Page 264 - Coincidences in the Bible and in Biblical Hebrew

243
243
CHAPTER 18 THE SECRET OF IBUR
CHAPTER 18 THE SECRET OF IBUR
CHAPTER 18 THE SECRET OF IB UR 243
beginning of its night, and 793 parts from the thirteenth hour. This is the time
beginning of its night, and 793 par ts fr om the thir teenth hour . This is the time
between one renewal and the next, and this is the moon month” (Hilchot Kidush
betw een one r ene wal and the next, and this is the moon month ” (H ilchot Kidush
achodesh 5:2).
Hachodesh 5:2).
H
s calculate the lunar month accor
ding to both sour
Let
ces.
’
Let’s calculate the lunar month according to both sources.
ts):
Rabban Gamliel (recall that an hour has 1080 parts):
amliel
(r
ecall that an hour has 1080 par
Rabban G
29.5 + {[(2/3)1080 + 73] / 1080} / 24 = 29.53059 days
29.5 + {[(2/3)1080 + 73] / 1080} / 24 = 29.53059 days
Rambam
Rambam : :
29.5 + (793 / 1080) / 24 = 29.53059 days
29.5 + (793 / 1080) / 24 = 29.53059 days
Note that the number of parts in an hour may be factored, expressed by prime
N
ts
b
the
of
essed
number
expr
be
ote
par
ed,
that
prime
may
hour
factor
an
in
y
numbers, as
numbers, as
3 3
3 3
1 1
1080 = (2 ) (3 ) (5 )) (3 ) (5 )
1080 = (2
The v ersatility of that number , alluded to abo v e in the quote fr om Rambam ,
The versatility of that number, alluded to above in the quote from Rambam ,
is apparent.
is appar ent.
How is it that the secret of the ibur, known to Jewish sages in ancient times, known to Jewish sages in ancient times,
How is it that the secret of the ibur, 1 1
gav
gave the duration of the synodic month accurate to the fifth decimal point?
e the duration of the synodic month accurate to the fi

fth decimal point?
The following is an explanation, based on my best knowledge and capability
The follo wing is an explanation, based on my best kno wledge and capability
to
e
wish
abo
tradition
quoted
to explain the above quoted numbers, and their origin in Jewish tradition and in
v
in
and
numbers,
origin
explain
and
in
the
J
e
their
the Bible.
ible.
the B
the
time
when
is
the
calculation
of
rst
exact
lunar
the
fi

depar
tur
The
point
e
The departure point is the calculation of the exact time when the first lunar
month started.
month star
ted.
According to Jewish tradition, this happened at the moment of the creation of
eation
happened
of
the
this
at
moment
tradition,
to
the
J
of
wish
e
A
ccor
ding
cr
2 2
the first man, which marks the beginning of the Jewish year (Rosh Hashanah).
the fi

rst man, which marks the beginning of the Jewish year (Rosh Hashanah).
The Bible tells us that man was created on the sixth day of creation (Gen. 1:27).
The B ible tells us that man was cr eated on the sixth day of cr eation (G en. 1:27).

However, Jewish tradition, according to the Oral Torah (Torah she-Be-Al Peh),
However, Jewish tradition, according to the Oral Torah (Torah she-Be-Al Peh), 3 3
the
pr
e-
of
hour
(since
sunset
mor
,
a
after
es
time:
F
riday
e
exact
the
four
giv
gives a more exact time: Friday, after the fourteenth hour (since sunset of the pre-
teenth
vious day), which is the beginning of the third hour into the day of Friday. Recall
vious day), which is the beginning of the thir d hour into the day of F riday . R ecall
that the Jewish day starts at sunset of the previous day, and there are twelve hours
that the J e wish day star ts at sunset of the pr evious day , and ther e ar e tw elv e hours
tw
for
for nighttime and twelve hours for daytime. Therefore, after fourteen hours of
four
elv
teen
nighttime
of
hours
and
after
hours
daytime.
e,
efor
for
Ther
e
Friday is the beginning of the fifteenth hour, which is the third hour (15 – 12 = 3)
F
12
=
is
3)
which
the
hour
,
(15
beginning
the
fi
of
hour
the
d
thir

fteenth
riday
is

–
into daytime of Friday.
into daytime of F riday .