Is the New Moon, the dark Moon?
- R. Gambrell
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
“Blow the shofar on the dark New Moon today on our solemn feast.” Tehilliym (Psalms) 81:3 | את Cepher Publishing Group.
Before we delve into our discussion about “the dark New Moon”, we must keep in mind: “What is the Biblical New Moon and how did the Sanhedrin observe it?”
According to Google AI Overview:
“The Biblical New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) marked the start of a new Hebrew month, observed as the first appearance of the thin, waxing crescent moon, a time for special sacrifices, family feasts, and trumpets, with the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) formally declaring the month's start after verifying at least two witnesses' sightings of the crescent, then signaling the news with bonfires across mountains to Israel and the Diaspora, a system later replaced by a fixed calendar.
*What was the Biblical New Moon?
Lunar Cycle: It began with the first visible sliver of the moon after the dark phase, signifying renewal (the Hebrew word for month, chodesh, relates to "new" or "renew").
A Holy Day: It was a minor festival, a time for rejoicing, family meals, and rest from work, with special Temple offerings and trumpet blasts.
Calendar Cornerstone: The precise timing of Rosh Chodesh was vital for setting all other Jewish festivals and appointed times (mo'edim).
The Sanhedrin (Hebrew and Middle Aramaic סַנְהֶדְרִין, a loanword from Koine Greek: Συνέδριον, romanized: synedrion, 'assembly,' 'sitting together,' hence 'assembly' or 'council') was a Jewish legislative and judicial assembly of either 23 or 70 elders, existing at both a local and central level in the ancient land…
How the Sanhedrin Observed It
Witness Testimony: The Sanhedrin waited in Jerusalem to receive reports from official witnesses who saw the new crescent moon.
Verification: They questioned at least two witnesses to confirm the sighting, making the declaration a judicial act.
Proclamation: Once satisfied, the Sanhedrin president would declare, "The New Moon is consecrated," a phrase echoed by the assembly.
Signaling: Bonfires were lit on mountaintops, creating a chain of fire signals that spread the news from Jerusalem across the land and even to distant Babylon.
Messenger System: Due to Samaritan interference with the bonfires, the Sanhedrin also began sending messengers to ensure accurate communication.
Diaspora Custom: Because news often arrived late or not at all, Jewish communities outside Israel celebrated the New Moon for two days (the 30th of the old month and the 1st of the new) as a precaution.”
*As you may recall, the Sanhedrin was fully operational during the time Our Savior Ya’ohshai was living here on Earth in the promise land over 2,000 years ago.
*When did the Sanhedrin begin?
Again, according to Google AI Overview:
“The Sanhedrin's establishment has roots in biblical tradition, with God commanding Moses to gather 70 elders (Numbers 11:16), but the first historical record of a council called the Synedrion is from the Hellenistic/Hasmonean period (around 1st century BCE) under figures like Alexander Jannaeus. It was formally established as a governing judicial body, with Josephus recording the Romans organizing five Sanhedrins (synedra) in 57 BCE.
Biblical Origins (Traditional)
Moses' Council: The concept originates from God telling Moses to select 70 elders to help him lead the Israelites, forming the first "Sanhedrin" in the wilderness.
Historical Development
Hasmonean Period: The term "Sanhedrin" appears in Jewish texts during the rule of the Hasmonean dynasty (e.g., under Alexander Jannaeus), evolving into a political and religious court.
Roman Era (57 BCE): The historian Josephus notes that the Roman governor Aulus Gabinius organized five separate councils (synedra) in Judea, marking a more defined historical establishment as a governing body.”
*The information that follows is from our research concerning mankind’s scientific interpretation.
*One key difference is what the New Moon that ABBA YA’OH’s people are to observe, is from actually seeing the New Moon, as compared to what the U.S. Military and scientific community labels as the New Moon as "seen" in its dark phase!
According to mankind; What is meant by “dark New Moon”?
The term "dark New Moon" generally refers to the New Moon phase itself, when the Moon is invisible from Earth. In popular and some spiritual contexts, the "Black Moon" is an unofficial name for a rare instance of this phase, based on the calendar timing.
Astronomical Explanation
During the New Moon phase, the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun. As a result, the side of the Moon facing Earth is not illuminated by sunlight, making it appear dark and essentially invisible in the sky. The Moon rises and sets with the Sun, so it is typically in the sky during the daytime, lost in the sun's glare, and not visible at night.
The term "Dark Moon" can also be used in a more specific astronomical sense to refer to the period of one to three days when the Moon is completely invisible, just before and during the exact moment of the New Moon conjunction.
"Black Moon" as a Rare Event
"Black Moon" is a popular, non-astronomical term, similar to "Blue Moon," with a couple of common definitions for when an "extra" New Moon occurs due to the slight difference between the lunar cycle (about 29.5 days) and the length of a calendar month:
Second New Moon in a Calendar Month: This is the most common definition, occurring about once every 29 months.
Third New Moon in a Season: This refers to the third New Moon in an astronomical season (which typically has three) that happens to have four New Moons. This is rarer, happening roughly every 33 months.
In both cases, the Moon itself looks no different than any other New Moon—it remains invisible to the naked eye. The primary effect is the creation of a very dark night sky, which is ideal for stargazing and observing faint celestial objects like the Milky Way or meteor showers because there is no moonlight to wash them out.
*Check out the following screenshots pertaining to man’s interpretation of the new moon:
*Keep this in mind, If all mankind lived by the calendar that orbits the Earth, created by Our Heavenly Father, Abba YAH, instead of by combining it with the Roman Catholic Gregorian calendar, there would be no dark or black new moon, nor a blue full moon!
*One New Moon and one Full Moon each month!
*Remember, this part of our discussion is from a scientific perspective!
*Not from our Heavenly Father's viewpoint! Especially as it relates to when the actual New Moon is in!
*Again, from man's scientific viewpoint, here's their summary:
*Do all Bibles describe Psalms 81:3 as a dark New Moon, or is this just another mis-translation?
According to Google AI:
“Not all Bibles describe Psalm 81:3 as a "dark new moon". The translation of this verse is highly debated, with different versions using phrases like "new moon, at the full moon" or "new moon, in the time appointed".
The variation in translation stems from two key Hebrew words in the verse:
Chodesh: This word means "month" or "new moon" (referring to the start of the month).
Keseh: This is the controversial word. It is generally understood to mean "full moon" or "covered moon". Some interpretations argue it refers to the moon being covered in darkness (the conjunction or dark moon phase), while others contend it means the moon is covered in light (fully illuminated, a full moon).
Most modern translations (including ESV, NIV, NKJV, NASB, ASV) use "full moon" in the second part of the verse, leading to a reading like:
"Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day".
A few specific, often less common or sectarian, translations (such as the Cepher translation) interpret keseh as the "dark new moon" or "covered moon" to align with their calendar understanding of the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) which occurs on the first day of the seventh month.
The King James Version (KJV) uses the less specific "in the time appointed," a translation influenced by Jerome's Latin Vulgate rather than the direct Hebrew text, which avoids specifying the moon phase altogether.
Ultimately, the phrase "dark new moon" is a specific interpretative choice found in some versions, while the majority of common English Bibles use "full moon" or "time appointed".
Psalms 81:3 — the New Moon and the Full Moon
Jun 22, 2022 — Secondly, the "new moon" doesn't appear in the Hebrew text of the Bible, as explained in this post. Neither is such a "new moon" define:
*We often cite Scriptures using the Cepher Publishing Group’s translation as one of our resources, primarily because they include most of the “Hidden Books of the Bible.”
Here’s an instance where we have to take a closer look at the surrounding verses so that we know which Feast Days are being observed!
Verses 4-8 explains, as read from the same translation:
“For this was a statute for Yashar'el, and a law of the Elohiym of Ya'aqov. This he ordained in Yahuceph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Mitsrayim: where I heard a language that I understood not. I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots. You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder: I proved you at the waters of Meriyvah. Celah. Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto you: O Yashar'el, if you will hearken unto me;" Tehilliym (Psalms) 81:4-8 | את Cepher Publishing Group.
*It was the middle of the month of Abib when our ancestors were led out of Egyptian Slavery, on the 15th of the month:
Verses 10-13:
“There shall no strange el be in you; neither shall you worship any strange el. I am Yahuah Elohayka, which brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim: open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Yashar'el would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Yashar'el had walked in my ways! Tehilliym (Psalms) 81:9-13 | את Cepher Publishing Group.
The Original Version Ethiopian Bible in English by Edward Jones states at Psalms Chapter 81 verse 3:
“Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.”
*Personally when I read this, I saw that we were talking about more than just one occasion to blow the “Shofar”:
1. on the “New Moon,
2. at the full moon, and
3. on our feast day(s).”
*Let's take a look at how other translations render this same scripture at Psalms 81:3:
The Holy Bible, the 1611 Edition of the King James Version states concerning Psalms 81:3 “PSAL. LXXXI:3:
“Blow vp the trumpet in the new Moone: in the time appointed on our solemne feast day.”
The Interlinear Bible in Hebrew - Greek - English states: First, the English translation:
3. "Blow the trumpet in the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.” Next the word for word translation of the Hebrew text:
3. “Blow in the new moon - the ram’s horn, at the full moon on day our feast.”
The Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew - English Tanakh - Second Edition actually cites this as verse 4, instead of verse 3.
4: “Blow the horn on the new moon, on the full moon for our feast day.”
And finally, let’s quote the HalleluYah Scriptures translation, Psalms 81:3.
“Blow the ram’s horn at the time of the New Moon, At the covering, on our Festival day.”
*As far as we can tell; No other Bible translation calls it a “dark New Moon!"
*As you can see from reading these other bible resources pertaining to the same verse, we have the days in which it is appropriate to blow the ram’s horn, or as it is called in Hebrew, the “Shofar”. Some of these translations call it the “trumpet.”
In summary, we must take into account how ABBA YAH summons his children together on the first of each month to Worship Him on. | The Rosh Chodesh is the “Head of the Month or the New Moon Day.
It’s appropriate to blow the shofar on the first, the middle or 15th day of the month and on His Feast Day(s).
The 1st and 15th are also apart of his feast days. *(See Lev. Chapter 23 for a list of these feast days. They include the Shabbaths).
The Biblical New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) marked the start of a new Hebrew month, observed as the first appearance of the thin, waxing crescent moon.
A Holy Day: It was a minor festival, a time for rejoicing, family meals, and rest from work, with special Temple offerings and trumpet blasts.
*How did the Sanhedrin Observe It?
Witness Testimony: The Sanhedrin waited in Jerusalem to receive reports from official witnesses who saw the new crescent moon.
Verification: They questioned at least two witnesses to confirm the sighting
Proclamation: "The New Moon is consecrated,
Signaling: Bonfires were lit on mountaintops.
Messenger System: The Sanhedrin also began sending messengers to ensure accurate communication.
Diaspora Custom: Because news often arrived late or not at all, Jewish communities outside Israel celebrated the New Moon for two days (the 30th of the old month and the 1st of the new).
According to the scientific community: The term "dark New Moon" generally refers to the New Moon phase itself, when the Moon is invisible from Earth.”
The term "Dark Moon" can also be used in a more specific astronomical sense to refer to the period of one to three days when the Moon is completely invisible.
Therefore, “A Dark Moon is also known as A “Black Moon" is a popular, non-astronomical term, similar to "Blue Moon," with a couple of common definitions for when an "extra" New Moon occurs due to the slight difference between the lunar cycle (about 29.5 days) and the length of a calendar month:
Second New Moon in a Calendar Month: This is the most common definition, occurring about once every 29 months.
Third New Moon in a Season: This refers to the third New Moon in an astronomical season (which typically has three) that happens to have four New Moons. This is rarer, happening roughly every 33 months.”
These Black Moons occur approximately once every 29 months and are the most common type of Black Moon according to Time and Date.
When a season has four new moons the third new moon is called a Black Moon.
These seasonal Black Moons occur about once every 33 months according to Time and Date.
*What we can learn, or take away from all of this?
Our Heavenly Father’s New Moons, represent the start of Each Month.
It is the time to come before Him to worship Him.
Give Him Exclusive Devotion.
The nation of Ya’ohsharal are required to obey!
It is in the Thorah! (See 1st John 3:4).
Finally, ABBA YA’OH ALA’AYM holds us accountable and responsible to Him!
This is a screenshot of the Sun:
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