When is Passover?–
As we saw in previous Passover Thoughts, Passover occurs on the 14th day of the first Biblical month, according to Scripture.
But when is the 14th day of the first month according to today’s calendar?
We saw previously that Scripture tells us (Ex 12:2; 13:4; Deu 16:1) the first Biblical month is the month of abib , meaning the time when the crop is green, and in the ear. The first crop to turn green in spring time is the barley.
Reports for 2009 have already come in, confirming the barley is abib in Israel. It is ‘green in the ear,’ signifying the next new moon to be sighted would mark the beginning of the first Biblical month.
Likewise, the reports of sighting of the new moon in Israel have come in, marking the start of the first day of the new month. We recall the Biblical day begins at sundown the night before a given date, and continues until the following sundown.
Holiday Dates for 2009
The new moon was seen in Israel after sundown on March 27. Thus the first day of the first Biblical month was Saturday, March 28, 2009.
The 10th day of the first Biblical month is Monday, April 6, 2009. This is the day the lamb is to be taken into the house (Ex 12:3).
The 14th day of the first Biblical month is the day of Passover, and occurs Friday April 10, 2009. This is the day the Lamb was slain.
Passover begins at sundown on Thursday, April 9 (the start of the 14th day), and ends at sundown Friday April 10 (the end of the 14th day). This is the first day of unleavened bread (Mark 14:12), in which ‘no leaven’ is to be eaten, or be present in the home.
The Last Supper Passover held by Yahushua and the Disciples was held after the close of the 13th day, after sundown marking the beginning of the 14th day, by Biblical reckoning. This time corresponds exactly with what we would call Thursday April 9 after sundown, and is the time when the Passover seder is to occur according to Scripture, and according to the example of Yahushua.
The 15th day of the first Biblical month is Saturday, April 11, 2009.
This day marks the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened bread, an additional 7-day period of ‘no leaven’ present in the home, so that only Unleavened bread is to be eaten (Lev 23:6-8).
This 15th day is a also ‘High’ Sabbath day, in which no work is to be done. In 2009 this day occurs on a weekly Sabbath.
The 21st day of the first Biblical month is Friday, April 17, 2009. This day is the last of the 7-day Feast of Unleavened bread, and is a ‘High’ Sabbath day, in which no work is to be done(Lev 23:8).
The Feast of Firstfruits occurs on the day after the first Sabbath after Passover (Lev 23:10-11). Since Yahushua is our example in all things, we now understand this refers to the day after the weekly Sabbath. The Feast of Firstfruits for the barley for 2009 is Sunday, April 12, 2009. This day begins the 50-day count to the Feast of Shavuot, also called ‘Pentecost’ (Ex 34:22; Lev 23:15-17), which we are told is also a day of firstfruits for the wheat.
When we determine the days of the month according to Scripture, we must first be willing to put aside dates determined by man’s tradition. We may then meet with the King on the day He has appointed in His Word!
Good Resources
The following Resources are available to help in our understanding of the times and seasons. We may not endorse all things on the following sites, but as with everything, we should swallow the meat, and spit out the bones.
*A Simple and Clear explanation of the Biblical Calendar: The ABC’s of the Biblical Calendar
*A Great Resource Book on the Biblical Feasts for Gentile Believers: A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays
*A Clear explanation of the abib barley and the first Biblical month: The Abib Barley
*A Calendar of expected Biblical Dates for the entire Biblical year: Biblical Holidays Calendar
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