NEW MOON REPORT
Nehemia Gordon from
Jerusalem Israel compiled the following New Moon Report for March 2003 and the
beginning of the 12th month on the Hebrew calendar. Following the New Moon Report is the report
of the barley search that was done at the end of the 11th month and
beginning of the 12th month of the Hebrew calendar.
“On March 4, 2003 the New Moon was sighted by numerous observers in Jerusalem including Nehemia Gordon, Melekh ben Ya'aqov, Devorah Gordon, Roy Hoffman, Ruthanne Koch, Angie Andrews, and Richard Dolan, and Brian Convery.”
“Abib Not Found - The Abib Search was carried out across the Land of Israel on March 3-4, 2003, the last two days of the Twelfth Month. The Abib Search covered different regions in the Land of Israel including the Judean Hills, Shephelah, Northern Negev, Judean desert, Jordan Valley, Beth Shean Valley, Jezreel Valley, Galilee, and Transjordanian side of the Jordan Valley. In the northern Negev and Jordan Valley, the areas which usually ripen earliest, isolated stalks of Abib barley were found, however, not in large enough concentrations or quantities to constitute the Month of the Abib. The largest patch containing Abib barley in the Negev contained only about 20 stalks of which only 50% were Abib, while most of the stalks in that field were in the worm stage [soft dough]. The largest patch containing Abib barley in the Jordan Valley also contained only about 20 stalks of which only 25% were Abib, while most of the stalks in that field were in the flowering stage. Most of the barley found in the northern Negev and Jordan Valley were only in the flowering stage. Overall, there was not enough Abib barley so that the barley harvest could begin in two weeks time as required during Feast of Unleavened Bread in accordance with Dt 16:9 "when the sickle begins upon the standing grain". Therefore, the beginning of the biblical year will take place in one month's time with the sighting of the new moon on the evening of April 3, 2003 making that evening and the day of April 4, 2003 the 1st day of the First biblical month.”
CELESTIAL
EVENTS FOR MARCH
On the scale of Slim to None, significant celestial events for the month of March are on the latter half of the scale, None. Except for the sighting of the New Moon, there is just nothing to speak of.
COMET UPDATES
There were no reports of naked eye sightings of Comet Kudo-Fujikawa in January or February. The comet reached its peak brightness at magnitude 5.3 in mid to late January, and is now faded to a magnitude 7.7 (March 4).
Comet NEAT 2002 VI, however, put on a much better show than expected. There were many naked eye sightings of this comet reported, starting on February 8 to the present (March 4). By February 14 it had reached magnitude –0.5, about the brightness of comet Hale-Bopp at its peak. However, because Comet Neat was so close to the sun during its peak brightness, the twilight of the morning sky blocked out much of its brightness. Though this comet was still reported as being clearly visible to the naked eye along with the planet Mercury about 30 minutes before sunrise on February 14. This comet is now at magnitude 4.4. See the January/February 2003 issue of Biblical Astronomy for more info on Comet NEAT 2002 VI.
THE 12 TRIBES
OF ISRAEL AND THE 12 SIGNS OF THE MAZZAROTH, PART II
The following data that I am sharing is relatively new to me and is from research that I have performed over the past three weeks on the symbols of the constellation signs of the Zodiac. I believe that it was these symbols that were used on the banners of the 12 tribes of Israel. Though most of these symbols are the very same that have been used since at least 600 BC, some of the symbols have variations. It is most difficult to say if these symbols were exactly in the same form between 1500 and 1400 BC. Certain corruptions may have occurred. Great corruptions certainly occurred in their interpretations in the field of astrology.
These symbols were well known and used by the Babylonians 500 to 600 BC, as well as in Egypt. It is most difficult to say how many years before this that they had their origin. There is evidence that the symbols of the planets had their origins around 2300 BC. It is most likely that the symbols of the constellation signs had their origins there also. This puts it shortly after the great flood. But they may also have had their origin at the same time the constellations and stars were given their names by Yahueh Elohim, and passed to Adam, Seth, or Enoch. Though their existance can be traced through archeological findings that are dated 2300 BC, does not mean that they did not exist or originate prior to that time period.
It was in the 6th century BC that the Hebrew prophet Daniel was in Babylon. As a matter of fact, the king not only made him ruler over the province of Babylon but also made him chief over all the astrologers (wise man or magi). Daniel was the chief magi in Babylon (Daniel 2:48, 5:11) but more importantly was a prophet of Yahueh. He most likely knew the meanings of these symbols and passed the meanings on at some point.
Now in those days a certain group of magi formed know as the Zoroastrian Magi; Zoroaster being their leader. Some ancient historians believe that Zoroaster was none other than Daniel himself, while others believe that Zoroaster was a student of Daniel. This group later split into two sects, the one keeping the religion of Zoroaster and the other breaking away and forming their own religion. The latter was the birth of modern day astrology, which is a gross corruption of what the heavens were created for. They used or continued to use the same symbols of the constellations that Zoroaster or, and Daniel were well familiar with and most likely also used. Though Daniel knew the correct meaning behind the symbols.
Now concerning the stars and the constellations it is written:
Gen. 1:14 (The Scriptures) -
And Elohim said, “Let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens to
separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs (oth)
and appointed times, and for days and years…
The stars and constellations (which are made up of the lights) are to be for signs. The Hebrew word for signs here is oth. As far as the constellations there are the 12 signs (oth) of the Zodiac. Now of the 12 tribes of Israel in the instructions for their encampment it is written:
Num. 2:1,2 (The
Scriptures) - And Yahueh spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying, “The
children of Yisra’el are to camp, each one by his own banner (degel),
beside the sign (oth) of his father’s house. Let them camp around the Tent of Meeting at
a distance.
They were to camp
beside the sign (oth) of their fathers house. In astrology each sign of the 12 signs is a
sign of a house. The sign and symbol of
Aries belongs to the first house; the sign and symbol of Taurus to the second
house, etc, etc. These are most likely
perversions of the true meaning of the signs and houses, which were the 12 signs
(oth) of the 12 houses of the tribes of Israel.
The 12 signs of
the Zodiac were most likely the eleven stars of Joseph’s dream, Joseph being
the twelfth star. His father Jacob
(Israel) knew the interpretation.
Gen. 37:9,10 (The
Scriptures) - And he dreamed still another dream and related it to his
brothers, and said, “See, I have dreamed another dream, and see, the sun and
the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
And he related it
to his father and his brothers. And his father rebuked him and said to him,
“What is this dream that you have dreamed?
Shall we, your mother and I and your brothers, indeed come to bow down
to the earth before you?”
There is only one asterism
(group or groups of stars) in the heavens that contain 12 stars or 12 groups of
stars, and that is the 12 signs of the Zodiac.
This is also seen in the book of Revelation, chapter 12, verse 1 where
it speaks of the woman with a crown of 12 stars on her head. The woman is portrayed by the constellation
and sign Virgo (Bethulah).
Though some say that there is a group of 12 stars above her head, it is
not so. The beginning and the end of
the Zodiac circle is above the head of Virgo.
The 12 stars spoken of here are the twelve signs of the Zodiac, with
Virgo being one of them, and the first one.
These twelve stars are referring to the twelve tribes of Israel, which
the woman represents.
Below
are the symbols or oth for the houses of the twelve tribes of Israel and the
twelve signs of the Zodiac. The Hebrew
name and meaning for each of the signs is in parenthesis next to the modern
names. Again, these may or may not be exactly
how they appeared on the banners of the twelve houses. And some of the connections between the
tribe and the sign are obvious and others are not at all obvious. This is more or less an introduction and
serves as an outline. Much more
research needs to be done in this area for a full understanding.
Reuben h Aquarius (Deli,
water urn)
Gen. 49:3,4
(NIV) – Reuben, you are my first-born, my might, the first sign of my
strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you
went up to your father’s bed, unto my couch and defiled it.
This
one is fairly obvious. Of course, where
else would you find a good Reuben except in a Hebrew Deli. All joking aside, the oth for Aquarius (Deli)
are waves of water or turbulent waters.
Simeon i Pisces (Dagim,
the fishes)
Gen. 49:5-7 (NIV) – Simeon and Levi are brothers – their
swords are weapons of violence. Let
me not enter their counsel, let me not join their assembly, for they have
killed men in their anger, and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their
fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in
Jacob and disperse them in Israel.
This
symbol for Pisces is thought to be two fishes tied together. But this could also be two swords joined
together. At any rate, this is one that
at the moment isn’t too obvious in the scriptural connection to the sign.
Levi d Libra (Mozanaim, the scales)
Deut. 33:8-12
(NIV) – About Levi he said: “Your Thummim and Urim belong to the man you
favored. You tested him at Massah; you
contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
He said of his father and mother, I have no regard for them. He did not recognize his brothers or
acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your
covenant. He teaches your precepts to
Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers
incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your alter. Bless all his skills, O LORD, and be pleased
with the work of his hands. Smite the
loins of those who rise up against him; strike his foes till they rise no
more.”
Exodus 28:30
(The Scriptures) – And into the breastplate of right-ruling (judgment) you
shall put the Urim and the Tummim, and they shall be on the heart of Aharon
when he goes in before Yahueh. And
Aharon shall bear the right-ruling (judgment) of the children of Yisra’el on
his heart before Yahueh, continually.
These
scriptures are speaking of Moses and I believe Aaron, who teaches Yahueh’s
precepts and laws to Israel, and offers burnt offerings on Yahueh’s alter. The above symbol of Libra is the symbol for
a pair of balances or scales. The
Hebrew name for Libra is Mozanaim, or, Moznayim which means the
scales, weighing, a pair of balances, such as in Lev. 19.
Lev. 19:35,36
(The Scriptures) - Do no unrighteousness in right-ruling, in measurement of
length, in weight, or in measuring liquids.
Have right scales (Moznayim), right weights, a right ephah, and a right
hin. I am Yahueh your Elohim, who
brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim.
These are the scales of judgement, the scales of
justice for which Levi was responsible for.
This symbol is also shown
as a mound, where both sides of the top gently slope. In some ancient planispheres and writings the constellation Libra
is shown as a holy mound or sacred alter.
Judah bLeo (Arieh, the lion)
Gen. 49:8-9 (The Scriptures) – You, Yehudah, your brothers praise
you; your hand is on the neck of your enemies; your father’s children
bow down before you. Yehudah is a
lion’s cub; from the prey you have gone up, my son! He bowed down, he crouched like a lion. And like a lion, who does rouse him?
This symbol looks more like a serpent than it does a crouching
lion. The constellation Hydra the
serpent is a decan constellation to the sign Leo. The lions paw is coming down on the serpents neck. Perhaps the emphasis on this sign is the
destruction of the Lion’s enemy, the serpent.
But then again, it may have been a symbol for a crouching lion. A bit of a mystery.
Zebulun c
Virgo (Bethulah, a
virgin)
Gen.
49:13 (The Scriptures) – Zebulun dwells at the seashore, he is for a
haven for ships, and his border is unto Tsidon. (Zebulun – dwelling)
Deut. 33:18,19 – Rejoice,
Zebulun, in your going out, and you Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and
there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of
the seas, and the treasures hidden in the sand.
On the right side of the above symbol, is a fish. This is a strange symbol for Virgo (the Maiden), except for its interpretation as the tribal sign of Zebulun, who dwells at the seashore and feasts on the abundance of the seas.
There are variations on the symbol given for the sign Virgo, but most of them have the fish included in the symbol. Below is another version of the symbol which I pulled off an internet website.
Here the figure of the fish is clearly seen.
According to Carl G. Liungman in his book Dictionary of Symbols, (1938), p.38, the left side of this symbol is based on the Hebraic letter mem. The fish is a Phoenician symbol.
Issachar a Cancer (Klaria,cattle folds)
Gen.
49:14,15 (Complete Jewish Bible) – Yissakar is a strong donkey lying
down in the sheep sheds (TS – between two burdens). On seeing how good is settled life and how pleasant the country,
he will bend his back to the burden, and submit to forced labor.
This symbol was always known as the two donkeys. See the article The Sign Cancer in the August 2002 edition of Biblical Astronomy for further information on the tribe of Issachar and the sign Cancer.
Dan e Scorpio (Akrab, conflict or war)
Gen. 49:16-18 (The Scriptures) – Dan rightly rules his people as one of the tribes of Yisra’el. Dan is a serpent by the way, an adder by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that the rider falls backward. I have waited for your deliverance, O Yahueh.
A decan constellation for Scorpio is Ophiuchus, which is a picture of a man struggling with a serpent. Another decan constellation for this sign is Hercules, who is holding adders in one hand and a club to club them with in his other hand. The serpent and adders here also represent the enemy of the woman’s seed. Perhaps there is a duel interpretation.
The right side of this symbol represents the tale and stinger of the scorpion. The left side is based on the Hebraic letter mem, just as part of the symbol for Virgo is. These two signs with known Hebraic roots give some credence to the possibility that the other signs are also of Hebrew origin.
Again,
this is a study that includes much speculation. My interpretations here are not to be set in granite. Yahueh forbid. This is all new stuff to me as well as to most of the
readers. I have not seen these ties before
as far as using these symbols as the symbols or signs (oth) for the
twelve tribes. Though I strongly
believe that there is a connection.
This is something that I envisioned about 3 weeks previous to this
writing, and felt moved to do. I have
not seen these ties (astrological symbols with the 12 tribes) in anyone else’s
writings. I am either off on a wild
tangent, or there is something to this.
Time will tell which.
Gad ^ Aries (Taleh, the lamb)
Gen
49:19 (KJV) – Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the
last.
The
prophetic theme for the sign Aries is a lamb that was slain, but rising up to
overcome his enemies. In most of the
blessings to the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) are contained attributes to the
nature and prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Yahshuah of Nazareth was overcome by a troop in Gethsemane on the Mount
of Olives. But he has and will overcome
at the last.
Asher f Sagittarius (Keith, the archer)
Gen. 49:20 (Complete
Jewish Bible) – Asher’s food is rich – he will provide food fit for a
king.
Deut. 33:24,25 (The
Scriptures) – And of Asher he said, “Asher is most blessed of sons. Let him be accepted by his brothers, and dip
his foot in oil. Your sandals are
iron and bronze, and your strength as your days.
This is a somewhat difficult one to connect. Asher is connected to the sign of the archer (here seen as a bow with an arrow). I suppose it could be said that archers provide food (venison and such).
The constellation picture of Sagittarius is a combination man and horse. Could sandals made of iron and bronze be referring to horseshoes? I am half laughing at this speculation, but I really don’t know, it could actually be the correct interpretation or connection, or it may not be.
The above arrow looks more like an anchor. Below is another version of this symbol.
Naphtali g Capricorns (Gedi, the kid or goat)
Gen.
49:21 (KJV) – Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
Deut. 33:23 (The Scriptures) – And of Naphtali
he said, “O Naphtali satisfied with pleasure, and filled with the blessing of
Yahueh, possess the west and the south.”
This is another one that is difficult to connect. The above symbol is that of a goat (the V shape on the left of the symbol) and a fish (right side of symbol), or a goat with the tail of a fish. The main prophetic theme for the sing Capricornus is the goat of atonement.
There was also the scapegoat that was let loose. But this seems to be stretching things a bit, tying the “hind let loose” to the scapegoat. A hind is a deer.
Joseph _ Taurus (Shur, coming and ruling)
Deut.
33:17 (RV) - “The firstling of his bullock (marg., his
firstling bullock)- majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of the
wild-ox (Reem). With them he shall
push (gore) the peoples, all of them, even the ends of the earth. And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim,
And they are the thousands of Manasseh.”
This is a
clearly seen as the sign of the bull representing the tribe of Joseph. The
constellation picture of Taurus (Shur) is that of a Reem.
Benjamin `Gemini (Thaumim, united)
Deut. 33:12 (KJV) – And
of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell safely by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day
long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
There is more than one prophetic interpretation
concerning the constellation picture of Gemini. One interpretation is Yahshuah HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) sitting
at the right hand of Elohim (God). The
name Benjamin means son of the right hand.
I will be giving more information on this particular study when more information becomes available.
UPCOMING SEMINAR
On Saturday, March 15, Bob Wadsworth will be teaching a two part seminar on the subjects of the Twelve Signs of Mazzaroth and the Twelve Tribes of Israel; and Celestial Signs Concerning the Captivity and Re-gathering of Ephraim and Judah. This seminar will be starting at 7:00 pm at:
Solid Rock Baptist Church
8510 SE Battin Road, Portland, OR
There will be no admission
fee. For further information and
directions, contact Bob Wadsworth at 503-655-7430.
UPCOMING CLOSE APPROACH OF MARS
Over the past few months I
have been asked questions regarding the physical effects that the close
approach of Mars this coming August will have on the earth. Supposedly it is being reported by some that
such a close approach of Mars occurred in the year 747 BC and caused all kinds
of havoc with continental shifts, polar shifts, massive volcanoes, great wars,
etc, etc. And, that it will cause the
same things to happen this coming August.
This is totally ludicrous, except for the wars.
Mars
approaches very close (relatively speaking) to the earth about every
79 years at a rough distance of 35 million miles. However, this year it
will be at its closest approach for the last 73,000 years. Mars will be
even closer in the year 3013. But the difference in closeness is
within 350,000 miles of the norm of its 79-year cycle close approach.
This is only about 1% of the 35 million mile
approach. Mars is not large enough or massive enough to cause any
major perturbations on earth at that distance. Mars is about 1/11th
the mass of the earth and about 9 times more massive that the moon. The
mean distance of the moon to the earth (center to center) is 230,000
miles. Even if Mars were to approach within 23 million miles of the
earth, which is substantially closer than 35 million miles, it would have
little, if any, effect on Earth. At 23 million miles, Mars is 100
times the distance from the earth as the moon is. Since the
gravitational force measured is the difference of the mass of the two
objects in question divided by the square of the distance, Mars at a distance
of 23 million miles would have about 9/10,000ths or even rounded of the nearest
thousandth, 1/1000th the gravitational effect on the earth as our moon
does. The moon causes 1,000 times the perturbations on Earth as Mars
would if it were 23 million miles distance. At a distance of 35 million
miles between the earth and mars, that factor would increase to the moon having
over 2,500 times the effect that Mars would have. And we are subjected to
those gravitational forces on a daily basis. Then there is the factor of
the gravitational forces of the sun on the earth. But if that is not
enough to convince everyone, there is the planet Venus, which is 7.6 times more
massive than Mars, and it comes to within or just under 25 million miles from
the earth every 8 years. And we certainly do not have continents ripping
apart and pole shifts every 8 years.
Between the year 800 BC and
700 BC, Mars approached close to the earth twice, once in 744 BC at a distance
of 35.5 million miles, and again in 729 BC at a distance of 35.2
million miles. There were no close approaches in 747 BC.
These particular instances are off the norm of the 79/47-year cycle. Mars
will come to close approach every 79 years for four to six times in a row, then
there will be a 47 year period before the next one. Then the 79-year
cycle starts over again. Here, the
close approaches are only 15 years apart. There were many times over the
centuries to follow that Mars came as close to the earth and even closer than
either of the above dates (744 BC and 729 BC), but none as close as the
distance of 34.7 million miles, which is
the distance that Mars will be this coming August.
As far as war, we will just
have to wait and see. One factor (or two) is that Mars was at close
approach in 729 BC, which is about 7 years before the captivity of the 10
northern tribes of Israel by Assyria. Mars was also at such a close
approach in 586 BC, during the captivity of Judah and Benjamin into
Babylon. One thing to look forward to is that we will see Mars at its
brightest in Biblical history. No human before has ever seen it that
bright. I will be doing a comprehensive article on this in the August 2003
newsletter.