Priestly Order & The Six Year Mishmarots And The Otot
The priestly order is found in 1 Chronicles chapter 24, as shown below. The order was established as follows.
1st Chronicles 24:1 And the divisions of the sons of Aharon: The sons of Aharon were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
1st Chronicles 24:2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
1st Chronicles 24:3 And David, with Tsadok of the sons of Eliazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices in their service.
1st Chronicles 24:4 And there were more leaders found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar. So they divided the sons of Eleazar into sixteen heads of their fathers’ houses and the sons of Ithamar into eight heads of their fathers’ houses.
1st Chronicles 24:5 And they were divided by lot, one group as another, for there were officials of the set-apart place and officials of Elohim, from the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.
1st Chronicles 24:6 And the scribe, Shemayah son of Nethanel, one of the Levites, wrote them down before the sovereign, and the rulers, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech son of Ebyathar, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and Levites, one father’s house taken for Eliazar and one for Ithamar.
Above, I highlighted who was responsible for establishing the priestly order and who decided the order. I have studied the Qumran Zadok priestly calendar at Qumran and listened to many people’s ideas about it. I read about it continually and noticed that the priestly order is the least talked about facet of the calendar. I realize the importance of keeping it properly, which is primarily contingent upon how it is intercalated. But, if your calendar method of intercalation does not incorporate the priestly order, I believe it will fall short of its potential to be all it was created to be. Praise Elohim. He brought me to a lady who has taught me what I feel is the best method of intercalation, and the priestly order is incorporated into this method. It was in David’s heart to build the temple, but that was withheld from him. What was not withheld from him was to gather everything to create it and to prepare everything for its operation (Including the priestly order). Indeed, it was his hope that the temple to be built by his son would operate until the One would come and crush the head of the serpent.
This creation calendar has been withheld from Elohim’s people for some 2,150 years. It needs to be administered by a Zadok priest. Unfortunately, we do not have any now, and our High Priest in the Heavenlies is not saying anything, so we are on our own. As I mentioned above, I think the priestly order has been underrated. For it to be appropriately used, it has to be calculated from Adam’s creation. This requires a correct genealogy from the creation of Adam to now. After a couple of years of studying biblical genealogies, I will put forth my best effort. Reading what I have discovered, you will understand why I consider the priestly order the most essential part of validating this calendar as Elohim’s creation. There is no chaos in His calendar as there is in the lunar-solar Babylonian calendar in use today by the multitudes of Torah followers.
12 fragmentary pieces were found in cave four at Qumran. Put together they are called by the scholars the Mishmarot, scrolls, meaning duties. They describe priestly duties for each year of 6 years. These 6-year periods begin the first year with priest #22, Gamul, which means recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete.
The significance of the priest who serves on Yom Teruah is that the OT (sign which is the fall equinox) must stay within the seven-day duty of the priest serving on Yom Teruah. When the OT gets to Friday, you know you will have to intercalate one week (seven days) after the annual day 273. This is at the winter solstice. If you follow this, your intercalations will be five years, six years, over and over. The following lists of the priestly order shows the intercalation years that are triggered when the OT falls on Friday at Yom Teruah, in red, and the Mishmarot years in blue. I also included the Otot years that are explained later are in purple.
The purpose of this list is to be able to see how the priestly order, the Mishmarot, and the Otot (signs) all work together with the intercalary days to form a calendar that keeps the priest that serve on the moedim weeks in those weeks. Every other system of intercalation I tested would work for a few years and then it would get out of sink with the priestly order. I began this list one Sabbatical-Shemitah cycle before the 120th Yovel-Jubilee cycle. Since each 294 year cycle from the creation of Adam is identical, there was no need for me to go back to the creation of Adam, but will work perfectly if you wish to go back that far. 1878 began a 294 year cycle, which is the 21st 294 year cycle from the creation of Adam. The year 2025 is the exact center of the 294 year cycle we are in now.
1871-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1872-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1873-6 Miyamin right hand.
1874-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1876-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1877-18 Aphses to break. Sabbatical-Shemitah year.
1878-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. 120th Yovel year. Otot year, 1st day 3/FM 3/6
1879-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1880-6 Miyamin right hand. 1st day Mar. 26th, FM 14th
1881-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1982-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1883-18 Aphses to break.
1884-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1885-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1886-6 Miyamin right hand.
1887-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1888-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1889-18 Aphses to break.
1890-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1891-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1892-6 Miyamin right hand.
1893-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1894-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1895-18 Aphses to break.
1896-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1897-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1898-6 Miyamin right hand.
1899-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1900-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1901-18 Aphses to break.
1902-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1903-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1904-6 Miyamin right hand.
1905-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1906-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1907-18 Aphses to break.
1908-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1909-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1910-6 Miyamin right hand.
1911-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1912-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1913-18 Aphses to break.
1914-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1915-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1916-6 Miyamin right hand.
1917-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1918-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1919-18 Aphses to break.
1920-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1921-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1922-6 Miyamin right hand.
1923-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1924-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1925-18 Aphses to break.
1926-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1927-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1928-6 Miyamin right hand.
1929-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1930-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1931-18 Aphses to break.
1932-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1933-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1934-6 Miyamin right hand.
1935-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1936-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1937-18 Aphses to break.
1938-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1939-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1940-6 Miyamin right hand.
1941-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1942-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1943-18 Aphses to break.
1944-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1945-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1946-6 Miyamin right hand.
1947-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1948-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1949-18 Aphses to break.
1950-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1951-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1952-6 Miyamin right hand.
1953-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1954-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1955-18 Aphses to break.
1956-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1957-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1958-6 Miyamin right hand.
1959-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1960-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1961-18 Aphses to break.
1962-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1963-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1964-6 Miyamin right hand.
1965-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1966-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1967-18 Aphses to break.
1968-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1969-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1970-6 Miyamin right hand.
1971-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1972-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1973-18 Aphses to break.
1974-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned, complete. Otot year
1975-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1976-6 Miyamin right hand.
1977-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1978-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1979-18 Aphses to break.
1980-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
1981-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1982-6 Miyamin right hand.
1983-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1984-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1985-18 Aphses to break.
1986-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
1987-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1988-6 Miyamin right hand.
1989-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1990-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1991-18 Aphses to break.
1992-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
1993-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
1994-6 Miyamin right hand.
1995-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
1996-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
1997-18 Aphses to break.
1998-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
1999-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2000-6 Miyamin right hand.
2001-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2002-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2003-18 Aphses to break.
2004-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2005-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2006-6 Miyamin right hand.
2007-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2008-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2009-18 Aphses to break.
2010-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2011-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2012-6 Miyamin right hand.
2013-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. 3-27 Otot year
2014-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2015-18 Aphses to break.
2016-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. 3-23 Otot year
2017-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2018-6 Miyamin right hand.
2019-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2020-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2021-18 Aphses to break.
2022-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2023-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2024- 6 Miyamin right hand.
2025-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2026-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2027-18 Aphses to break.
2028-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2029-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2030-6 Miyamin right hand.
2031-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2032-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2033-18 Aphses to break.
2034-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2035-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2036-6 Miyamin right hand.
2037-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2038-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2039-18 Aphses to break.
2040-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. 3-28 Otot year
2041-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2042-6 Miyamin right hand.
2043-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2044-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2045-18 Aphses to break.
2046-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2047-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2048-6 Miyamin right hand.
2049-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2050-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2051-18 Aphses to break.
2052-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2053-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2054-6 Miyamin right hand.
2055-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2056-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2057-18 Aphses to break.
2058-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2059-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2060-6 Miyamin right hand.
2061-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2062-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2063-18 Aphses to break.
2064-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2065-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2066-6 Miyamin right hand.
2067-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2068-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2069-18 Aphses to break.
2070-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2071-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2072-6 Miyamin right hand.
2073-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2074-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2075-18 Aphses to break.
2076-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2077-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2078-6 Miyamin right hand.
2079-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2080-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2081-18 Aphses to break.
2082-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2083-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2084-6 Miyamin right hand.
2085-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2086-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2087-18 Aphses to break.
2088-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2089-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2090-6 Miyamin right hand.
2091-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2092-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2093-18 Aphses to break.
2094-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
2095-2 Yedaiah Yahuah has known.
2097-6 Miyamin right hand.
2098-10 Shecaniah dwells with Yahuah. Otot year
2099-14 Yeshebeab dwelling of Yahuah.
2100-18 Aphses to break.
2101-22 Gamul recompense (rewarded) weaned. Otot year
Perfectly Synchronized Intercalations
Notice the synchronicity and predictability of this list. In the present 294-year cycle we are in now, the first time Gamul is serving on the first day of an intercalation year is 1896. Then, 6 years later in 1902, Gamul is serving on the first day of the year again, and it is also an intercalation year. The next time Gamul is serving on the first day of the year that is an intercalation year is 60 years later in 1962. Then, 6 years later, in 1968, Gamul is serving on the first day of the year again, and it is an intercalation year again. This kind of synchronicity between the priestly order, the intercalations, Mishmarot, and Otot, all given in the Qumran scrolls, is what I was looking for. I could not find this in any other method I tried. It seemed to me to begin with that a five-year-six-year intercalation cycle, which is eleven years, would never synchronize with the Mishmarot six-year cycles and Otot three-year cycles, but it works perfectly. Five is the number of the Hebrew letter hey, and six is the number for the letter vav. Put together five-hey, six-vav, five-hey creates the Hebrew word for “Passion”. The letter Hey means “behold” and Vav represents a connector (like a tent stake or the curtain hangers in the Mishkon.) Yahushua is our connector with YHWH. If you add the first letter of the Hebrew alphbet, which is Aleph-one, in front of this, you get the Name Moses was told when he asked the name of who was in the burning bush. This is mostly translated “I Am who I Am” or “I Will be Who I Will Be”. YHWH represents the English letters for the Father’s Name, which He gave to His Son, which is the Hebrew letters Yod Hey Vav Hey. The Yod is the number ten. So, His Name is Yod-ten Hey-five, Vav-six, Hey-five. There are exactly ten six-year cycles from when Gamul is on an intercalary year to the next time it appears. So, there are groups of ten-year cycles and alternating five-year, six-year cycles of the intercalation years. The Yod Hey Vav Hey does not appear in that order. It appears as ten six-year cycles, six years, five years. But it is very interesting that this intercalation method includes all the letters that create the word for passion and all the letters for both names, Moses was given, and no other letters of the Hebrew alephbet.
1878 AD was 5881 years after Adam’s creation. It was the 120th Yovel and the first year of the 21st 294-year cycle. The year 2025 is the 123rd Yovel year after Adam’s creation and the 147th year of the 294-year cycle we are currently in, which is exactly halfway through the 21st 294-year cycle. 147 years, 49 Otot cycles, and 24.5 Mishmarot cycles. Yom Teruah 2025 is the exact center of this 294-year cycle.
The Otot – Signs of creation
What follows is the Otot (Signs). These are the Calendric Signs listed in 4Q319. I have taken this translation from Geza Vermes. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (pp. 465-470). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition. It is really hard to keep up with in its raw translated form, so I added spaces and other emphases to make it easier to follow. I have used the same colors for re-occurrences of the same thing. I have used bold purple for my explanations of what is said. This list lists the signs in each seven-year period, referred to as weeks of years (Sabbatical-Shemitah cycles). There are seven weeks of years (49-years) in each Yovel-Jubilee cycle. These signs are the weekly duties of Gamul, priest #22, which means recompense, weaned, and complete, and Shecaniah, priest #10, which means, dwells with YHWH. The year Adam was created begins the year with Gamul, then follows through the six Yovel-Jubilee cycles of 49 years, which is 294 years total. The year 295 is exactly the same as the year Adam was created. It is a new beginning of a set of cycles that perfectly repeat the first 294 years. For this reason, it was only necessary to describe one 294-year cycle. This continues eternally or as long as the priestly order is needed, just as the Mishmarots listed above. On the list above I have noted the Mishmarot (Duties), Otot (signs, which are all the years that begin with either Gamul, priest #22 and Shecaniah, priest #10. When Gamul is the priestly cycle of the year that begins a Sabbatical-Shecaniah cycle, Shecaniah is always the cycle that begins the fourth year. Gamul then serves again on the first week of the seventh year, which is the Sabbatical-Shemiah year and is referred to as a sign of creation. All those years that begin with Gamul or Shecaniah that are on years of release (Sabbatical-Shemitah years) are referred to as signs of creation. The reverse is when Shecaniah is the priestly order that of the first year of a Sabbatical-Shemitah cycle Gamul will always be the priestly cycle that begins the fourth year, and Shecaniah will be the order serving on the first week of the seventh year. You need to be looking at the first Yovel-Jubilee that begins with the creation of Adam. Then you can see what I am describing.
These scrolls are fragmented, so there are missing pieces. It is not hard to fill in the missing pieces once you see the order of it all. I explain an anomaly in the second Yovel-Jubilee cycle in bold purple. At the beginning of each cycle on most of the Yovel-Jubilee cycles, it tells how many signs there are in all and how many of them are on the release years (Sabbatical-Shemitah years), which are called signs of the beginning because they are the same as the first Yovel-Jubilee cycle as described above. In some places, they are called signs of creation as said above also.
I use three red asterisks to set apart Yovel-Jubilee years, two red asterisks in front of Sabbatical cycles, and one red asterisk in front of the Otot (signs). The Sabbatical cycles are light green. The Yovel-Jubilee cycles are bold black. My exclamations are in bold purple.
Giza Vermes translation of the Otot as follows
Calendric Signs (Otot) (4Q319) The so-called Otot or ‘Signs’ document was copied as the continuation of 4QSe (4Q259). Whether it was part of the original composition is as debatable as the attachment of a calendar to MMT at 4Q394 1–2 (cf. above, pp. 222–3). 4Q319 represents a calendrical system based on the weekly rotation of the twenty-four priestly courses during a six-year period and constructed into six consecutive Jubilees, i.e., 294 years. The ‘sign’ which recurs every three years probably identifies the years in which the shorter lunar year of 354 days is supplemented by means of the intercalation of an extra month of 30 days (3×354+30=1,092) to equal the length of three ‘solar’ years of 364 days each (3×364=1,092). Palaeographically, the manuscript dates back to the first half of the first century BCE. For the edition wprinceps, see J. Ben-Dov, DJD, XXI, 199–244. Frs. 1–3 IV … …
* * * (The First Yovel-Jubilee cycle)
** (The First Sabbatical cycle) *on the fourth (day) of the wee[k] … [10] it is light on the fourth (day) of the wee[k] of the creation in (the week of) G[amul. *The sign of Shecaniah: in the fourth (year). *The sign of Gamul: in the (year) of Release (i.e., the first sabbatical year).
** (Second sabbatical cycle): *[The sign of Shecaniah: in the thi]rd (year). *The sign of [G]amul: in the sixth (year).
** (Third sabbatical cycle): *The sign [of Shecaniah: in the second (year). *The sign of G]amul: [in the fifth (year).
** (Fourth sabbatical cycle): *The sig]n of Shecaniah: after the (year of) Release. *The sign of Gamul[l: in the fourth (year). The sign of Shec]an[i]ah: [in the (year of) Release.
** (Fifth sabbatical cycle): *The sig]n of Gamul: in the third (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: [in the sixth (year).
** (Sixth sabbatical cycle): [15] *The sign of Gam]ul: [in the second (year). *The si]gn of She[caniah]: in the fifth (year).
** (Seventh sabbatical cycle): *The sign of Gam[ul: after the (year of) Release. *The sign of Shecaniah: in the fou]rth (year). *The sign of Gamul: in the (year of) Release (which is) the sign of the en[d of the Jubilee. ` Of this in the (year of) Release: [2] signs. … of the creation These two signs being Gamul at the end of the first Sabbatical cycle and Gamul at the end of the seventh Sabbatical, which are both years of release. This last year of release being the end of the forty ninth year Yovel-Jubilee cycle. You have to keep in mind the first year of the next forty-year cycle is when the Yovel-Jubilee is celebrated.
*** (The Second Yovel-Jubilee cycle). There is an anomaly in this Yovel-Jubilee cycle. It deviates from all the other Yovel-Jubilee cycles. They all follow the duties of Gamul and Shecaniah through the first days of each year, but in the second Yovel-Jubilee cycle the order given only fits the first days of the 5th week of the year (which is the First Fruits week). I have no idea why unless they just started wrong then followed through with the order, or possibly it is intentional to bring attention on this week for some reason. If anyone has an idea I would love to hear it.
** (The First Sabbatical cycle) *[The si]gn of Shecaniah: in the second (year). [ *The sign of Ga]mul: in the fifth (year).
** (The Second Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah: after the (year of) Release. [*The sign of Ga]mul: Frs. 2–5, 9, 23 V [in the fourth (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Release.
** (The Third Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: in the third (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the sixth
** (The Fourth Sabbatical cycle) (year). *The sign of Gamul: in the second (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the fifth (year).
** (The Fifth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: after the (year of) Releas]e *The sign of Shecaniah: in the fo[urth (year). *The sign of Gamul: in the (year of) Release.
** (The Sixth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah: in the thi]rd (year). *The sign of Gamul: in the si[xth (year)
** (The Seventh Sabbatical) This should say *Shecaniah in the second year and *Gamul in the fifth. Missing fragments.
*** (The Third Yovel-Jubilee cycle) The sign] of Shec[aniah [5] the sign] of the end of the third Jubilee. [the signs of the third Jubilee: 17 signs]. Of this in the (year of) Release: 2 signs.
** (The First Sabbatical cycle) * [The sign] of Shecaniah: in the second year. *[The sign of Gam]ul: in the fifth (year).
** (The Second Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah: after the (year of) Release. *The sig[n of Gamul: in the fourth (year). *The sig]n of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Release.
** (The Third Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: in the third (year). *The sign [of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year).
** (The Fourth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of G]amul: in the second (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the fifth (year).
** (The Fifth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign [of Gamul: after the (year of)] Release. *[10] The sign of Shecaniah: in the fourth (year). *The sign of Gamul: [in the (year of) Release.
** (The Sixth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign] of Shecaniah: in the third (year). *The sign of Gamul: in the sixth (year).
** (The Seventh Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shec[aniah: in the second (year). *The sign] of Gamul: in the fifth (year).
*** (The Fourth Yovel-Jubilee cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah: after the (year of) Release [(which is) the sign of the end of the Jubilee. The signs of the] fourth [Jubi]lee: 17 signs. Of this in the (year of) Release: 2 signs.
** (The First Sabbatical cycle) *[The sign of Gamul]: in the fourth year. *The sign of Shecaniah: [in the (year of) Rel]ease.
** (The Second Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: in [the third (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year).
** (The Third Sabbatical cycle) *[15] The sign of Gamul]: in the second (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the fi[fth (year).
** (The Fourth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: after the (year of) Release. *The sign of Shecaniah]: in the fourth (year). *The sign of [Gamul]: in the (year of) Release.
** (The Fifth Sabbatical cycle) The fifth cycle was missing, it should be as follows. *The sign of Shecaniah in the second year. *The sign of Gamul in the sixth year.
** (The Sixth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of She[caniah: in the second (year). The sign of Gamul: in the fifth (year).
** (The Seventh Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah]: after the [(year of)] Release. *The sign of Ga[mul: in the fourth (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Release
*** (The Fifth Yovel-Jubilee cycle) The sign of the end of the fifth Jubilee in Jeshebab.
The signs of the fifth Jubilee: 16 signs. Of this in the (two signs/year of) Release: Frs. 5–8 VI 3 signs.
** (The First Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: in the third year. *The sign of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year).
** (The Second Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: in] the second (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in [the fifth year].
** (The Third Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: after the (year of) Rel]ease. [ *The si]gn of Shecaniah: in the fourth (year). *The sign of Ga[mul: in the (year of) Release.
** (The Fourth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah]: in the third (year). *The sign of Gamul: in the sixth (year).
** (The Fifth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah: [in the second (year). [5] *The sign] of Gamul: in the f[if]th (year).
** (The Sixth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah: after [the (year of) Release. *The si]gn of Gamul: in [the four]th (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Relea[se.
** (The Seventh Sabbatical cycle) The sign of *Gamul: in] the third (year). *The si[gn of Shecaniah: in the s]ixth (year)
*** (The Sixth Yovel-Jubilee) The sign of the end of the sixth Ju[bilee. The signs of the sixth] Jubilee: 1[6 signs]. Of this in [the (year of) Release]: 2 signs. [10] … and for the Jubi[lee].
** (The First Sabbatical cycle) [*The sign of Gamul: in the second (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the fifth (year).
** (The Second Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Gamul: after] the (year of) Relea[se. *The sign of Shecaniah: in the four]th (year). *The sign of Gamu[l: in] the (year of) Relea[se.
** (The Third Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah: in the third (year). *The sign] of Gamul: in the sixth (year).
** (The Fourth Sabbatical cycle) *The sig[n of Shecaniah: in] the second (year). *The si[gn of Gamul]: in the fifth (year).
** (The Fifth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign of Shecaniah: [after] the (year of) Relea[se. *The sign of G]amul: in the fourth (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the (year of) Re[lease. [15]
** (The Sixth Sabbatical cycle) *The sign] of Gamul: [in the thir]d (year). *The sign of Shecaniah: in the sixth (year).
** (The Seventh Sabbatical cycle) *The sign [of Gamul]: in the sec[ond (year). *The sign of Shecaniah]: in the fifth (year) (which is) the sign of the end of the Jubi[lee. The 16 signs with 2 of them being release years are in the Sixth Yovel-Jubilee cycle.
(The Seventh Yovel-Jubilee) The signs of the] seventh 16 signs. Of this in the (year of) Release: [2 signs]. The 17 signs and 3 of them are release years are in this first Yovel-Jubilee cycle that begins with Sixth Yovel-Jubilee from the creation of Adam, that is the 295th year from the creation of Adam. This year begins another 294-year cycle that is exactly the same as the 294-year cycle that ended at the last year of the Seventh Sabbatical cycle of the Sixth Yovel-Jubilee cycle. That is a tongue twister!
Sign of the J[ubilees, ye]ar of Jubilees according to [holy] day[s]. [In Gamul the first (Jubilee), in Jedaiah the] sec[ond], in Mijamin the third, [in Shecaniah the fourth]
Vermes, Geza. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (pp. 465-470). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
Explanation of the accompanying Excel spreadsheets
Following the format of a friend in Oklahoma, my cousin and I have created Excel spreadsheets with priestly cycles for 49 years on each sheet. I will attach them to this article. You will need to print the first seven of them to follow through these Otot. The Otot (signs) weeks are yellow for easy identification.
These Excel spreadsheets show 52 weeks with a priest number on each square. The Moedim weeks are labeled and also colored differently.
One aspect of the sheets that you must know to be able to go to exact days in the year is that the first service of every year has three days of the previous year in that priest’s service. This is because the year begins on the fourth day of the week, but the priestly services are from sunset Shabbat to sunset Shabbat. The sheets are about the priestly order and their relationship to the moedim for each year. This is the simplest way I could figure out how to deal with this issue. These three days in the previous year are derived from the Otot scrolls.
These spreadsheets are very good for looking at genealogical and historical years. You will see what I mean in the article “Events that occur on Years that Begin with the same Priestly Order.” These Yovel-Jubilee sheets are Pdf sheets and can be printed individually or all at once. They can be downloaded in Microsoft Excel format and be viewed that way and printed that way also. They were created to be on 11”x17” sheets but can be printed on legal or letter sheets also.
We have also created a chart in Excel, which is a calendar. It shows the days of the year, the monthly days, and the Gregorian dates. It shows Moedim and the four intercalary days. It shows how to intercalate weeks properly to keep the 364th day from running past the Ot. You can see how it works in the list above, which shows the Mishmarot cycles and the intercalary weeks. The system is known as the 5-6-5-6 system, but it varies from all I have seen using this method in that the intercalation week is inserted between the 273rd day and the 274th day, the winter solstice, instead of the first of the year. The reason, as said, is to keep the 364th day from being past or on the Ot. I am putting this information out to be tested. If you can find fault with it or have another way you feel is as good or better, I would love to see it.
After I came to believe that the calendar found at Qumran was the true calendar given to Israel by YHWH, I found people who seemed to be respected and followed them. The way they were following worked perfectly from 2013 to 2016, so I felt good about it. But after we created the Excel sheets and I discovered events on this calendar that were prophetic using a 364-day year back to creation, I realized there had to be intercalation to keep the beginning of year in the tropical year of 365.25 days, as Moshe was told to do when Israel left Egypt. The intercalation must be seven days to avoid disturbing the priestly cycle, which is also the Shabbat cycle. The annual cycle begins on the fourth day of the week, so to stay in season and keep the Shabbat and priestly cycles correct the end of the year cannot go past the vernal equinox (the, Ot-sign), and the new year cannot start before it. When the extra week is put in after the fall solstice, which is the 273rd day of the year, there will always be 273 days to the fall solstice, and 91 days to the end of the year, which will always be before the vernal equinox. Also, the first day of the year will always be the Wednesday after the vernal equinox. The first day of the year will always be in the first seven days after the vernal equinox, keeping it with in three days either side of the beginning of the year. This method keeps the calendar in the tropical season. Any other method I tried eventually required two weeks to be entered, which moves you out of the tropical year. When, I began to read about all the ways people used to accomplish the intercalation week, the one thing that never occurred to me that makes this method synchronized, is placing the intercalary week at the winter solstice. I owe this understanding to a Lady in Oklahoma who has studied the Scrolls and Enoch since the Eighties. This is a witness that we all need each other. None of us has it all, but together, we can get a lot closer.
People who are already familiar with the calendar will have no trouble following the calendar chart, which goes from 2016 to 2042. You do not have to make a traditional calendar because the chart has Gregorian dates. Still, I have a traditional Gregorian-style calendar with the Zadok dates, the Gregorian dates, and all the moedim in this site.
Shalom.
Conner Stevens
7moedim@gmail.com