BIBLICAL ASTRONOMY

AVIV BARLEY REPORT

The following is a summary of the Aviv Barley Report compiled by Nehemia Gordon from Jerusalem, Israel. This report was the result of an extensive search over vast areas of various regions of Israel for Aviv Barley from February 26 to 28, 2006, which were the last days of the Twelfth Biblical Month. It is at the last days of the 12^th month that the aviv is to be searched for, and if not found, an extra month is to be added to the calendar. For the full report, go to www.karaite_korner.org

“Over a period of three days we searched the Land of Israel for Aviv barley. Originally the search was supposed to last four days, but through team-work and by utilizing modern communications we were able to cover a vast area in a much smaller amount of time than in previous years…

After an intensive search we can definitively say that the Aviv has not yet arrived. Therefore, we must wait until the following lunar month to begin the next biblical year. The New Moon of the 1^st Biblical Month should be visible (barring clouds) from Israel on Thursday March 30, 2006 at sunset, making Chag HaMatzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread) begin on April 13, 2006 at sunset. The New Moon seen on Wednesday March 1, 2006 was the New Moon of the 13^th Biblical Month.

The following people participated in the Aviv Search (in alphabetical order): Rivka Alon, Melekh Ben-Ya’aqov, Rivkah Ben-Ya’aqov, Bruce Brill, Miri Burgin, Erich Draht, Gloria Draht, Moshe Firouz, Devorah Gordon, Nehemiah Gordon, Neriah Haroeh Ferenc Illesy, Bernie Koch, Ruthanne Koch, Ivan Lamombarbe, Dina Marcus, Eliyahu Marzouk, and Moshe Yoseph.

We want to thank everyone who sent donations to help cover the cost of the Aviv Search and all those who gave of their time to organize and participate in the search. May YHWH bless you!”

NEW MOON REPORT

Nehemia Gordon from Jerusalem, Israel compiled the following New Moon Report for March 1, 2006 and the beginning of the Thirteenth Month of the Biblical Calendar (also know as Adar Bet on the Jewish Talmudic Calendar).

“On Wednesday March 1, 2006 the New Moon was sighted from Jerusalem. The moon was sighted by: Erich Draht at 17:35; John Carey, Rivkak Alon, and Miri Burgin at 17:36; Nehemia Gordon, Devorah Gordon, Lee Alon, Gloria Draht, Bernie Koch, Ivan Labombarbe, and Karl Bloodworth at 17:46.”

The next New Moon is expected to be clearly visible as seen from Jerusalem near sunset on March 30, 2006. This will be the beginning of the First Month (the Month of the Aviv) of the New Biblical Year.

PENUMBRAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

On March 14/15, 2006, there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse that will be visible (to those with a trained eye) from Europe and Africa as well as Israel. A penumbral eclipse is when the light (very light) outer shadow (penumbra) of the earth covers the moon. A normal person cannot tell by looking at the moon when the light shadow covers it. I must be normal, for I have not been able to see the difference on the full moon when the light shadow covers it after looking at a number of penumbral eclipses. Perhaps I need to send my eyeballs back to training school. I do not consider a penumbral eclipse to be a great sign since the great majority of people cannot see it when it occurs.

Chart 411 shows the position of the moon when the peak of the eclipse occurs as seen from Jerusalem at 1:47 am JST on March 15, 2006. The lines on the chart are constellation border lines. The moon is seen here just inside the border of Virgo and Leo. This is a somewhat unique position for the moon to be in during the eclipse. It is at or very near this point where the prophecy concerning the Messiah begins and ends. His birth in the beginning portrayed by Bethulah (Virgo) and the final destruction of the serpent or dragon and the serpent’s seed (Rev. 22:10-15) portrayed by the Sign Arieh (Leo).

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

On March 29, 2006 there will be a total eclipse of the Sun in a path that starts in easternmost Brazil and continues across parts of northern Africa, Turkey, and central Asia. All of Europe as well as Israel will have a partial eclipse. For NASA maps on the path of the eclipse and areas of totality and areas of partiality go to:

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006.html

Chart 412 shows the position of the sun and the moon in the constellation Pisces at the peak of the eclipse as seen from Jerusalem. The constellation Pisces represents the nation of Israel, particularly when Israel is either going into bondage or captivity, or when Israel is coming out of bondage or captivity.

Chart 412 – Position of the Sun and Moon in Pisces during the total and partial solar eclipse

This particular eclipse will be occurring the day before (March 29) the last day (March 30) of the 13^th month on the Biblical Calendar. The beginning of the new month (Aviv 1) and the New Year will begin at sunset on March 30. The timing of this eclipse is unique, though I have not yet done the research (will take days) to see how rare it is that a solar eclipse seen from Jerusalem occurs on the eve of the first day of the New Year.

Some facts to consider on such a rarity are that a solar eclipse always occurs on the eve of the first day of the month on the Hebrew or Biblical Calendar. The new moon is always in a position to be visual one or two days after the eclipse or after the moon goes into conjunction with the sun. On the Talmudic calendar it is the conjunction that is considered the new moon. This is also called the astronomical new moon.

During the solar lunar cycle, such an eclipse to occur on the eve of the first day of the first month of the New Year on the Biblical calendar can occur about every 19 years, but does not necessarily do so. But for its path to be on or near Jerusalem is another matter. My educated guess is that this occurs about every two to five centuries, but my guess could be off. This could also be a one in two thousand or five thousand year event. If I find the time, I will explore this further and report the results.

As mentioned above, the sun will not be totally blackened as seen from Jerusalem during this particular eclipse. It will be about 80 percent darkened. Below is a diagram of how the sun will appear at the peak of the eclipse as seen from Jerusalem at 12:54 pm.

Sun 80 percent darkened as seen from Jerusalem

As seen from Jerusalem, the sun will begin to be covered by the moon at 11:47 am and the moon will leave the other edge of the sun at 2:13 pm. This is interesting in light of the fact that 11:47 am in modern times would be considered the Hebrew sixth hour in Matthew 27:45, 46. There were no watches or clocks such as we know 2000 years ago. Where sundials were in use, the shadow on the dial would reach its shortest length at high noon, or midway between sunrise and sunset.

On March 29, the sun rises in Jerusalem at 5:33 am and sets at 5:54 pm. The sun is up for a total of 12 hours and 21 minutes. The mid point or high noon will be reached about 6 hours and 10 minutes after sunrise (5:33 am) which will be about 11:43 am. For all practical purposes, 11:39 am would be considered about the beginning sixth hour in the ancient Hebrew reckoning, and 2:13 pm would be well into the ninth hour. This eclipse brings Matthew 27:45,46 into remembrance to me. Though the darkness in those hours was not caused by a solar eclipse, which can only occur near the first day of the month. This is also reminiscent of a partial solar eclipse seen over Jerusalem on the eve of Elul 1 in 1999, in which the sun was darkened from the “sixth hour” to the “ninth hour.” See the August 1999 issue of Biblical Astronomy for further details.

What I have given above are the facts on this eclipse and the meaning of the Sign that it is occurring in. That is what I believe that I am being instructed to give, just the facts, and not my opinion or assumption of what this may mean prophetically towards Earth in the immediate future. I do my best to just stick to the facts in these publications and nothing else, unless I am clearly instructed to do otherwise. These facts are for your consideration and are also to eradicate wrong facts given about particular astronomical events.

COMET POJMANSKI UPDATE

Comet Pojmanski (C/2006 A1) has a reported magnitude (March 3) of 5.1 to 5.2. This is slightly brighter than its magnitude of 5.3 that was reported of February 20. The comet is not expected to get much brighter, but is still 1.5 magnitudes brighter than it was originally expected to get. Some are reporting naked eye sightings of the comet in the early pre-dawn sky above the eastern horizon. See the February 2006 issue of Biblical Astronomy for the article and charts on this comet.

The Shalom of YHWH be with you through His son and our Messiah Yahshua.

Libra

The Redeemer’s atoning work, or the price deficient balanced by the price which covers

Major constellation to the Sign Libra.

Ancient names for this constellation

Tulku (ancient Akkadian) – the sacred mound, or the holy alter.

Mozanaim (Heb.) – the Scales, weighing.

Al Zubena (Arab.) – purchase, or redemption

Lambadia (Copt.) – station of propitiation (from Lam, graciousness, and badia, branch.

Libra (Lat.) – weighing, as used in the Vulgate (Isa. 40:12).

Complementing scriptures to this constellation picture

The price deficient – Psalm 44:7 – “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him; For the redemption of their soul is costly, And must be let alone forever.”

The price which covers -Revelation 5:9 – “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Stars in Libra and the meanings of their names

Zuben al Chemali – THE PRICE WHICH COVERS. (Although designated as Beta (by man), it is the brightest star in Libra at a magnitude 2.59)

Zuben al Genubi – price which is deficient. (Designated as Alpha at magnitude 2.75 – not as bright as Beta).

Zuben al Akrab – the price of the conflict.

The main theme of this sign is on Messiah Y’shua’s sacrifice for our redemption. This constellation in its names and in the names of the stars composing it, as well as the same for it’s three decan constellations (Crux [the Cross], Asseda [Lupus – the Victim Slain], and Altarah [Corona, the Crown Bestowed]) give the complete picture of this redemption.

The most ancient form of this constellation is that of a circle (Figure A above). Its ancient name as such is Tulku (Akkadian), which means the sacred mound, or the holy alter. We have added a dashed line circle around the scales to show the ancient form of this constellation along with its less ancient form. The ancient Akkadians named their months after the constellations when the sun was in them. Tulku is the name of their seventh month, which is the same as the Hebrew month Tishri (where the Day of Atonement falls on the 10^th day). The scorpion is seen trying to snatch the holy alter with his claws. And in the constellation above the scorpion, the serpent is struggling with the man; while at the same time it is stretching out its neck trying to seize the crown. The scorpion is also seen poised to strike the man in the heel as it stretches its claws out to seize the alter (see also the drawing and info on Ophiuchus in the July 2005 issue of Biblical Astronomy. Figure B above is a picture of an Euphratean seal from around 700 BC that was preserved on a contract made on the 8^th day of Tishri, the seventh month, which shows the alter actually in the grasp of the scorpion.

Through the precession of the equinoxes, the sun is no longer in Libra in the 7^th month, but it is now in Bethulah (Virgo).

Biblical Astronomy

March 2006

Editor – Robert Scott Wadsworth <> P.O. Box 2272, Oregon City, OR 97045