Deep within the raging sea of calendar discussions is the topic of the 13th month. If you are unfamiliar, when using the sun and moon to calculate the feast days; a situation arises. There is a 10 day difference between the sun and moon (yearly). Enoch teaches the sun has a yearly trajectory of 364 days, while the moon has a 354 day repeating pattern. Because of this, a 13th month is added approximately every 3rd year for the moon to ‘catch back up’ to the sun. Some would argue that there is no scriptural evidence to support this, however, today I’d like to let the Word do the teaching through the prophet Ezekiel.
“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of Elohim. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity”
Ezekiel 1:1-2
We must establish time. Ezekiel is writing on the 5th day of the 4th month, of the 5th year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity. It will make sense why this is important, shortly. The visions and prophecy given to Ezekiel in this passage continues until chapter 3, verse 14.
“So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of Yahuah was strong upon me.Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.”
Ezekiel 3:14-15
He began to have this vision on the 5th day of the 4th month of the 5th year, then he sat astonished for 7 days, bringing us to the 12th day of the 4th month. Here’s a visual for where we are thus far:
Then, in verse 16, The Word of YHWH begins to proclaim more.
“And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the Word of Yahuah came unto me, saying”
Ezekiel 3:16
This scene continues into chapter 4, where he is given precise and peculiar instructions.
“You also, son of man, take to yourself a tile, and lay it before you, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem: And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about. Moreover take unto yourself an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set your face against it, and it shall be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. Lie thou also upon your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that you shall lie upon it you shall bear their iniquity. For I have laid upon you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shall you bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed you each day for a year. Therefore you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and your arm shall be uncovered, and you shall prophesy against it. And, behold, I will lay bands upon you, and you shall not turn you from one side to another, till you have ended the days of your siege.”
Ezekiel 4:1-8
Ezekiel was told to lay on his side for 390 days and 40 days, equaling 430 days total. Keep in mind, he is told specifically not to even turn from one side to the other, let alone stand up or sit down. The next date we receive, is found in chapter 8.
“And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of Yahuah Elohim fell there upon me”
Ezekiel 8:1
We first started in the 5th day of the 4th month in the 5th year, but now, after Ezekiel’s 430 day endeavor, have arrived at the 5th day of the 6th month in the 6th year. Here, is where it gets interesting. If Ezekiel kept a 364 day solar only calendar, he would have broken Yahuah’s commandment to remain lying down for 430 days. Let me show you.
We have two options here. Either Ezekiel transgressed the command from Yahuah to lie on his side for 430 days, or he did not keep a 364 day solar only calendar. The only way Ezekiel could have kept the commandment of Yahuah without transgression, and the text making sense here, is if there was a 13th month added in the 5th year. Let’s take a look.
It is my understanding at this time, that Ezekiel the priest, was acquainted with a luni-solar that consists of using the sun, moon and stars as witnesses to the timepiece. Blessings and Shalom.
