Sheaf of Firstfruits

The Sheaf of the Firstfruits (Lev 23:10) is also referred to as the Wave Sheaf (Lev 23:11), Feast of Harvest (Exo 23:16), Firstfruits (Lev 23:10), Barley Harvest (Ruth 1:22), the Sheaf or Omer or Wave Offering (Lev 23:15), etc., declared by God to be one of His appointed "Feasts of the Lord" (Lev 23:2, Lev 23:4) and a "statute for ever throughout your generations" (Lev 23:14). Few grasp the significance of the phrase "Feasts of the Lord" (Lev 23:2, Lev 23:4) as it is God's declared Feast and Holy Days - it is not the "children of Israel" (Lev 23:2), or Moses's Holy Days, or the Jewish people's Holy Days, it is God's Holy Days. As there is only one God (Exo 20:3), there is only one Word (John 1:1), and there is only one Law (Exo 12:49, Lev 24:22); it is incumbent upon all to freely chose if they are to be one with God. Jesus stated, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15).

The Sheaf of the Firstfruits (Lev 23:10) represents the offering to God of Man's first and best labors, the "firstfruits of thy labours" (Exo 23:16), that produces a barley harvest that achieves maturity in the Biblical First Month (Exo 12:2, Deu 16:1); which occurs during the months of March-April on Man's Gregorian calendar. From the time of the Sanhedrin's disbandment and the destruction of the Second Temple there has been significant division on determining the First Month of the Biblical New Year centered on what is the level of maturity of the barley, what type of barley, and where the barley is grown. Deuteronomy 16:1 states, "Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night." The meaning of "Abib" is interpreted to be "From an unused root (meaning to be tender); green, i.e. A young ear of grain; hence, the name of the month Abib or Nisan -- Abib, ear, green ears of corn (not maize)." per Strong's and other concordances.

From the Deuteronomy 16:1 verse one can easily discern that "the Lord's passover" (Exo 12:27) which is observed on "the fourteenth day of the first month" (Lev 23:5, Num 9:5, Num 28:16, 2 Chr 35:1), that the maturity of barley has to be tender or have visible green ears (Lev 2:14) with the expected ripeness to support a harvest at the appointed time of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits - this decision on barley maturity has to be made prior to or at the expected time of the visibility of the New Moon to declare both the New Month and the New Year.

A few words for consideration:

Passover as identified in Biblical texts is only one day, "the fourteenth day of the first month" (Lev 23:5, Num 9:5, Num 28:16, 2 Chr 35:1). Many of the Jewish faith consider the word  Passover to also encompass the entire period declared to be the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" and therefore they refer to the entire timeframe as Passover. In Leviticus 23:5-8 it states:

⁵ In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.

⁶ And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

⁷ In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

⁸ But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

It should be easy to discern that Passover is only one day in duration and occurs on the "fourteenth day of the first month". The "Feast of Unleavened Bread" is "seven days" long beginning on the "fifteenth day" of which the "first day" and the "seventh day" is a "holy convocation" during which "ye shall do no servile work therein".

To clarify the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread make an illustration that depicts all the information presented, example in the picture below. No mater what day of the seven day Biblical week it starts on, the pattern of days remains the same.

Many of the Jewish faith declare and observe their interpreted version of "Passover" starting on the "fifteenth day" of the First Month of the Biblical New Year, omitting and not observing "the Lord's passover" declared by God to be on the "fourteenth day of the first month". Those who do not observe "the Lord's passover" on the "fourteenth day of the first month" disavow Exodus 12 and violate Exodus 12:14, "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever."

Some adamantly declare the first day of unleavened bread is on the "fifteenth day" of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" per Exodus 23:15, Deuteronomy 16:8, Leviticus 23:6, and Numbers 28:17. However, the true first day of unleavened bread is on the "fourteenth day" as declared in Exodus 12:18: "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even." One should discern that this verse includes the seven days of unleavened bread stipulated for the "Feast of Unleavened Bread". Without an understanding of this truth, one will not be able to discern the truth of Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:1, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:1, Luke 22:7 and the truth of Jesus's Passover.

Some will assert that a specific type of barley is required to be evaluated to determine maturity and therefore the start of the Biblical New Year - "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) - the Bible does not declare a specific type of barley, it only states "barley". Furthermore, the Bible states that barley is to be "the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field". (Exodus 23:16) It is easily discerned that the barley is sown in fields prepared and attended to by Man, and by Man's labors a harvest is achieved and gathered through the grace of God.

Some will assert that only wild barley, untouched and undefiled by Man, is required to be evaluated to determine maturity and therefore the start of the Biblical New Year - "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) - the Bible states the barley offering to God shall be of Man's first and best labors, the "firstfruits of thy labours" (Exo 23:16), the Bible does not state barley is to be of wild or natural growth or Man is not to touch it - read the clear and plain text of Exodus 23:16.

Some will assert that barley produced by Man using irrigation is unacceptable to determine the start of the Biblical New Year, as only natural rain provided or withheld by God is acceptable per Leviticus 26:4, Deuteronomy 11:10, Deuteronomy 11:11, Deuteronomy 11:14, Deuteronomy 11:17 - the Bible and these verses do not command Man to not water or irrigate his crops, instead God granted Man dominion "over all the earth" (Genesis 1:26) to include farming and producing barley. It is noteworthy that the Jewish religious leadership did not condemn irrigation of crops as recorded in their oral traditions - read here.

Some will assert that farmers that use tractors and combine harvesters equipped with air conditioning defile their barley or other crops by not sweating, therefore circumventing Genesis 3:19, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread".

There are many other assertions. Many will assert their own personal interpretations of "barley" or "rules" that have no basis in Biblical texts. If these personal interpretations add to or diminish from the Word of God, you know these interpretations are false and therefore the one stating it. (Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32) Jesus stated, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20), so exam closely their fruits, words, and actions as it will reveal them for what they truly are. Remember: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

God's grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, knowledge, and wisdom is given freely to those who accept Him and are obedient. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) As such, "freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8); be extremely judicious of those who solicit or take profit from the free Word of God. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

Appointed Time of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits

Before one can estimate what the maturity of barley needs to be to declare the New Month of the Biblical New Year, one needs to know as close as possible the exact day to "reap the harvest" (Lev 23:10), put the "sickle to the corn" (Deu 16:9), for the offering of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits.

Leviticus 23:10-11 states:

¹⁰ Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

¹¹ And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Leviticus 23:14-16 states:

¹⁴ And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

¹⁵ And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

¹⁶ Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.

The Leviticus verses states "the priest shall wave" the "sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest" on "the morrow after the sabbath". The "sabbath" is declared to be "the seventh day" (Gen 2:2-3, Exo 16:26) However, the Leviticus verses do not state what "sabbath" within the First Month to offer the Sheaf of the Firstfruits after (morrow). This clarification is found in the verses of Joshua 5.

Joshua 5:10-12 states:

¹⁰ And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.

¹¹ And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.

¹² And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

From the verse of Joshua 5:10 it is known that "the Lord's passover" (Exo 12:27) was observed "on the fourteenth day of the month at even".

In Joshua 5:11 the phrase "the old corn of the land" likely refers to grain captured from the Amorites (Joshua 5:1) from a previous year's harvest, the phrase "unleavened cakes" identifies the time period is within the seven days of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" as "unleavened" bread is mandatory (Lev 23:6), and the phrase "parched corn" likely refers to freshly harvested green ears of barley which were cooked (parched) over fire - an indication the barley "wave offering" was completed.

In Joshua 5:11 it states the "morrow after the passover" and when compared to Numbers 33:3, "And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians." it is reasonable to conclude that Joshua's "morrow after the passover" means the "the fifteenth day of the first month", which is the first day of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread", identified as a Holy Convocation (Lev 23:7). As Joshua was intimately familiar with the Word of God and served under Moses, he knew the true meaning of "on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it." (Lev 23:11) and was obedient to its meaning.

In the case of Joshua, the first day of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" which is on the "fifteenth day" likely occurred on the first day of the Biblical week after the weekly Sabbath, which was also the day of  "the Lord's passover". It is important to recognize the barley "wave offering" was performed on the "fifteenth day" of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread", a day declared to be a Holy Convocation as stated in Exodus 12:16, "And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you."

The phrase "no manner of work shall be done in them" did not prevent the "wave offering" from being performed on a day declared to be a Holy Convocation. The "wave offering" was conducted that day as determined by the Levitical priests and in the presence and approval of God, as the "ark of the testimony" (Joshua 4:16) was within their mist - "...in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there." (Deu 16:2). The "wave offering" and any "labors" to complete it was performed as a religious ceremony by the Levitical priests, at the time and place they designated and under their direction, in very close proximity to God's presence, the "ark of the testimony". Understand the exact day to "reap the harvest" (Lev 23:10), put the "sickle to the corn" (Deu 16:9), for the offering of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits was determined by the Levitical priesthood and within close proximity "...in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there." (Deu 16:2). 

A calendrical illustration is shown below.

A significant and irreconcilable difference within the Jewish religious sects exists on the interpretation of the barley wave offering and the meaning of "morrow after the passover". For further context on this division research the internet, or read here and here for starters.

One interpretation alludes that both a Sabbath, the seventh day, and the first day of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" which is identified as a Holy Convocation (Lev 23:7), are essentially the same thing and therefore they mandated the barley wave offering to always occur on the 16th day of Abib after the first day of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread", which is a day declared to be a Holy Convocation. A justification for the Sabbath and a Holy Convocation to be considered the same is Leviticus 23:3, "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings." As this Jewish faction was the majority, this interpretation was accepted, and is in effect on most Jewish religious calendars to the present day.

The other interpretation alludes that a Sabbath, the seventh day, is NOT the same as a Holy Convocation (Lev 23:7) and therefore they mandated the barley wave offering to always occur on the day after the weekly Sabbath, "on the morrow after the sabbath" (Lev 23:11), on the first day of the Biblical week.

As a New Moon could occur on any of the seven days of the Biblical week, this results in  "the Lord's passover" (Exo 12:27), "the fourteenth day of the month" also being able to occur on any of the seven days of the Biblical week - this is only true prior to the implementation of the Hillel II, mathematically calculated Hebrew Calendar. This means the 16th of Abib, declared to be the fixed barley wave offering day, could also occur on a Sabbath, the seventh day. This directly violates Exodus 34:21, "Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest." in addition to similar warnings as in Exodus 20:10, "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work..."

Understand: If you can discern the Truth of the Word of God, the verse of Joshua 5:11 states “the morrow after the passover” and during Joshua’s time the barley “wave offering” was performed on the “fifteenth day” of the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” with the guidance and direction of God’s presence in the “ark of the testimony“. This directly refutes the Jewish religious leaders mandate that the barley “wave offering” is permanently fixed to the sixteenth day of the first month of the Biblical New Year.

There is another Biblical example that definitively gives validity to the wave offering occurring on the first day of the Biblical week following the seventh day Sabbath and that is the Passover of Jesus Christ.

Jesus's Last Supper was on the evening of the "the Lord's passover" on the "fourteenth day of the first month at even" (Matthew 26, Num 28:16, Joshua 5:10). "there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun" (Deu 16:6) Jesus was crucified and died at approximately 3:00PM (Matthew 27:45-50) on the afternoon of the "fourteenth day of the first month". Jesus declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19)    "...Jesus was risen early the first day of the week..."  (Mark 16:9) "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Cor 15:20) The First Day of the Week was also the Feast of FirstFruits and the resurrected Jesus was the Firstfruits, the “he lamb without blemish”. (Leviticus 23:11, “And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.” Leviticus 23:12, “And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord.”) For additional detailed context on Jesus's Passover read here.

A calendrical illustration is shown below.

If you follow the example of Jesus (and Joshua) there should be no doubt that the Sheaf of the Firstfruits was offered to God on the first day of the Biblical week after the weekly Sabbath.

This means the appointed time for the Sheaf of the Firstfruits, will occur on the 15th to the 21st day of the month of Abib, after the weekly Sabbath, depending upon which day of the Biblical week the New Moon of the New Year is sighted. This means the barley maturity needs to be tender, young, green ears of corn/grain (Lev 2:14) to a state of fully ripened by the 15th to the 21st day of the month of Abib, depending on the day of the sighted New Moon.

Where to Check Barley Maturity?

Where to check barley maturity? The simplest answer is from God's perspective, God's chosen place Jerusalem, Israel. (Rev 3:12)

Some will assert that there was no barley to observe in the 40 years of wandering in the desert of Moses's time, therefore barley is not an indicator of God's New Year. However those of this assertion, fail to discern that God's presence and guidance was with Moses and the people in the form of the "ark of the testimony" and that God communed with them "of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." (Exo 25:22)

Some will assert that the barley harvested in Joshua's times was not "the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field" (Exo 23:16) and therefore is not applicable to the determination of barley maturity, a sign of the Biblical New Year, and was a "one-off event, not ever repeated". Sadly they are unable to discern God's command in Leviticus 23:10, "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:"

Most are not familiar with the planting, growth cycle, and harvest of farming practices and in particular, grain crops like barley and wheat. One fundamental truth of agriculture growth cycles is topography affects growth cycles - a lower elevation with a moderate climate will produce a crop earlier than a higher elevation with a cooler climate when planted at the relativity the same time. This is vividly demonstrated in the different groups within Israel that declare barley in their particular location is mature enough to signal and declare the New Month of the Biblical New Year, while another group states the barley maturity in their location is insufficient to declare the New Month of the Biblical New Year. The issue here is lack of discernment and making determinations on one's own perspective, instead of God's perspective.

While most can not discern the reason why God choose the location of Jerusalem, Israel, it is undeniable that Jerusalem's topography, it's elevation and cooler climate, results in harvests that are later than other parts of Israel at a lower elevation and moderate climate. A topography map of Israel is illustrated below, for a more detailed view of the elevation of a particular location within Israel view website here.

Just as the transition of a new day begins at evening/sunset (Genesis 1:5), it must be observed from God's perspective (Psalm 132:13) to be aligned with His will. Just as the sighting of the thin sliver crescent of a New Moon (Deu 16:1), it must be observed from God's perspective to be the true sign of His faithful witness in heaven (Psalm 89:37). And the maturity of barley must be observed from God's perspective (2 Kings 21:4), to determine the proper New Month to start the Biblical New Year (Exodus 12:2).

Many will assert their opinions/interpretations based on their own perspective and observations from their location, however it still remains an indisputable fact that God's chosen location is Jerusalem, Israel - forever (2 Chronicles 33:4).

Another perspective to consider is the Jewish oral traditions; these recorded writings provide insight into concepts formulated by devout belief and adherence to the first books of the Bible (Tanakh) by the Levitical priesthood of Moses's time, that later became more commonly know as the Sanhedrin, which no longer exists since its dissolution in 358 CE by Roman imperial decree - read here. When reading the Jewish oral traditions remember to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

From the Menachot 64b:2-4: "MISHNA: The mitzva of the omer is to bring the barley reaped for the meal offering from fields proximate to Jerusalem. If the barley did not ripen in the fields proximate to Jerusalem, one brings it from any place in Eretz Yisrael. There was an incident where the omer came from Gaggot Tzerifin and the wheat for the two loaves on Shavuot came from the valley of Ein Sokher."

As "Gaggot Tzerifin" is mentioned as the furthest destination a barley omer offering was obtained from, one needs to know why and the distance involved for context. Further reading reveals the why: No fresh barley grain was found in the fields immediately surrounding Jerusalem, as all the surrounding fields were looted and ruined due to a civil war, Hyrcanus was outside of Jerusalem, besieging it, and Aristoblus was inside. The distance from "Gaggot Tzerifin" to Jerusalem is a "long" days walk at about 11 hours to travel 34 miles / 55 kilometers as depicted below.

From Menachot 64b:3: "GEMARA: The Gemara asks: What is the reason that the barley reaped for the omer meal offering should ideally be brought from fields proximate to Jerusalem? The Gemara answers: If you wish, say that it is because the verse states: “And if you bring a meal offering of first fruits to the Lord, you shall bring for the meal offering of your first fruits grain in the ear parched with fire, even groats of the fresh ear [karmel]” (Leviticus 2:14). This indicates that the grain should be soft and fresh. Consequently it should be brought from close by, not from a place where it might become stale and hardened during a long journey."

From Menachot 64b:3: "When presented with the opportunity to perform a mitzva, one should perform it immediately. Therefore, the barley for the mitzva of the omer meal offering in the Temple should be brought from the first crop encountered outside of Jerusalem."

It is very apparent that the Jewish sages, rabbis, councils, assemblies, religious sects, etc. observed for barley maturity in close proximity to Jerusalem, Israel, from God's perspective and chosen place; just as they observed the evening sunset signifying the beginning of a new day or the sighting of the crescent New Moon for the start of a New Month.

​When to Harvest Barley?

When to harvest barley? Common sense should dictate the answer, when "the harvest is ripe"; the Bible states:

"Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe" (Joel 3:13)

"But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." (Mark 4:29)

"Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." (Revelation 14:15)

Many assert their own opinion/interpretation that barley can not be harvested until after the Sheaf of the Firstfruits (Lev 23:10) is offered to God. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) - the Bible does not state the barley can not be harvested until the Sheaf of the Firstfruits (Lev 23:10) is offered to God.

The Bible prohibits the consumption of the barley harvest until an offering of the Firstfruits is made to God. "And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings." (Leviticus 23:14)

The Bible also states:

"Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty: )" (Exodus 23:15)

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty:" (Deu 16:16)

Understand the phrase "none shall appear before me empty" and "they shall not appear before the Lord empty" implies that those attending the "feast of unleavened bread" did not come to Jerusalem empty, but brought with them Firstfruits and tithes of their barley harvest to fulfill their obligations and likely a portion of their harvest to barter or sell.

The Jewish oral traditions reflect the same concepts: Mishnah Menachot 10:8: "Even before the omer offering is brought, one may reap a crop that grows in an irrigated field in the valleys, but one may not arrange the reaped stalks in a pile."

Mishnah Menachot 10:5: "Once the omer was sacrificed people would emerge and find the marketplace of Jerusalem full of the flour from the parched grain of the new crop that was permitted by the waving and the sacrifice of the omer offering. That filling of the marketplace with the new crop was performed not with the approval of the Sages; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says: They would do so with the approval of the Sages. From the moment that the omer offering was sacrificed, the produce of the new crop was permitted immediately."

Sickle to the Corn, When?

Significant disagreement exists on the interpretation of Deuteronomy 16:9 which states, "Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn." To understand this verse one has to identify who had the authority to "begin to number the seven weeks" and issue the command to "put the sickle to the corn". Some naively assert that when any farmer within Israel begins to harvest his barley crop,  "put the sickle to the corn", that the barley omer offering for the Sheaf of the Firstfruits is conducted.

Only the Jewish religious sect, the Levitical priesthood, had the authority (Deu 17:11) to determine when to "begin to number the seven weeks" and issue the command to "put the sickle to the corn". As identified above, the Jewish religious sect made this determination based on the maturity of barley as observed in fields proximate to Jerusalem, from God's perspective, God's chosen place Jerusalem, Israel. (Rev 3:12) Only the Jewish religious sect, the Levitical priesthood, had the authority (Deu 17:11) to determine when to start the first Month of the Biblical New Year based on sighting of the New Moon and barley maturity, both as observed from close proximity of God's chosen place Jerusalem.

From Menachot 65a:4 it reveals: "MISHNA: How would they perform the rite of the harvest of the omer? Emissaries of the court would emerge on the eve of the festival of Passover and fashion the stalks of barley into sheaves while the stalks were still attached to the ground, so that it would be convenient to reap them. The residents of all the towns adjacent to the site of the harvest would assemble there, so that it would be harvested with great fanfare." "Once it grew dark, the court emissary says to those assembled: Did the sun set? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: Did the sun set? They again say: Yes. The court emissary next says to those assembled: Shall I reap the sheaves with this sickle? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: With this sickle? The assembly says: Yes. The court emissary then says to those assembled: Shall I place the gathered sheaves in this basket? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: In this basket? The assembly says: Yes."

While the Jewish religious sect, the Levitical priesthood, the Sanhedrin, no longer exists, their oral traditions provide insight into the proper method to determine the New Month of the Biblical New Year which entailed the observation of barley maturity within close proximity to God's chosen place Jerusalem.