WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE JEWISH 19 YEAR TIME CYCLE CALENDAR?
The foundation is the Metonic cycle. At the following website is a brief description.
Quoting: "Metonic Cycle:
Meton of Athens (ca. 440 BC) noticed that 235 lunar months made up almost exactly 19 solar years. Using modern measurements, the near commensurability of the two periods follows from the fact that 235/19 is the 6th convergent of the ratio of the lunar month and solar year periods (365.2425/29.53059).
This 19-year lunar cycle became known as the Metonic cycle, and was the basis for the Greek calendar until the Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC. Since 12 lunar months equal 354.367 days, about 11 days less than a solar year, an additional lunar months were added to synchronize the cycle. These were added in years 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 16, and 19 of the cycle. The Metonic cycle was extended by Callippus to 4 19-year cycles, which is known as the Callipic cycle. Callipic Cycle, Hipparchic." Unquote.
The first 19 year time cycle calendar ---- note Metonic cycle above.
The basis for a Greek calendar ---- note Metonic cycle above.
The 19 year time cycle never breaks even time wise; there is about 2 hours + left over.
What was used before the understanding of a 19 year cycle?
It was not until 358/359 AD that Hillel II calculated all the New Moons for the first day of the Jewish seventh month (Tishri, the beginning of the Jew's civil year) based on 19 year time cycles and the traditional Jewish postponement rules; from 3761 BC until the year 6000 of creation (which corresponds to 2240 C.E.).
In Matthew 26: 1-2, Jesus Christ used the 14th day of the first month of a lunar/solar year calendar for Passover, which he created in Genesis 1:14-19 and established in Exodus 12:1-2; which is much older than the Traditional Jewish Calendar.
Are we now without excuse of understanding? Read Psalms 19:1-7.
Romans 1:20-22 20 "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in ther imaginations, and there foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."
The book of John tells us in John 1:1-3, 14: 1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him (Jesus Christ) was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In Ephesians 3: 1-9, the apostle Paul revealed the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
Paul also wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:6, "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things and we by him."
The 14th day of a lunar cycle made by the sun and moon will automatically happen and be in the right place at the right time as it was created to do, much like the equinox. Both must be used in the right time and place. (Psalms 104:19.)
The first 75 years of Abram's life was in the house of his father, Terah. The culture included worshiping other gods; household images and moon god worship. Abram, later named Abraham by God, was the son of Terah a descendent of Shem. Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. It appears that Terah was an idolater when he lived there, for Joshua says of him that he "served other gods" (Joshua 24:2). Abraham was married to his half sister, Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, was the daughter of Haran. After the death of Haran, Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there for a period of time and Terah died in Haran (Genesis 11:27-31).
Haran was a city located in northern Mesopotamia, on a branch of the Euphrates. A center of worship of the moon god was established in Haran in very early times. Moon god worship also had human sacrifices. With the coming of a dark moon their moon god would disappear and return as they watched for the crescent moon image.
So Abram departed out of Haran as the Lord had spoken unto him and went into the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1-5). Also read Hebrews 11: 8-11 about Abraham and Sara's faith.
1-28-2012, Earl McDowell