Mathew 12:40
“For as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, likewise will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.”
One of the biggest questions is what day YESHUA was crucified? Many say He was crucified on Friday, but when you think about it that would not add up to three days and three nights. Friday night to Saturday night is ONE day, so something does not add up, and reading the scriptures out of the Aramaic helps to clear up the issue.
Also, YESHUA’s death matches perfectly with the Zadok Priestly Calendar because Passover is observed on the 14th Day of the 1st month and when the sunsets is the start of The Feast of Unleavened Bread which is the 15th Day of the 1st month. On the Zadok Priestly Calendar none of YAHWEH’s holy days shift around to different days of the week each year because they are set and do not move. So, Passover always falls on a Tuesday and I will show from this timeline is that is when YESHUA observed His Passover when the lamb was prepared, and the 15th for Unleavened Bread. I will also show what day He was crucified, and how many days was He in the heart of the earth meaning Sheol.
Mathew 26:17-19
“Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples, drew near to YESHUA and said to Him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you eat the Pesach (Passover)? And He said to them, “Go to the city, to a certain man and say to him, “Our Master says My time it has arrived. With you I will perform the Passover among My disciples.” And His disciples did as He commanded them. And they prepared YESHUA the Passover.”
Firstly, during the time of the 2nd Temple period they began to mix Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread together because they are so close together, when in actuality they are separate events that are so closely tied in together that they just began to call the entire observance the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Just to clarify what I mean let’s go to scripture.
Leviticus 23:5-6
“On the FOURTEENTH DAY of the first month at evening (erev/twilight) is YAHWEH’s Passover.” And on the FIFTEENTH DAY of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened bread to YAHWEH; for seven days you must eat unleavened bread.”
So, from the scripture we read in Mathew shows that it is currently the 14th day of the 1st month the day of Passover when the Passover lamb was to be slaughtered, which is why the disciples asked him where do you want us to prepare the Passover.
Exodus 12:6 (Aramaic)
“And you shall keep it (lamb) until the FOURTEENTH DAY of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Yisra’el shall kill it at sunset.”
Now we have to remember the Hebrew word erev can mean before sunset at twilight just as it is intended here.
Exodus 12:6 (Septuagint)
“And it shall be kept by you until the fourteenth of this month and all the multitude of the congregation of the children of Yisra’el shall kill it TOWARD EVENING.”
Toward evening carries the same meaning as we see in the Aramaic which is twilight/in between the evenings, which makes a clear distinction that once the sunsets is set that it is the start of a new day. Since a day is EVENING to EVENING, YAHWEH is making it clear to slaughter the lamb IN BETWEEN THE EVENINGS AT TWILIGHT while it’s still the 14th day of the month, because at sunset will be the 15th.
So, once the disciples made the preparations and had the lamb slaughtered at twilight while it was still the 14th day of the 1st month, they were now ready to eat the Passover meal on the start of the next day which is the evening of the 15th. A new day had begun which is the start of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Jubilees 49:1 (Hebrew fragments found in Dead Sea Scrolls)
“Remember the command which YAHWEH commanded you concerning the Passover, that you should celebrate it at its appointed time, on the fourteenth day of the first month; that you should slaughter it BEFORE IT IS EVENING (Twilight/in between the evenings), so that they may eat it by NIGHT ON THE EVENING OF THE FIFTEENTH FROM THE TIME OF THE SETTING OF THE SUN.”
Exodus 12:18
“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at EVENING (Start of the 15th Day) you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at EVENING.”
We see YESHUA and His disciples following the scriptures perfectly and now we see them eating the Passover that night on the evening of the 15th the start of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, so when the sunset the day shifted from Tuesday the 14th to currently being Wednesday the 15th.
Mathew 26:20
“And when it was EVENING, He (YESHUA) was reclining among His twelve disciples. And while they were DINING (eating) He said, “Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”
Mark’s account begins to add the extra details we need to piece together the timeline.
Mark 14:17-30 (Parenthesis mine)
“And when it became EVENING, He came with His twelve and while they were reclining and EATING, YESHUA said, “Truly I say to you that one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” And they began to be grieved and were saying to Him one at a time, “Is it I?” And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve who dips with Me in the dish. And the Son of Man will go as it is written concerning Him, but woe to that man by whose hand the Son of Man is betrayed. It is better for Him if He had not been born.” Then while they were eating, YESHUA took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them and said to them, “Take it. This is My body.” And He took a cup and gave thanks and blessed it and gave it to them and all of them drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the renewed covenant, shed for the sake of many. I say truly to you that I will not drink from the fruit of the vine again until that day in which I will drink it anew in the Kingdom of ELOHIM.” There they offered praise and went out to the Mount of Olives. YESHUA said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble at Me in this NIGHT (proving it’s still Wednesday the 15th day of the 1st month). For it is written that “I will strike the shepherd and his lambs will be scattered.” But when I have risen, I will be in Galilee before you.” Peter said to him, “Even if all of them stumble, I will not stumble.” YESHUA said to him, “Truly I say to you that you TODAY in this NIGHT you will deny Me three times before the cock will crow.”
As we see, it is Wednesday the 15th day of the 1st month during the Feast of Unleavened Bread and its nighttime. YESHUA and His disciples had just eaten the Passover lamb with the unleavened bread and bitter herbs and YESHUA says that all the disciples will stumble in Him in this NIGHT and He says to Peter that TODAY in this NIGHT that he will deny Him three times.” Again, this proves YESHUA recognizes a day begins at sunset and that night is a part of the day. Roth notes this “Indicating that YESHUA held the day to begin at sunset, Aramaic reads “yomana b’layila hama qedem” (this DAY in the NIGHT before) the rooster crows before dawn, so the day must begin at sunset!
It is critical to see this because all these events are playing out on Wednesday the 15th day of the 1st month that began at night.
Mark 14:32
“Then they came to a place which was called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took with Him Peter and James and John and He began to be sad and depressed and He said to them “Grievous, even to death is this situation to My soul. Remain here and be alert.” And He went on a little and fell upon the ground and was praying that if possible, this hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Father! My Father! Anything is possible for You. Make pass from Me this cup- yet, not My will but Yours.” And He came and found them while they were sleeping, and He said to Peter, Simon you are sleeping! Are you not able to stay alert one hour? Stay alert and pray or else you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing and ready, but the body is weak.” And He returned, prayed and came again and found them while they were sleeping, because their eyes were heavy and they were not realizing what to say to Him. And He came a third time and said to them, “Sleep now and rest the end has arrived and the hour has come and behold the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Arise! Let us go! Behold he who betrays Me draws near Me.” While He was still speaking, there came Judas, one of the twelve, and many people with swords and staves from being with the chief priests and scribes and elders. And he, the traitor who had betrayed him, had given them a sign, and he had said, “He whom I kiss, that is He seize Him securely and take Him away. And at once he drew near and said to Him, “Rabbi! Rabbi” and kissed Him and they placed their hands on Him and seized Him.”
So, as we can see its still night on Wednesday the 15th day of the 1st month and Judas betrays YESHUA, and they seize Him. They then took YESHUA to Qayapha the high priest and they were accusing Him and bearing false witness against Him.
Mark 14:55-64
“The chief priests and all their assembly were seeking testimony against YESHUA, so that they might kill Him. But they did not find it. For while many were testifying against Him, their testimony was not worthy. Some false witnesses rose up against Him and they said, “We heard Him when He said that ‘I will tear down this temple which was made with hands, and in three days I will build another that is not made with hands.” And thus, not even their testimony was worthy. And the high priest arose in the midst and questioned YESHUA and said, “Why do you not answer the accusation they are testifying these things against You? But He was silent and did not answer him anything. And again the high priest asked him and said, “Are You the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?” And YESHUA said to Him, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming upon the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robe and said “Why are we seeking witnesses now? “Behold, from his mouth you have heard blasphemy! What do you think?” They and all of them judged that He deserved death.’
Mark 15:1 (Parenthesis mine)
“And immediately IN THE MORNING (still the 15th day of 1st month of Unleavened Bread jus the daylight portion) the chief priests with the elders and with the scribes, all of the assembly took counsel and they bound YESHUA and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.”
Now during the daylight portion of the same day on the Wednesday the 15th, they took YESHUA to Pilate where He is questioned further, and Pilate found no fault with YESHUA. However, the chief priests excited the crowds to release Bar Abba a murderer to them and to crucify YESHUA.
Mark 15:14-42 (Parenthesis mine)
“And Pilate said to them, “For what evil had He done?” And they all the more were crying out, “Put Him to death on the stake!” And Pilate desired to do the will of the crowds and release Bar Abba to them. Then after YESHUA was scourged, he delivered Him to be executed on the stake. Verse 25 “And it was about the third hour (9 AM the time of the morning sacrifice) when they nailed Him to the stake. And the reason for His death was written in the inscription, “This is the King of the Jews.” Verse 33 And when the sixth hour (12 PM Noon) arrived, there was darkness over all the land until the ninth. And in the ninth hour (3 PM the time of the evening sacrifice), YESHUA cried out in a loud voice and said, Eil! Eil! Lemana shbakthani,” that is “My El! My El! Why have you spared Me? Verse 37 And YESHUA cried out in a loud voice, and He died.” Verse 42 And when the afternoon was setting (late afternoon when the sun is on the decline before the sunsets) on the ANNUAL SHABBAT (meaning the sun was going down on the 15th day of the 1st month, meaning the first day Feast of Unleavened Bread was about to end), Joseph who was from Ramtha, an honorable counselor who was also waiting for the Kingdom of ELOHIM, came and took courage and approached Pilate and requested the body of YESHUA. And Pilate marveled that He was already dead, and He called the centurion and asked Him if He had already died. And when he learned it, he gave His body to Joseph. And Joseph brought linen cloth and took Him down and wrapped Him in it and placed Him in a grave that was hewn out in the rock. And he rolled the stone upon the door of the grave. And Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where He was laid.”
As the timeline shows us, YESHUA was crucified at 9 am in the morning on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, which is Wednesday which perfectly aligns with the Zadok Priestly Calendar. YESHUA dies at the 9th hour which is 3pm, so this allows for Joseph to take YESHUA’s body down from the stake around 4pm, because remember the body must be buried the SAME DAY according to the Torah!
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (Aramaic Peshitta Old Testament)
“And if any man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is crucified on a tree, and thus put to death; his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall bury him THE SAME DAY (for he who shall revile ELOHIM shall be crucified), and you shall not defile your land, which YAHWEH your ELOHIM gives you for an inheritance.”
John 19:31-42 (Parenthesis mine)
“And the Jews, because it was the setting of the day said, “These bodies should not remain on their stakes because the ANNUAL SHABBAT (The first day of feast of unleavened bread) is closing (coming to an end).” For it was a HIGH DAY (meaning High Shabbat which the first day of feast of unleavened bread is), that they entreated Pilate that they might break the legs of those who were nailed to the stake and take them down. Verse 38 After these things Joseph, who was from Ramtha, pleaded from Pilate that he might take the body of YESHUA because he was a disciple of YESHUA and had concealed himself for fear of the Jews. And Pilate gave permission, and he came and took the body of YESHUA. And Nicodemus also came, he who had come previously to YESHUA at night. And he brought with him spices and myrrh and of aloe, about one hundred pints. And they took the body of YESHUA and bound it in linen and with the spices, as the custom for the Jews when they bury. Now there was a garden in that place that YESHUA was executed in, and in that garden a new tomb that a man had not yet been laid in it. And they placed YESHUA there because the ANNUAL SHABBAT (The first day of the feast of unleavened bread a High Shabbat) was turning over (meaning the sun was about to set to end the day) and the tomb was near.”
So, Joseph had YESHUA’s body down from the stake while it was still Wednesday the 15th, which gave him close to two hours to place YESHUA’s body in the tomb before the sunset. And with this timeline it matches what YESHUA said perfectly that He would be in the heart of the earth for 3 Days and 3 Nights.
Wednesday night to Thursday night (DAY 1)
Thursday night to Friday night (DAY 2)
Friday night to Saturday night (DAY 3)
And then YESHUA rose on the Sunday the 1st day of the week. And we see that not only was YESHUA observing the solar Zadok Priestly calendar, but also that it would be impossible for Him to be crucified on Friday and be in the tomb for the 3 days and 3 nights which is clearly ONE day. In order to fully understand this we always have to view scripture through the lens of the Hebraic culture. We have already established that The first day and seventh day of Feast of Unleavened Bread is a High Shabbat, so the scriptures that read “Preparation Day” in most translations is referring to the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and not the weekly 7th Day Shabbat. For example, the two Mary’s saw where YESHUA’s body was laid on that Wednesday the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, and they went and prepared spices.
Luke 23:54-56
“And the day was ending and the Annual Shabbat (The first day of the feast of unleavened bread) was closing. And those women who came with him from Galilee were drawing near, and they saw the tomb, and how the body was placed. And they returned and prepared spices and perfume and rested on the WEEKLY SHABBAT as was commanded.”
So, the two Mary’s saw the burial site on the late afternoon of Wednesday during the High Shabbat of the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They prepared spices sometime on Thursday or Friday morning before sunset and then rested on the weekly 7th day Shabbat. Then after Shabbat was over, they were coming to the tomb with the spices that they prepared for YESHUA’s body. This timeline of events doesn’t conflict with the words of YESHUA, the Torah, or the Zadok priestly calendar, but rather confirms them and clears up the confusion.
As always, may our Father YAHWEH bless you all in YESHUA’s Name!