I agree with Cahn, that the priestly service begins in Nisan 4 days following the spring equinox. However, that throws all of Cahn other reckonings out the window.
The first period of service for the course of Abiyah remains in May/June, with John being conceived almost immediately after Zacharias returned home (late June). Six months later, when Yahushua was conceived would still bring us to a December date (possibly during the second time the course of Abiyah would have served in the Temple that year, and nine months later, still brings us to a fall birth for the Messiah. Clearly it was John the Baptist that was born in the Passover season, not Yahushua.
I had always thought that the orders were served within two consecutive weeks at the same time of year. Apparently this was not so. They instead served one week at two separate times of the year, ergo the problem! If one calculates Yahushua’s birth from the December date, one ends up with a spring birth. If one calculates from the June date, one ends up with a fall birth. Now what do we do? How do we determine which time of servitude was being referred to?
One thing that is clearly apparent is that the first course of Abiyah occurs 8 weeks following the point of counting – the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles, known as the Last Great day or Shmini Atzeret. This would bring us into December as the first occurrence of Abiyah’s service in the Temple. . The only special days in December are the 7 days of Hanukah. These are not set-apart days such as Passover etc.
The next time of service would have been during six months later at the time of the Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost. This is a Set-Apart day and was special for a number of reasons. Most importantly it was when the Set-Apart spirit came upon the disciples following the death and resurrection of Yahushua. I would think it would be far more likely that this would have been the time when the Angel visited Zacharias in the Temple. Where things might get confusing is that all the priests served in the temple in the weeks that the annual Set-Apart days occurred; but the record clearly shows that it would the course of Abiyah’s turn as well.
The wife of Zacharias conceived immediately following her husband’s return home from his service in the Temple. Six months following this time would be in December or Kislev that Yahushua was conceived (perhaps during Zacharias’ next term in the Temple). This would have been around the time Mary announced her pregnancy to Elizabeth.
The Scriptures are very specific about Elizabeth being in the sixth month of her pregnancy at the time. Add 9 months and you come up with a September (specifically Rosh Hashanah) birth for Yahushua. This day is also known as the Feast of Trumpets which usually announces the arrival of a king. It is also when Yahushua is expected to return to claim His kingdom. Clearly it was John, not Yahushua that was born around the time of the Passover (in the spring).
Cahn explanation gets a little fuzzy concerning the starting point of the Priestly calendar and the time of Abiyah’s service. If I am correct, he claims that the Priestly calendar begins in March, four days following the spring equinox (March 20th) which brings us to March 24th. Add 8 Weeks to this date and we arrive at May 19th. Of course we know that the Day of Pentecost does not always occur on any specific date on the Gregorian calendar. It usually falls sometime between late May and early June. It depends on which day the wave sheaf offering occurs. One should still end up with the springtime service being the one in which Yahuwah visited Zacharias in the Temple.
I cannot see Cahn being ignorant of this information concerning two periods of service within any given year. However, he omits this second period of service altogether; and I find this information vital to understanding this question. At the same time it is not my place to judge Cahn’s heart on this manner – so I would prefer to say that he is honestly mistaken.
Change to Calendar
Cahn makes an issue of Yahushua bringing a change to the Calendar. However, that change does not accurately reflect the year of Yahushua’s birth; nor does it appear on the Hebrew calendar, only the Roman. Therefore, I have a problem relating any significance to this idea or any factual support.
Of course, Cahn is taking about the change from BC to AD. Well, was it Yahushua that instituted that change, or was it man? Yahushua was a Jew. Everyone seems to forget that. He would have observed the Jewish calendar, not the Roman (Christian). Was such a change instituted in the Jewish calendar? No, it was not! The current year on the Jewish calendar is 5777. That is counting from the day that Adam was created. There is no division of BC or AD, just one continuous straight line. So it appears that this division of time was created by the Romans (or the RCC) and not Yahushua at all. That is likely why it is so confusing. I believe that there may have been a conscious effort on behalf of both the Romans and the Jews to confuse the timing of Yahushua’s birth.
Of course, the other most obvious question is how did they determine this point of a year zero when it is crystal clear and affirmed by everyone that Yahushua was born 4-6 years prior to this point? To agree with Yahushua being 33 ½ years old at the time of His death the year of the crucifixion would have to be 34 Ad. In that year, Passover (14th) began on Wednesday night and the Feast of Unleavened Bread would have commenced at sunset Thursday – a full day after the Passover week described in the NT. This would place his resurrection at sunset of the Sunday instead of at the end of the Sabbath.
Anyway, this is food for another study which I may pursue at another date.
Mystery of the Moon
Cahn attempts to make the point that Yahushua was born on the first of Nisan because that was the beginning of the new year and that Yahushua’s beginning would coincide with that beginning. Again, Cahn is wrong. Yahushua’s birth has to coincide with Yahuwah’s Set-Apart days. The beginning of every month is a new moon day. There is only one set-apart day that occurs at the beginning of a month and that is Tishri 1 – a new moon day, and also Rosh Hashanah, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Certainly, if all other significant events occur on Set-Apart days, surely the physical birth of the long awaited Saviour would merit such timing as well.
Cahn also make an issue that if born on Tishri 1, that Joseph would have been required to be in Jerusalem on that significant Set-Apart day. Well as we all know, babies usually do not come exactly when one expects them to. Joseph and Mary were on their way to Jerusalem to keep the feast. However, the Romans had declared that a census was to be taken throughout the land for the purpose of taxation. What better time to collect taxes from the Jews than following the harvest, when their pockets would have been loaded with money to pay their tithes. And, they were ordered to go to their city of origin to do so; which for Joseph was Bethlehem. Bethlehem, was on their way to Jerusalem. Perhaps it was the day before Rosh Hashanah. Perhaps he was not born till after sunset. No one knows. Bethlehem is 11.1 kilometers or 6.897 206 439 4 miles [survey, US) from Jerusalem; which is perhaps a 2 hour walk. Normally the allowable Sabbath day’s walk was 2,000 cubits (3,000 ft.-938 m. However, under extenuating circumstances, such as it being an annual feast day when all were to come to Jerusalem and there may not have been room in Jerusalem for everyone, they may have made an exception.
However, the symbolism of being laid in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes (or cloth) coinciding with the birthing of the sacrificial sheep (which we have already determined would have been in the fall), in my opinion leaves little doubt that it was in the fall, at the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) when Yahushua would have been born.
Mystery of the Stars
I am not much on astrology. If this particular sign (Jupiter in the sign of Aries) only occurs every 6,000 years, when will it occur again? If it occurred in 6 BC, the next time will be in the year 6006, long after the Messiah establishes His eternal Kingdom on earth. . The previous one would have been 5,994 BC which (according to the Hebrew calendar would have been before the creation (Genesis version). So these dates obviously do not mean much to us. So how can we know for sure how often they come together?
If these signs are so cut and dry and calculable, why are we getting so many conflicting accounts of when this sign occurred? Well, perhaps counting on astrology for establishing truth is meant to be confusing. I do not know for sure. As I said earlier, I am not much on astrology.
Conclusion
So, what I have basically concluded from this study is that Jonathon Cahn was correct in establishing the Year of Yahushua’s birth in 6BC. He is; however, wrong concerning the time of the year. Being a Rabbi, I am sure that many are going to jump to the conclusion that he must be right about everything. I am also sure that Christians of varying denominations believe that their priests and ministers are likewise incapable of error.
This is what makes “churchology” work – ignoring the facts and simply believing what some man tells you. That does not work for me and I am sure it doesn’t work for any of my fellow true Believers. It is the need to search and prove all things that has brought us all to where we are today.
Cahn obviously omitted some facts which I feel he should have known, such as that the course of Abiyah occurred at two different times of the year. And also, that all the orders served in the temple during the annual Set-Apart Days.
Cahn also denies that Yahushua’s ministry was 3 ½ years, or that Yahushua was 33 ½ years old when He was murdered – even though the Gospel of John plainly records these two facts. If he died on the Passover, and he was 33 ½ years old at the time, then he would have had to of been born in the fall on or very close to Rosh Hashanah.
All the business concerning the stars and astrology appears to be a science that no one is in agreement on. Therefore, I must disregard it almost altogether for now and set it aside for further study in the future. Perhaps this is why Yahuwah condemns such science.
I also feel that Cahn should have also known about the fat-tailed sheep (which were used specifically for sacrificial purposes and kept in Bethlehem) gave birth in the fall. I cannot believe that a Rabbi would not have known this.
The only thing I can really credit Cahn for is inspiring me to do this study. I did learn much from it. For example, I formerly believed that Yahushua was born in 4 BC. I now know that would have been impossible, and that he was, instead, born in 6 BC.
I also previously thought that Yahushua died in 31 BC. I now know that he died in 28BC.
I never knew anything before about the fat-tailed sheep that were specifically used for the Temple sacrifices or that they were born in the fall.
So, again I say, do not believe me, but study and prove all things for yourself. If you come to any disagreement with my conclusions, please let me know. I am always interested in proof-checking my studies.
Yahuwah Bless
Gary Primo
Appendix 1
http://www.sabbath.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/ARTB/k/568/When-Was-Jesus-Born.htm
The Course of Abiyah
To date Jesus' birth, we need a starting point. Fortunately, Luke supplies one in mentioning "the course of Abijah" (Luke 1:5). Is it possible to know if this course existed then, when it fell during the year, and how long it lasted?
Indeed it is!
I Chronicles 24 lists the courses, divisions or shifts of the priesthood that served in the Temple throughout the year. Verse 1 states, "These are the divisions of the sons of Aaron." Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen heads of their father's house, while among the sons of Ithamar were eight additional heads of house, making twenty-four courses (verse 4).
These courses of priests were divided by lot to be officials of the sanctuary and of the house of God (verse 5). Beginning on Nisan 1, these courses rotated throughout the year, serving in the Temple for one week apiece. The course of Abijah, the course during which Zacharias was responsible to work, was the eighth shift (verse 10).
Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian—who was, by the way, of the priestly lineage of the course of Jehoiarib, the first course—supplies further information about the priestly courses.
"He [David] divided them also into courses: and when he had separated the priests from them, he found of these priests twenty-four courses, sixteen of the house of Eleazar and eight of that of Ithamar; and he ordained that one course should minister to God [during] eight days, from [noon] Sabbath to [noon on the following] Sabbath. And thus were the courses distributed by lot, in the presence of David, and Zadok and Abiathar the high priest, and of all the rulers: and that course which came up first was written down as the first, and accordingly the second, and so on to the twenty-fourth; and this partition hath remained to this day" (Antiquities of the Jews, 7:14.7).
These courses were strictly followed until the Temple was destroyed in AD 70.
The Talmud describes the details of the rotation of courses, beginning on Nisan 1. With only twenty-four courses, obviously each course was required to work twice a year, leaving three extra weeks. (The Hebrew year normally has fifty-one weeks. Intercalary, or leap, years have an additional four weeks.) The three holy day seasons, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, during which all the courses were required to serve, made up these three extra weeks. Thus, each of the courses worked five weeks out of the year: two in their specific courses and three during the holy day seasons.
Appendix 2
Oh well, back to my point. Zechariah is from Abijah's order, the eighth in line according to 1 Chronicles 24. What is the definition of serving as the eight in line? In the Mishnah, which is the record of the oral traditions, we are told that each of the families of the priests was require to perform two weeks of Temple service every religious year beginning with the first Sabbath of Abib which is two weeks before Passover. The two weeks of service were not consecutive; they were simply required to do one week twice a year.