Written by Felicia Trecek
(November 18, 2007 | Revised November 21, 2007)

There is a doctrine making it's rounds called the "Lunar Sabbath." Some people now believe that the timing of the seventh day Sabbath should be determined by the means of the moon. I, Felicia Trecek DISAGREE with this notion that the seventh day Sabbath is reckoned by the moon.

This study examines the key points of the Lunar Sabbath doctrine and demonstrates the inaccuracies thereof. Before doing so, in order to comprehend the key points, I will summarize the two opposing beliefs.

1) TRADITIONAL BELIEF: The seven day cycle was created by YHWH in Genesis and the cycle has continued throughout time.

2) LUNAR MOON BELIEF, According to Eliyahu ben David - the Author of "Holy Time": a) The seven day cycle was broken at some point in time [not sure when]; b) corrupt men created the seven day cycle; c) the seventh day Sabbath was/is governed by the moon. The new crescent moon marks the beginning of the month and the first day of the week. Then, the seven day cycle continues through-out the month until the 28th day (7 days x 4 weeks = 28 days). But, since there are either 29 or 30 days within a biblical month, the months that contain 29 and 30 days need to be modified. The extra day/s must be accounted for, so the extra day/s becomes joined to day 28. Thus, extra days are an extended "seventh-day" Sabbath until the end of the month. Days 29 and 30 of the month occur during the dark side of the moon. (Recall, the new crescent moon marks the beginning of a new month; therefore, it is both day one of the month and day one of the first week.)

[Two Side Notes:

1) Eliyahu ben David is a fictitious name that he bestowed upon himself. There are no scriptures that authorize or commissions anyone to be "annointed" into the genealogy of King David. A person is either physically born into the heritage or isn't. One can't be anointed into it. Moreover, scripture is clear: We are to be baptized [immersed] into Christ!

2) Key point arguments 6,7 and 8 listed below are general throughout the lunar Sabbath believers.]

#1 KEY POINT
Argument:
"The sequence of the days of the week, as we know the "week" today, is totally an invention of man and has nothing to do with Yah's calendar!" (Quote from Eliyahu ben David, the author of, "Holy Time", page 14.)

Rebuttal:
Nonsense! YHWH created days one through seven - the sequence of days that constitute a week. Read Genesis 1 - the creation week. It is certainly NOT an invention of man as like Eliyahu ben David wrote. To say such a statement is actually blasphemous! Man wasn't created until day six. Therefore; the days of the week were already set in motion before mankind existed.

During the creation week in Genesis (Genesis 1:5-31, 2:3), the seventh day Sabbath was not predicated upon the moon's position in relation to the sun. The sun, MOON and stars were created on the (4th) fourth day. Therefore, day 1, day 2 and day 3 all occurred BEFORE the moon was in existence. And; as we all know, the days of creation remained in numerical and consecutive order thereafter until day seven arrived when YHWH rested from all His works. Hence; the book of Genesis' reckoning of the seventh day (Sabbath) was not predicated upon the position of the moon in relationship to the sun, but rather unequivocally predicated upon day 1 and the consecutive numerical count thereafter.

There are some lunar Sabbath believers who claim that the sun, moon and stars were NOT created on day four, but were in existence on day one. So, let's examine the fourth day of GENESIS. Genesis 1:14-19 reads as follows:

(:14) "And God said: 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;"

 

The phrase..."LET THERE BE LIGHTS..." informs us these celestial bodies (sun, moon and stars) were NOT lights before this time - before day 4. They were NOT the light source for days 1 through 3.

 

(:15) "and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.' And it was so."

 

Again, the phrase..."LET THEM BE FOR LIGHTS..." informs us these celestial bodies (sun, moon and stars) were NOT lights before this time - before day 4. They were NOT the light source for days 1 through 3.

 

(:16) "And God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars."

 

Elohim MADE the two great lights (sun and moon). The word MADE is Strong's #6213 and means this: to do, work, make, produce. Gesenius's Lexicon concurs with Strong's.

 

(:17) "And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,"

 

(:18) "and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good."

 

Firstly; Elohim SET THEM IN THE FIRMAMENT. Hence, the great lights (the sun, moon and stars) were not already in the firmament before day 4! Secondly, Elohim then gave the great lights their function. At this point in time on day #4, these celestial bodies (sun, moon and stars) gave light to the earth. This demonstrates that these lights were NOT the light source for days 1 through 3. Thirdly, the second great light (the moon) began ruling the night on day #4. Again, the moon DID NOT RULE THE NIGHT during days 1 through 3.

 

(:19) "And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day."

 

Note: scriptures above are quotes from a Hebrew on-line bible. (Ref: http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0101.htm)

Anyone who says that the sun, moon and stars were the light source for creation days one through three are confused to say the least. The seventh day Sabbath - in Genesis - was predicated on day one, not day four when the moon was MADE (#6213) and PUT (#5414) into it's position - PUT in the firmament. The moon wasn't in it's governing position until day #4! The seventh day Sabbath is not governed by the moon! It's governed by day one and the numerical sequence thereof!

#2 KEY POINT
Argument:
",... it is no stretch of the imagination to SUGGEST they (the Jews) also lost track of Holy Time." [Emphasis mine.] (Quote from Eliyahu ben David, the author of, "Holy Time", page 15.)

Rebuttal 1:
His SUGGESTIONS are NOT FACTS.

Eliyahu ben David's Argument Against My Rebuttle DIrectly Above:
"If you want a fact here is one to chew on. There is not one shred of evidence that Saturns-day is the seventh day of a 7 day cycle from creation forward. There is no verse of scripture anywhere that proves that vital point!" (Quote from Eliyahu ben David, the author of, "Holy Time", e-mail correspondence 10/21/07.)

Rebuttal 2:
Firstly, am I left to assume that Eliyahu remains believing his suggestion is a FACT? He avoided my statement - the actual truth of the matter - his suggestions are not facts.

Secondly, where in scripture do we find that anyone lost track of the seven day cycle? Was there anyone who said something like this?: "I don't know what day of the week it is, so I shall inquire of God." From Genesis until Revelation, there are more than enough references to show that people knew day from night, what day of the month it was, and what day of the week it was. There is absolutely no indication within scripture (especially within the NT) that the seven day cycle was lost. With this last said statement, some people who believe the lunar Sabbath reckoning harken to Lamentations 2: 6. It reads,...

(v:6) "And He hath stripped His tabernacle, as if it were a garden, He hath destroyed His place of assembly; the LORD hath caused to be forgotten in Zion appointed season and sabbath, and hath rejected in the indignation of His anger the king and the priest. "

 

Firstly, the scripture clearly says IN ZION. Zion is a place. Consider people like Daniel the prophet. He wasn't in the dark sort of speak. Secondly, the book of Lamentations was/is in reference to when the House of Judah was taken captive to Babylon. Seventy years later a remnant returned to Zion to rebuild the temple. This is what is known as the second temple. At that time, the books were made known to the people once again who returned. (Read the books of Nehemiah and Ezra) Therefore, this argument - Lamentations 2: 6 - is irrelevant.

Most of the Jewish sects throughout the time from the second temple forward have kept track of the seventh day Sabbath.

Consider the records of the Orthodox Jews. They possess the explicit and very detailed instructions given by God for the construction of the second temple. They kept those intact! (Side note: Therefore, the temple they plan to build now is actually NOT the "third" temple recorded in Ezekiel [not enough details], but they will actually rebuild the second temple.)

Consider the Karaite Jews. They were much more strict in keeping with the Torah laws than any of the other sect of Jews because they never accepted the Talmud as an authority. We can follow their history and they kept the seven day cycle.

My historical calendar research findings were this: Babylon, Israel/Jews and India all continuously maintained the seven day (weekly) cycle.

Consider the statement from Christ: Matthew 16:18 reads, "...I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Christ would not have allowed the seventh day Sabbath to be lost in time because He expects us to assemble on that day. I have faith in Christ's statement. He certainly didn't leave any of us wondering if we were meeting on the right day - at least the people who acknowledge the seventh day within scripture rather than the first day of the week.

At the time of Christ's death, people knew for sure the sequence of days. Day one (Sunday) was maintained exclusively since many believed that this was the day Christ rose from the dead. In AD 321, the Emperor Constantine made the 7-day week official, with Sunday as the first day. Hence-forward, it's been maintained. It's been maintained via the Christians and the Jews. The Christians and the Jews never debated or argued with each other concerning the sequence of the seven days or the recurrence thereof.

The people who now follow the lunar Sabbath are hard-pressed to convince me that time was lost in terms of the seven day cycle. Again, these lunar Sabbath people want to make an argument saying that the seven day cycle became out of sync from creation. If they want to make this case, then show me some FACTS that demonstrate that the seven day cycle actually became out of sync from Christ forward!! Let's not debate on an assumption! Eliyahu ben David's (the author of, "Holy Time") SUGGESTION is NOT a FACT! Suggestions are not facts! It is incredulous!

We have not been tricked in keeping the wrong day - the Seventh day Sabbath - for hundreds of years since Christ walked the earth. Christ said that He was Master of the Sabbath. (Matt 12:8, Mark 2:27-28) And - again, Christ said, THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST HIS ASSEMBLY. Therefore, Christ's disciples have maintained the correct seventh day Sabbath sequence. This point is predicated upon understanding the NT and the covenant within. The LAWS are written upon the heart through and by the Holy Spirit.

#3 KEY POINT
Argument:
The six day work week, as commanded by YHWH, can be broken at the end of the month because months are either 29 or 30 days in length.

Rebuttal:
Exodus 20:8-9 commands the observance of the seventh day Sabbath. Notice, the accompanying commandment: "SIX DAYS you labor, and shall do all your work." We also have a direct commandment to WORK for six consecutive days. Why do I know the days are consecutive? Two simple reasons.

First Reason: The number seven follows the number six. Most importantly, verse 11 ties this said commandment straight back to creation week. The creation week in Genesis is the model and demonstration for the fourth commandment - the seventh day Sabbath. And; as I've previously demonstrated above, creation week - days 1 - 7 were not predicated upon the moons position in relationship to the sun.

Second Reason: There are absolutely no provisions to the law. There are no amendments and no ratifications of the law for a break in the six day work week. Since this is so, breaking the consecutive numerical order of the six day work week at the end of the month is in violation of the commandment - you shall work six days. There MUST be an amendment to the law or we're in violation!

The sequence is as follows: work six days, rest the seventh DAY (not days), work six days, rest the seventh DAY (not days), etc.

#4 KEY POINT
Argument:
Days 29 and 30 of a month can be joined to day 28 of a month for an extended "seventh day" Sabbath. (Days 29 and 30 of the month need to be accounted for and reconciled.)

Rebuttal:
(A) WHERE in scripture is there any demonstration of a seventh day Sabbath spanning two or three days???? There are no examples! Firstly, there are no commandments for the like. And; secondly, there are no demonstrations of this said unknown commandment supposition. (B) One day cannot equal two days. It's simple mathematics. YHWH informed us that the seventh day Sabbath is a DAY. One day, not plural days joined together. It's on the seventh day. If the seventh day Sabbath sometimes spanned two or three days, then this poses a serious problem. We can't call it the seventh DAY because it really encompasses the eighth day of the month too. And/or it would include the first day of the week. Which ever is the case. This violates the demonstration and definition of a DAY within Genesis. A DAY cannot always be defined with having one DARK period plus one LIGHT period. (There was evening, then there was morning - day 1; there was evening, then there was morning - day 2... etc.) There is not such a formation as like an extended SEVENTH DAY SABBATH. It's irrational and illogical! We don't count one dark period and one light period of time like this: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7,... Or, we don't have three sevens in a row. Let's be realistic!

Concerning the seventh day Sabbath when the Children of Israel were in the wilderness eating manna... (Read Ex 16:16-30) YHWH told them to gather manna for six days. And, on the sixth day - they were to gather an extra day's portion for the seventh day Sabbath since they were NOT to gather on the seventh day Sabbath. Again, here we have an example of a consecutive numerical order of days. If you attempted to gather a double portion - lets say on the 2nd day, on the 3rd day it stunk and it contained worms. But, not so on the seventh day Sabbath. The Israelites could gather twice the amount of manna on the sixth day so they could eat some on the seventh day also. Moreover, where is the mandate for the Israelites to gather TRIPLE or QUADRUPLE the amount of manna on the sixth day of the week, at the end of month containing 29 or 30 days??? It's simple, there are none! The manna commandments demonstrate rigid, inflexible adherence to a seven day consecutive cycle.

#5 KEY POINT (Part A and Part B)
Argument:
(A) Leviticus 23:1-5 demonstrate that the seventh day Sabbath is governed/reckoned by the moon, because the seventh day Sabbath is called an appointed time [Mow-ed: Strong's #4150].

(B) Genesis 1:14 mandates that the Celestial Lights govern/reckon the appointed times [Mow-eds].

Rebuttal:
(A) Firstly, addressing Leviticus 23:1-5.
Lev 23:1-5 reads,
(v:1) And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying (v:2) Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The appointed times (mow-ed #4150) of YHWH, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times (mow-ed #4150) are these: (v:3) Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a set-apart gathering. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to YHWH in all your dwellings. (v:4) These are the appointed times (mow-ed #4150) of YHWH set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times (mow-ed #4150). (v:5) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the Passover..." (etc.)

The seventh day Sabbath is clearly listed under the mandated appointed times (mow-ed #4150). I know and understand this point. However, please notice that its a stand-alone. What I mean is this: YHWH says, here are My mow-ed times... the seventh day Sabbath... (but, YHWH repeats Himself again...) Here are My mow-ed times... the 14th day of the first month etc. Henceforth, the seventh day Sabbath is clearly SINGLED-OUT as a Mow-ed time. Although, THE SEVENTH DAY SABBATH IS NOT SPECIFICALLY JOINED WITH THE ANNUAL HOLY DAYS.

One of the inaccuracies of Eliyahu ben David's argument concerning Leviticus 23 is rooted within the definition of the Hebrew word, Mow-ed. Let's look at the definition of the word, MOW-ED.

According to Strong's, the definition of the Hebrew word MOW-ED (#4150) is this: "from #3259 properly an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; spec a festival: conventionally a year: by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose): technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand).

According to Gesenius's Lexicon, the Hebrew ROOT word, #3259 means: to point out, to define.

The biblical usage outline of Mow-ed #4150 is this:
appointed place, appointed time, meeting, sacred season, set feast, appointed sign or signal, tent of meeting.

FACT: the word, MOW-ED is not confined to the definition, appointed time. There are a large number of scriptures that use the word MOW-ED that clearly demonstrate this fact. The following is one example out of many.

Exodus 31:7 reads, "The tabernacle of the congregation (mow-ed #4150), and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that [is] thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle."

The word "mow-ed" is translated as "congregation" in Exodus 31:7 as it is also in 33 other places in the book of Exodus, not counting all the other books and amount of times of usage. I won't delve into all the other translations/usages of the word because I believe I proved my point: the word mow-ed does not always refer to a time reckoned by the moon. The definition of the Hebrew word "mow-ed" varies a bit. This is clear by the context of Exodus 31:7 as like many other scriptures.

Moreover; if you have an Interlinear Bible, I suggest looking at Leviticus 23:1-5. Please examine the Hebrew word "mow-ed" in verses 3 and 4 against the Hebrew word "mow-ed" in verse 5. All three have the Strong's #4150, but the Hebrew word "mow-ed" in verse 5 is actually different. Please look at the Hebrew letters.

What does this mean? Answer: There is a clear distinction between the two said mow-ed times - between verses 2 and 4 in Leviticus 23! And, I will add this: look at the Hebrew letters for the word MOED in Genesis 1:14. It too is different.

FACT: We cannot rely on Strong's Concordance to establish doctrine in regards to the word "moed". FACT: In Strong's Concordance, not every distinct word is assigned a number, but only the root/core words. This is a VERY key and vital point to know. (Reference Wikipedia Encyclopedia online at... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong's_Concordance) So; not only does the core word MOED possess several meanings, the word MOED can also vary in meaning due to any extension given to it. And, these word extensions are not defined in Strong's Concordance.

I asked some people who could read the Hebrew language, "what is the difference in meaning between the two moed words in Lev 23:1-5?" - in reference to the variations of added Hebrew letters - due to the two different word extensions. Additionally; I know that when translating a foreign language, we can't solely translate a foreign language word for word and expect to receive an accurate translation. Some times it depends upon the combination of words in a sentence. Therefore, I asked my question to some people who could read Hebrew.

Here is the answer I received:
In reference to the seventh day Sabbath, "Mow-ed" (or Moed) is strictly an appointed time. YHWH appointed the seventh day of the week as Holy time. But, this moed word - in regards to the seventh day Sabbath - is NOT in reference to the moon. BUT, the moed word found in verse 5 in regards to the annual Holy days IS in reference to Genesis 1:14. We can actually see hint of the difference in our English language, because it is somewhat revealed in the English translation. See highlighted words below:

In reference to the annual Holy Days...
(v:4) These are the appointed times (mow-ed #4150) of YHWH set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times (mow-ed #4150). (v:5) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the Passover..." (etc.)

So, we have 1) Holy Days and these Holy Days are to be proclaimed AT THEIR APPOINTED TIMES.

Now, let's look again at verse 2 - firstly and specifically in reference to the Seventh Day Sabbath...
(v:2) Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The appointed times (mow-ed #4150) of YHWH, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times (mow-ed #4150) are these:..." The words, "AT THEIR" are absent in reference to the seventh day Sabbath.

YHWH says, (paraphrased) "I have appointed times, proclaim them as Holy Times. My appointed times are these..." YHWH appointed the seventh day as Holy time at the end of creation week in Genesis. And, creation week was predicated on day one, not day four.

If the seventh day Sabbath were an appointed time governed by the moon, there would be no need to list it separately within Leviticus 23:1-5. YHWH could have merely listed it with the annual Holy Days. But, it is not an appointed time governed by the moon. Thus, it is listed apart, separate from the annual Holy Days. And, a different word extension is then used on the word, MOED.

Because of my demonstration above, Leviticus 23:1-5 is not a justifiable argument. The argument actually contains three major flaws.

FIRST FLAW:

There are two different MOED words in Leviticus 23:1-5. (The word MOED is considered a root/core word according to James Strong.) One MOED word with it's unique extension is used in reference to the seventh day Sabbath. And, the other MOED word with it's own unique extension is in reference to the annual Holy Days.

SECOND FLAW:

The seventh day Sabbath is purposely listed separately from the annual Holy Days.

THIRD FLAW:

There is actually a third flaw that I didn't specifically delineate above. But, I will address it here. The word, MOED (appointed time) isn't exclusively used to reference the moon as like the lunar moon followers would like everyone to believe. There is a large list of scriptures that contain the Hebrew word, MOED - meaning appointed time - but have no connection to the moon nor a Holy Day. The Hebrew word, MOED isn't sacred whereas it is exclusively used to describe Holy Days nor does it have a direct assignment to the moon on every occasion when it is used. The following are a few example scriptures. (This is not an exhaustive list.)

I Samuel 13:8 (A time appointed by Samuel.)
"And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed; but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him."

 

Judges 20:38
"Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait, that they should make a great beacon of smoke rise up out of the city."

 

Joshua 8:14
"And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hastened and rose up early and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, in front of the Arabah; but he knew not that there was an ambush against him behind the city."

 

Joshua 8:14 (The stork doesn't use the moon to determine her appointed times. Nor are her appointed times Holy. )

"Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; ..."

 

Daniel 8:19 (The latter end time isn't determined by the moon.)

"And he said: 'Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongeth to the appointed time of the end."

-----------------
(B) Secondly, the second half of the argument covering Genesis 1:14.
Before I delineate my dispute, I will quote the scripture.

Genesis 1:14 reads, "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 and appointed times, and for days and years.'" (Strong's Concordance numbered "appointed times" as #4150 - Hebrew word, "Moed" / "Mow-ed".)

If you actually look at the Hebrew letters for the word, "mow-ed"/#4150 in Genesis 1:14 and compare it to the one in Leviticus 23:1-4 concerning the seventh day Sabbath, it is different. Nor, does it quite match the Hebrew word/letters for verse 5 of Leviticus 23 either. However, the Genesis 1:14 Hebrew word "mow-ed"/#4150 is closer in similarity to the one written in Leviticus 23:5 concerning the Holy Day proclamation in their appointed time.

According to Gesenius's Lexicon, the Hebrew word, "mow-ed" #4150 in Genesis 1:14 carries this meaning: "specially in prophetic style of a year [i.e. equal to that from one festival to its recurrence]." This rules out a weekly, seventh day Sabbath governance. Additionally, the word week (Hebrew: "shabuwa", Strong's #7620) is absent from the list in Genesis 1:14.

#6 KEY POINT

Argument:

The Sabbath is a SIGN. (Ex 31:13-16) The word SIGN is Strong's #226. And, this same word, SIGN (#226) is found in Genesis 1:14... The lights are for SIGNS, and for seasons, and for days and years. Therefore, the seventh day Sabbath is governed/reckoned by the moon.

Rebuttal:
The word SIGN/S (#226) is also found in MANY other scriptures. The following scriptures are a few examples out of MANY where the word SIGN/S is used. (This is NOT an exhaustive list.)

Genesis 4:15

"And the LORD said unto him: 'Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD set a SIGN for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him."

 

The sign for Cain wasn't governed/reckoned by the moon.

 

Genesis 9:12 (in reference to the rainbow)

"And God said: 'This is the SIGN of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:"

 

The sign of the covenant YHWH made with Noah wasn't governed/reckoned by the moon.

 

Genesis 17:11 (in reference to the covenant with Abraham)

"And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a SIGN of the covenant betwixt Me and you."

 

The sign of the covenant YHWH made with Abraham wasn't governed/reckoned by the moon.

This argument is full of babble that has no merit. Just because the word SIGN is used in both Ex 31:13-16 and in Genesis 1:14 does NOT mean that the sign of the Sabbath is predicated upon the moon. The word SIGN is used in many contexts not associated with the moon as demonstrated above.

#7 KEY POINT

Argument:

Ezekiel 46:1 reads, "Thus saith the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened." Because the gate will be open during both said times; the new moon and the seventh day Sabbath, the new moon must be a no work day.

Rebuttal:
This argument is a clear case of scripture contortion. Ezekiel does NOT say that the new moon day is a Sabbath or a no work day. Ezekiel 46:1 merely informs us when the gate will be open.

#8 KEY POINT

Argument:

1Samuel 20 shows a new moon day spanning two days.

Rebuttal:
This argument is the same type of contortion as key point #8 is - shown above.

REVISITED #2 KEY POINT
I want to now revisit key point #2 above. Another aspect of the "book" Eliyahu ben David wrote needs to be addressed. Again, Eliyahu ben David wrote: "... There is not one shred of evidence that Saturns-day is the seventh day of a 7 day cycle from creation forward. ..." (Quote from Eliyahu ben David, the author of, "Holy Time", e-mail correspondence 10/21/07.)

One portion of Eliyahu ben David's book is dedicated to explaining that each day of the week was labeled/attached to a pagan deity associated with the stars. Henceforth; SUN-day, MOON-day,... etc. However; he insinuates that the seventh day that we know to be "Saturday" is actually a pagan day - or at least, not Holy. So, the insinuation/innuendo goes like this: if we observe the day we call Saturday, we are actually honoring the pagan deity associated with Saturn. Please know that Eliyahu ben David never explicitly states this said statement, but the insinuations/innuendos exist in many places of his book. I use the sentence that he wrote to me (shown above) on 10/21/07 because I am not putting his entire 115 page book on display. (I think its blasphemous.) And, I want to show you that he maintains his insinuations. If this was not his agenda, then there would be no need to delve into this area of history concerning the calendar. And, there would be no need to spot-light the name Saturday as like he did - "Saturns-day." I am not honoring any pagan deity when I keep the covenant of YHWH. People can call or label the day whatever they want, but it doesn't alter the words of the covenant.

SUMMARY:
Eliyahu ben David's name is a sham. And, his book is a reflection of his self-appointed authority. He speaks blasphemy. He supposedly is a believer in the Torah, but purports that YHWH didn't create the seven day week? What do the lunar Sabbath people call days 1 - 7 in Genesis? I call it a week.

He doesn't have a shred of solid, legitimate evidence to support his theory. What the lunar Sabbath people label as evidence isn't evidence at all.

1) He ignores the creation week in Genesis where the seventh day Sabbath is shown to be predicated upon day one and NOT on day four. His excuse for turning a blind eye is two fold: (a) He questions; how can we know that we maintain the same seven day cycle set-forth in creation? (b) His false premise in Leviticus 23:1-5. So; based upon his question and false premise, he chooses to ignore the Genesis creation week and he creates his own set of rules to reckon the seventh day cycle.

2) He literally has created his own set of rules/laws that are not biblically founded. His set of rules to reckon the seventh day Sabbath are absent within scripture. For one blatant example out of many: where in scripture are we mandated to extend the seventh day Sabbath into a second or third day at the end of each month?

3) The seventh day is never two days or three days in one. He redefines what a "day" is in Genesis at the end of every month in the year.

4) He misinterpreted Leviticus 23:1-5. (He can't read the Hebrew language, so he relied on the word numbering of James Strong and made word number #4150 is main premise. James Strong only numbered root words and NOT all the various extensions thereof. FACT: word extensions alter meanings of words.)

5) He can't show within Genesis 1:14 itself that the seventh day is reckoned by the moon. The word "WEEK" (Hebrew: "shabuwa", Strong's #7620) is absent from the list. And, Eliyahu ben David cannot legitimately rely on the Hebrew word, MOED (translated: appointed times) within Genesis 1:14 because the word MOED contained in Genesis 1:14 cannot be exactly matched to either of the two different MOED words found in Lev 23:1-5. Therefore; Eliyahu ben David cannot legitimately join Leviticus 23:1-3 (the seventh day Sabbath appointment) with the appointments governed by the heavenly bodies stated in Genesis 1:14.

NEVERTHELESS, I rest my case on this: the sun, moon and stars were not made until day four during creation week in Genesis. Therefore, the seventh day Sabbath is reckoned according to day one, not day four. The lunar Sabbath believers can say and twist scripture all they want. It won't alter reality or one jot or tittle.