Is Passover on the 14th or 15th? (Part 1)

I’m amazed every year that even the date of Passover is debated amongst some…
Is Passover on the 14th or 15th?
Let’s go to the Scripture!
“On the fourteenth day of the first month between the evenings is the Passover of יהוה.” ~Leviticus 23:5
Score
14th (1)
15th (0)
​

Picture from www.torahcalendar.com
A Hebrew Day begins at sunset and transitions from evening twilight to night to morning twilight to day to sunset.  The first half of a Hebrew Day lasts from the moment of sunset to the moment of sunrise.  The second half of a Hebrew Day lasts from the moment of sunrise to the moment of sunset. The period between sunset and night is defined by the Hebrew phrase  בין הערבים – between the evenings. This is the time of evening twilight.
It was בין הערבים – between the evenings that the children of Yisrael ate the quail:
“I have heard the complaints of the children of Yisrael. Speak to them, saying, ‘Between the evenings you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am יהוה your Elohim.” ~Exodus 16:12
It was בין הערבים – between the evenings that the Menorah was lit:
“And when Aaron lights the lamps between the evenings, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before יהוה throughout your generations.” ~Exodus 30:8
It was בין הערבים – between the evenings that the evening sacrifice was to be offered:
“With the one lamb shall be one-tenth of an ephah of flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering.  And the other lamb you shall offer between the evenings. And you shall offer with it the grain offering and the drink offering, as in the morning, for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to יהוה.”
~Exodus 29:40, 41
It was בין הערבים – between the evenings that the Passover was to be slain:
“And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it between the evenings. ~Exodus 12:6
Score
14th (2)
15th (0)
Take note Exodus 12:6 states “keep it UNTIL the fourteenth day…Then kill it between the evenings.”
Q: When does the 14 Day start?
A: At sunset
The period between sunset and night is בין הערבים – between the evenings.
The Passover lamb was slain at the beginning of the 14 Day right after sunset – between the evenings.
“but at the place where יהוה your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell, there you slaughter the Passover in the evening, at the going down of the sun, at the appointed time you came out of Mitsrayim.”
~Deuteronomy 16:1
In the Passover of the Exodus, a lamb was slain after sunset, the death angel passed over at midnight, and the leftovers were burnt before morning on Day 14 of Month 1 (Exodus 12:3-29). 
יהוה said that all of the ceremonies of the Passover occur on Day 14 of Month 1:
“On the fourteenth day of this month, between the evenings, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it.” ~Number 9:3
Score
14th (3)
15th (0)
Again the book of Numbers states:
“And in the first month, on the fourteenth day, is the Passover of יהוה,” ~Numbers 28:16
Score
14th (4)
15th (0)
…However the best proof that the Passover is celebrated at the beginning of Day 14 of Month 1 is found in the Renewed Covenant Writings!
Even if your confused on the timing of the Passover…just follow the example of the Messiah and you’ll get it RIGHT!
Messiah יהושע kept the Passover with his disciples at the beginning of Day 14 of Month 1 in 34 C.E:
“…“Where do You wish us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I am to observe the Passover at your house with My taught ones.” And the taught ones did as יהושע had ordered them, and prepared the Passover.” ~Matthew 26:17b-19
“Where do You wish us to go and prepare, for You to eat the Passover?” And He sent out two of His taught ones and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man bearing a jar of water shall meet you, follow him.
“And wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I am to eat the Passover with My taught ones?”  “And he shall show you a large upper room, furnished, ready. Prepare for us there.” And His taught ones went out and came
into the city, and found it as He said to them, and they prepared the Passover.” ~Mark 14:12b-16
“And the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover had to be slaughtered. And He sent Kepha (Peter) and Yahucanan (John), saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us to eat.” And they said to Him, “Where do You wish us to prepare?” And He said to them, “See, as you enter into the city, a man shall meet you carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house he enters. “And you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I might eat the Passover with My taught ones?”  “And he shall show you a large, furnished upper room. Prepare it there.”  And going they found it as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. And when the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve emissaries with Him. And He said to them, “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering, for I say to you, I shall certainly not eat of it again until it is filled in the reign of Elohim.” ~Luke 22:7-16
It is crystal clear from the Scripture that Messiah ate the Passover with his disciple BEFORE His suffering…
However some get tripped up on the fact that the Scripture interchangeably uses Passover and Unleavened Bread.
“And the Festival of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called
Passover.” ~Luke 22:1
Passover (Day 14 /Month 1) and Unleavened Bread (Day 15 -Day 21 / Month 1) although distinct & separate Appointed Times together collectively they make a 8 Day Festival!
“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month in the evening.” ~Exodus 12:18
14- eat unleavened bread with Passover
15- eat unleavened bread
16- eat unleavened bread
17- eat unleavened bread
18- eat unleavened bread
19- eat unleavened bread
20- eat unleavened bread
21- eat unleavened bread
Total 8 Days
We are to eat unleavened bread at Passover Day 14 / Month 1:
“And they shall eat the flesh that night, roasted in fire, with unleavened bread, and they shall eat it with bitter herbs.” ~Exodus 12:8  
We are to eat unleavened bread for 7 days during the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Day 15 – Day 21 of Month 1):
“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.” ~Exodus 12:15
The historian Josephus also said the feast of Unleavened Bread lasted for 8 day. “Hence it is that, in memory of the time of scarcity, we keep for eight days a feast called Unleavened Bread.  Now the entire multitude of those that went out, including women and children, was not easy to be numbered; but those that were of an age fit for war, were six hundred thousand.” ~Josephus, Antiquities, 2 / 317.
It was after the Passover Meal in 34 C.E. that Messiah יהושע took up the bread…
“And taking bread, giving thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood which is shed for you.” ~Luke 22:19, 20
Shaul (Paul) also wrote:
“For I received from the Master that which I also delivered to you: that the Master יהושע in the night in which He was delivered up took bread, and having given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me.”
~1 Corinthians 11:23-25

The Messiah ate the Passover at night on Day 14 / Month 1 after the time period referred to as בין הערבים – between the evenings as it takes several hours to prepare the Passover lamb roasted with fire.
Later on that same night He was delivered up to his enemies
(1 Corinthians. 11:23-25).
On Passover Day, He died about 3 hours before sunset which was about 3 hours before Day 15 / Month 1.
“Therefore, since it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the stake on the Sabbath – for that Sabbath was a high one – the Yahudim asked Pilate to have their legs broken, and that they be taken away.” ~John 19:31
The Yahudim were in a rush to get them down from the stake, because the High Sabbath – The First Day of Unleavened Bread was quickly approaching at sunset!
The Torah instructs one must be buried the same day:
“Let his body not remain overnight on the tree, for you shall certainly bury him the same day – for he who is hanged is accursed of Elohim – so that you do not defile the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you as an inheritance.” ~Deuteronomy 21:23
John 19:31 also provides more evidence that the Hebrew Day starts at sunset.
Score
From Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
14th (8)
15th (0)
According to the Scripture Passover is on Day 14 of Month 1!

It’s time we Stick with the Scriptures & Toss the Traditions of men.
Final Word:
“Therefore cleanse out the old leaven, so that you are a new lump, as you are unleavened. For also Messiah our Passover was offered for us. So then let us observe the festival, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of evil and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
~1 Corinthians 5:7, 8

*For more info on this subject check out
Todd Bennett’s article Calendar Confusion
Part 1: Is Passover on the 14th or 15th?
Part 2: When is Passover?
Part 3: The Woman with the Alabaster Jar – Judas & The Passover Connection!
Part 4: When Did The Apostle John Keep Passover?
Part 5: Coming Soon…

Posted onMarch 22, 2016CategoriesAppointed Times, UncategorizedLeave a comment