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Post by valiantfortruth on Dec 10, 2006 19:13:10 GMT -8
Hello Everyone, I am reading "The Star that Astonished the World" and it is exhilerating. I have a question regarding the Course of Abijah, and the Courses in general. The book says that the priestly courses began in Nisan EVERY YEAR. If so, who served during the 4 extra weeks during the years with the extra month of Adar? I am having a friendly discussion about the birth of Christ, and he insists that the priestly courses ran continuously. I found a website (somewhere) that said The Talmud says the courses began in Nisan each year, and another that says they ran continuously, also using the Talmud as a reference (Taanith Talmudic tractate 29a). Can anyone add any clarification on this? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. VFT .
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Post by Robert on Dec 11, 2006 10:13:19 GMT -8
VFT,
Welcome to the forum! To answer your question about the extra four weeks that came up in the leap year I am not qualified to do. But just doing a general search on " the course of Abijah" brings up several hits. Most of the sights will give an explanation of how the courses ran and their order as does scripture. Being as each of the priests were given a certain amount of time to perform their duties and on the holy days they all came in to do service, I would assume that all the priests would share in the extra days that came in the 19 year cycles that they followed. So if in the course of service in the temple duties if they knew it would be a leap year, then perhaps they had extra days tagged onto their weekly services to even out the situation. Just guessing right now as I have no way to verify this. Further search on your part at a library that has a copy of the Talmud might answer your question. Unless we have a jewish historian or scholar that is a member of our forum, I don't think there are many people that will have an answer right off the tip of their tongues. Hope you find your answer although I would want to know how much more of an authority you would need to verify that the priestly courses ran continuously throughout the year than that of the Talmudic references you already made mention of,
Peace to you,
Robert
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Post by Ken Nagele on Dec 11, 2006 18:49:08 GMT -8
Hello VFT,
Welcome to the Forum! Since I don't have any answers to your question, I will have to defer to Robert's response. Thank you for your post.
Ken N.
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