My book Sod Ha’ibur reached the conclusion that the Hebrew Calendar as we use it today was used essentially the same way by Rabban Gamliel. But as I was about to go to print in summer of 2014 I made 2 absolutely amazing new discoveries.
- GUcHADZaT — the 19 year distribution table for 12 and 13 month Lunar Years was in use in Bavel 490 BCE to 312 BCE.
- This was known from the Parker & Dubberstein studies of the Clay Tablets found in Iraq. They showed the series 3-6-8-11-14-17-19 which is the series of GUcHADZaT.
- 19 possible series and the Babylonians chose the same one we use to this day.
- It is likely they took it from the Jews who they held captive at this time.
- Shabbat — July 23, 791 BCE (Julian)*, zero hours, zero chalakim! The Hebrew Calendar, essentially as we know it today, began.
- I searched a database of the Moladot from Molad of Tohu through present day and found only the 3 matches seen in the chart below.
- The first is too early the last is too late but 791 BCE is consistent with the ancient calendar knowledge as historians have come to realize.
- July 16, 791 BCE (Gregorian)
