Changes

A month in the Biblical calendar ends on the day that the new [[moon]] is sighted at sunset, and the next month begins on the next day. Given the length of the synodic month, a Biblical month could run either 29 or 30 days. When weather conditions make a new-moon sighting problematic, the ranking authority (presumably the patriarch of the family, and later a council appointed among the Levites) would declare that the month would last for thirty days, and no longer (except possibly for Adar; see below). The first reliably sighted new moon would begin another month, and so this calendar could correct itself automatically from any missed cycles.

A month in the Biblical calendar ends on the day that the new [[moon]] is sighted at sunset, and the next month begins on the next day. Given the length of the synodic month, a Biblical month could run either 29 or 30 days. When weather conditions make a new-moon sighting problematic, the ranking authority (presumably the patriarch of the family, and later a council appointed among the Levites) would declare that the month would last for thirty days, and no longer (except possibly for Adar; see below). The first reliably sighted new moon would begin another month, and so this calendar could correct itself automatically from any missed cycles.

The first month of [[spring]], called Abib or Aviv<ref>''Abib'' and ''Aviv'' are the same word. In Semitic languages, "b" and "v" are the same sound; the distinction between the plosive "b" and the fricative "v" is of no moment.</ref>is a special case. It begins on a new moon, but only when the [[barley]] has turned green and will likely ripen before the Feast of Firstfruits, which must take place on the Sunday (actually called simply "first day (of the week)") following Passover. If this has not happened, then the new moon is not declared and Adar runs longer than the usual 29 or 30 days.

The first month of [[spring]], called Abib or Aviv<ref>''Abib'' and ''Aviv'' are the same word. In Semitic languages, "b" and "v" are the same sound; the distinction between the plosive "b" and the fricative "v" is of no moment.</ref> is a special case. It begins on a new moon, but only when the [[barley]] has turned green and will likely ripen before the Feast of Firstfruits, which must take place on the Sunday (actually called simply "first day (of the week)") following Passover. If this has not happened, then the new moon is not declared and Adar runs longer than the usual 29 or 30 days.

The best approximation from astronomy would be to begin Abib on the new moon ''nearest'' the vernal equinox. At least one authority suggests adding five to six days to make sure that day and night will be equal in length ''in the latitude of Jerusalem'', not at the equator,<ref>Tippie, Robert. "[http://www.bnaiavraham.net/guest_articles/ripe_barley.pdf The Barley is Ripe in Israel: Implications for the Dating of the Passover Celebration]."  ''[http://www.bnaiavraham.net/newpage/index2.html B'nai Avraham Nazarine Yisroelite Synagogue]''. Accessed April 3, 2008</ref> but this is not proved. No such month as VeAdar is named in the Bible, nor is its use proved or suspected until after the captivity begins.<ref name=Jones/>

The best approximation from astronomy would be to begin Abib on the new moon ''nearest'' the vernal equinox. At least one authority suggests adding five to six days to make sure that day and night will be equal in length ''in the latitude of Jerusalem'', not at the equator,<ref>Tippie, Robert. "[http://www.bnaiavraham.net/guest_articles/ripe_barley.pdf The Barley is Ripe in Israel: Implications for the Dating of the Passover Celebration]."  ''[http://www.bnaiavraham.net/newpage/index2.html B'nai Avraham Nazarine Yisroelite Synagogue]''. Accessed April 3, 2008</ref> but this is not proved. No such month as VeAdar is named in the Bible, nor is its use proved or suspected until after the captivity begins.<ref name=Jones/>