OT:4150 mowed` (mo-ade'); or moed` (mo-ade'); or (feminine) mow` adah (2 Chron 8:13) (mo-aw-daw'); from OT:3259; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): KJV - appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed). OT:3259 ya` ad (yaw-ad'); a primitive root; to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication, to meet (at a stated time), to summon (to trial), to direct (in a certain quarter or position), to engage (for marriage): -agree, make an) appoint (-ment, a time), assemble (selves), betroth, gather (selves, together), meet (together), set (a time). ***. Ye` dow See OT:3260. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.)

Carefully reviewing the definitions above in consideration of Biblical principles related to the Sabbaths and Feast days, we can see that the word "season" is really about an appointed time for a congregational assembly because of a covenant, marriage or betrothal to our Heavenly Father.  In light of our study, the key Hebrew terms reveal that the moon is critical to knowing Yahuah's Appointed Times.

A couple years ago, a brethren of mine through an unusual experience discovered passages in commentaries  written by ancient Jewish sages that revealed a profound concept.  In these writings that are nearly 2,000 years old, it was noted, "The nations in the world reckon by the sun and Yisrael by the moon".   The passage was found in the midst of a 2,000 page, twenty-two volume collection of commentary on the Bible written by Rabbis who focused on the spiritual or mystical aspect of the scriptures.  This work is coined the "Zohar" meaning splendor in Hebrew.  In a later chapter we'll examine the significance of the terms these Rabbi's used that support Sabbaths as Appointed Times.

For now let's take a general look at a series of scriptures that associate Sabbaths, Renewed Moons and Appointed Times at a P'shat and Remez level.  P'shat is the level which is the explicit, straightforward, or simple meaning, and Remez is implied, or hints in a thread of allegories or symbols.  Again, in a subsequent chapter, we will cover in detail scripture that explicitly associate Sabbaths as Appointed Times, and the association of Renewed Moons to Sabbaths and Appointed Times.  These chapters will take a deeper and more technical approach that analyzes the Hebrew definitions in consideration of these relationships.  It was noted by referencing the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia in an earlier chapter that the Renewed Moons were kept as Sabbaths.  Let's read the relevant scriptures.

Illustration of the Biblical Months & Counting of the Omer:

Let's take a graphical look at a pure lunar based Biblical calendar and how it works.  The following calendars are for the months that have the the three pilgrimage Feast Days, Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), Sukkoth (Feast of Tabernacles); and the days for Counting of the Omer.  The Counting of the Omer is the commanded 50 day count from "the day after the Sabbath" during the week of Passover (Pesach) to Shavuot (Pentecost), Leviticus 23:15-21.  The Counting of the Omer is simple and clear in context of a pure lunar based Biblical calendar.

In order to keep this count accurate, and keep Shavuot (Pentecost) at the Appointed Time, it must be in the right context of Biblical Timekeeping.  If we make a mistake in the Counting of the Omer, we will keep Shavuot (Pentecost) on the wrong day.  Yeshua's (Christ's) disciples carefully waited for this day in order to receive the anointing of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).  It is written in Acts 2:1-4 (KJV), "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."  Today, the Body Messiah is in many different accords.  In this season, there are more than a dozen different days that the Body of Messiah keeps Shavuot (Pentecost). 

Shavuot is not the only time our Heavenly Father directs us to count days in order to receive a blessing.  In Daniel 12:11-12, it is written, "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.  Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days."  Like Shavuot, a blessing is received when we reach the end of this count.  In Psalm 90:12 (KJV) it is written, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." If we are on the wrong calendar, our count will be off.

Biblical months are numbered from one to twenty-nine or thirty days.  The lunar cycle for the months are 29.5 days.  Therefore, when we account for time according to Yahuah's timekeeping, months alternate between 29 and 30 days each.  Every Biblical month looks like the calendars displayed.  The only exception is that some months have 29 days and others have 30 days.  In the examples, Abib has 29 days, Iyar has 30 days, Siwan has 29 days and Tishri has 30 days.  This was taken from an actual year.  Let's identify eight important principles in the calendars.

Weekly Sabbaths are always on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of the Biblical month.  Take a look at the column in the farthest right named "Sabbath" per each of the calendars.  Some months are 29 days and other months are 30 days.  Take a look at the last row of the calendars. When counting the omer in context of a pure lunar based Biblical calendar, Shavuot always falls on the 15th of Siwan and will always be the first day of the Biblical week because the 14th is always the 7th day of the Biblical week.  For the ancient Israelites, the full moon on the 15th of the month served as the evening light for their pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the three pilgrimage festivals.  Only in the context of a pure lunar based Biblical calendar will Shavuot fall on the 15th of the Biblical month during the full moons just like Pesach and Sukkoth. Notice the Renewed Moon periods, day 29 and 30, are counted the same as the 28th Sabbath of the month for the Counting of the Omer.  The length of the month does not effect the Counting of the Omer because days 29 and 30 are counted the same as day 28.  Some brethren don't place a count on these days.  In either case, the Counting of the Omer is not effected because mathematically it doesn't matter if you count or don't count these days.  The 7th day of both Pesach and Sukkoth are always the 7th day of the week.  This is the 21st day of the third week of the month. All three pilgrimage festivals are always preceded by a weekly Sabbath.  The one before Pesach is known as Shabbat HaGadol or "Great Sabbath." There are always exactly seven full weeks and seven Sabbaths before the 50th day in the Counting of the Omer no matter what year it is.  Take a look at the 7th day Sabbaths starting from Abib 28.  They are labeled "1st Sab," "2nd Sab," and so on. There cannot be more than two short months or two long months in a row.  If the first crescent is not sighted, the month automatically defaults to a 30 day month. The Biblical festival of Purim falls on the 14th and 15th of the month of Adar (Esther 9:17-32).  Scripture explicitly tells us it is on the 14th and 15th of Adar.  Notice the keeping of this festival follows in the same pattern as the three pilgrimage festivals; Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkoth.  Purim is observed also at the full moon.  The month of Adar is not illustrated here.