Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

Michael:

What did Josephus know about the Hebrew calandar? We have indication that it 
had ceased to be used 500 years before Josephus. Even in Tanakh, the 
post-exilic writings named the months according to Aramaic names, indicating 
that the Hebrew calandar was already then not being used, let alone centuries 
later. That will also explain why for your claim that most historical 
mentions of Hebrew religious feasts don’t coincide with the first and seventh 
months.

As for the time of the year for the Exodus, we have numerous references that 
it was about the time of harvest in Egypt. But I think it would be hard to 
prove anything tighter.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: Banyai AT t-online.de (Michael Banyai)

> Dear Peter Kirk and Marianne,
> 
> …
> 
> 2. For the first assumption it is easy to point to the fact, that most 
> historical mentions of hebrew religious feasts don´t pertain to the 1-st 
> and the 7-th month as required. They fall in different months because the 
> numbered calendar went round the calendar year while the "called" calendar 
> was seasonaly stable. The double nature of the hebrew feasts too 
> (practically identical feasts in the 1-st and the 7-th month) are due to 
> this mery-go-round effect, brining apart feasts which have been once 
> identical at the day of their introduction.
> 
> 3. Several arguments may be brought for a date of the beginning of the 
> religious year in June-July instead of March-April. 
> 
>…
> 
> This complicated calendar system linked with the observation of summer 
> solstice on the 8-th of Abib at the opening of the Temple-doors, was 
> periodicaly out of use. Thus for example for 40 years before the 
> destruction of the Temple (an exception was made 66 AD) as the temple doors 
> have been closed by Rabi Jochanan ben Zakai for all this long period. On 
> this reason did Josephus have no experience with the complete hebrew 
> calendar (partialy out of use during his lifetime). He simply speaks 
> vaguely of the existence of 2 hebrew calendars.
> 
>…
> 
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Bányai Michael
> Stuttgart
-- 
___________________________________________________________
Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm