Something very interesting...
When you calculate the month (and the days & weeks of the month) *by the moon*, working the first six days of the month after seeing the first crescent, the Sabbath *always* lands on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th day/s of the month (on the month by the moon-- not on the "calendar" month). Here's how that works: When you see the crescent in the sky (after a night or two of *not* seeing the moon- "dark moon"/"dark days") THEN you know that you've *had* the first day of the new month (the new moon feast-- which you've been celebrating is now over) and that it's time to go to work the next morning/day :) The day that you resume your work is the second day of the month. You work for six days and rest on the seventh day-- which will be the EIGHTH day of the month... work six days, rest on the seventh day-- which will be the FIFTEENTH day of the month... work six days, rest on the seventh day-- which will be the TWENTY-SECOND day of the month... work six days, rest on the seventh day-- which will be the TWENTY-NINTH day of the month :) WHY is that interesting? And WHY would that matter? Well, a *lot* of the feast-day Sabbaths are on THOSE days of the month! :D *WOW* I just think it's very interesting how it falls in line with what would naturally *be* a Sabbath anyway.
Let's look at some examples...
Let's look at some examples...
Passover is observed on the 14th day of the first month-- the lamb is killed in the evening and eaten that night (with unleavened bread and bitter herbs)... Exodus 12-13, Exodus 34:25, Leviticus 23:5, Numbers 9:1-14, Deuteronomy 16:1-8.
Now... because Passover is described simultaneously with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and is ALSO eaten *with* unleavened bread-- it is VERY EASY to become confused about the two. But after going over it and over it and over it, I cannot see that PASSOVER is ever called a "Sabbath" or "rest day" or a "holy convocation". It is it's *own* feast/observance, although it is "with" the Feast of Unleavened Bread (in significance and remembrance and meaning).
However, the Feast of Unleavened Bread-- which begins on the 15th of the month-- specifies *two* holy convocations/Sabbaths/no-work days: the first day of the feast (the 15th) and the last day/7th day of the feast (the 21st). ... Exodus 12-13, Exodus 23:15, Exodus 34:18-20, Leviticus 23:6-8, Deuteronomy 16:1-8.
So, during this feast, the first day of the feast is a Sabbath-- which lands on the second Sabbath of the month (according to the cycle of the moon). The last day of the feast is also a Sabbath-- but it lands on the day before the third Sabbath of the month (according to the cycle of the moon).
*note-- although the second Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread does *not* serve the purpose of "feast days landing on Sabbaths", it *does* serve ANOTHER purpose-- which I will talk about below.
The memorial of Blowing of Trumpets is on the 1st day of the seventh month, and is a Sabbath-- which lands on the New Moon Feast (of blowing trumpets) and is *already* a Sabbath... Leviticus 23:24-25.
The Feast of Ingathering/Tabernacles is on the 15th day of the seventh month and lasts for seven days. The first day of the feast is a Sabbath, and the 8th day (which follows the feast) is *also* a Sabbath. That puts the first day of the feast on the 15th of the month-- which is the second Sabbath of the month (according to the cycle of the moon) and the eighth day that follows the feast is a Sabbath-- which would be the 22nd day of the month (the third Sabbath of the month according to the cycle of the moon)... Exodus 23:16-17, Exodus 34:22-23, Leviticus 23:33-44, Deuteronomy 16:13-17.
So here is an example where BOTH Sabbaths given, land on the natural Sabbath according to the cycle of the moon.
That leaves the Feast of Weeks of Harvest of Firstfruits and the Day of Atonement...
The Feast of Weeks of Harvest of Firstfruits does *not* have a designated "number" of day of the month it is to be observed (much like the American holiday of Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November-- rather than the same date in November every year). But it is to be counted from the time that the sickle can begin harvesting the grain, a sheaf was brought to the priest the day after the Sabbath-- then there were seven Sabbaths counted/50 days, and the day AFTER the seventh counted Sabbath was to be the feast. That feast was *ALSO* a Sabbath... Exodus 23:16, Exodus 34:22, Leviticus 23:9-22, Deuteronomy 16:9-12.
This is an example where the children of Israel were instructed to observe *TWO* SABBATHS back to back (the day following the seventh counted SABBATH was the feast/SABBATH day).
This is an example where the children of Israel were instructed to observe *TWO* SABBATHS back to back (the day following the seventh counted SABBATH was the feast/SABBATH day).
The Day of Atonement is on the 10th day of the seventh and is a Sabbath-- this is clearly an *EXTRA* Sabbath in that month... Leviticus 16:29-34, Leviticus 23:27-32.
*NOTE-- here is where I'd like to talk about the second Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread *not* landing on the Sabbath-- but the day before the Sabbath...
It would seem *strange* that they would have TWO "Sabbaths" to observe back to back-- one that was part of the feast and then the very next day a regular one! HOWEVER, as SEEN ABOVE, that *IS* possible-- and is actually accurate. Firstfruits is the day after a Sabbath, and so the last Sabbath of Unleavened Bread is before a Sabbath. NO BIG DEAL :) These are two examples of observing Sabbath days back to back.
SO DOES THAT MATTER?? WHY??
Well, *to me* it shows a couple of different things...
First, it shows that observing TWO SABBATHS back to back is *not* breaking Torah/Scripture-- and that it is even INSTRUCTED to DO SO (such as observing a couple of Sabbath days in between each month-- New Moon Feast, which we are *also* instructed to observe).
Second, it shows that a "CONTINUIOUS 6-day work cycle" *IS* broken from time to time in order to *observe* the days YHWH INSTRUCTED to be observed :)
The Day of Atonement *ALSO* interrupts a CONTINUIOUS 6-day work cycle, giving an EXTRA Sabbath in that month. These two examples show *me* that there isn't a CONTINUAL NON-STOP 6-day work period. There *IS* for the majority of the time... but each New Moon Feast takes a break before the next cycle begins; and just like American holidays re-arrange our "normal routines"-- SO DO YHWH's feasts. That's the way *I* see it :)
First, it shows that observing TWO SABBATHS back to back is *not* breaking Torah/Scripture-- and that it is even INSTRUCTED to DO SO (such as observing a couple of Sabbath days in between each month-- New Moon Feast, which we are *also* instructed to observe).
Second, it shows that a "CONTINUIOUS 6-day work cycle" *IS* broken from time to time in order to *observe* the days YHWH INSTRUCTED to be observed :)
The Day of Atonement *ALSO* interrupts a CONTINUIOUS 6-day work cycle, giving an EXTRA Sabbath in that month. These two examples show *me* that there isn't a CONTINUAL NON-STOP 6-day work period. There *IS* for the majority of the time... but each New Moon Feast takes a break before the next cycle begins; and just like American holidays re-arrange our "normal routines"-- SO DO YHWH's feasts. That's the way *I* see it :)
A Little Something Extra~
There are a *few* more little things I've noticed that *could* show the 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th as being "set Sabbaths", see what *you* think....
*Exodus 40:17 tells that it was the 1st day of the 1st month of the 2nd year the tabernacle was put up and YHWH filled it, Leviticus seems to be a "continuation" of this. If that be so, Leviticus 9:1 says on the 8th day YHWH appeared to them (again). BOTH days would have been Sabbaths, and just as YHWH causes the feast-day Sabbaths to be holy convocations (congregational gatherings-- "I think") *these* two days were ALSO holy convocations (in a way). I just think it's an interesting possibility-- it *looks* that way to me :)
*Exodus 40:17 tells that it was the 1st day of the 1st month of the 2nd year the tabernacle was put up and YHWH filled it, Leviticus seems to be a "continuation" of this. If that be so, Leviticus 9:1 says on the 8th day YHWH appeared to them (again). BOTH days would have been Sabbaths, and just as YHWH causes the feast-day Sabbaths to be holy convocations (congregational gatherings-- "I think") *these* two days were ALSO holy convocations (in a way). I just think it's an interesting possibility-- it *looks* that way to me :)
*Numbers 10:11-36 tells us that it was the 20th day of the month and the children of Israel journeyed THREE days then *RESTED*-- that would have been the 22nd day of the month :) Which would have been a Sabbath-- "no wonder" they stopped to rest! :) (Numbers 33:8 tells again that it was a 3 day journey)
*Esther 9:18 But the Jews that were at Shu'-shan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth day thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they *rested*, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
(They, then, established the 14th & 15th days of that month every year to be Purim observance-- *another* double celebration :)