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A math analysis proving the extremely close interface of this 14½ stage progression -- as it
reoccurs throughout each annual circuit -- is shown in a subsequent section.

Sabbath Time And New Moons

Scroll 4Q317 (as cited above), explicitly notes two equally spaced stages amid the lunar
cycle (at the full-phase of the Moon, and also at new-phase of Moon).

This reconstructed scroll additionally notes the simultaneous appearance of 'Echad to
Shabat' or 'first of the Sabbath' at precisely the two full and new-phase stages of the lunar cir-
cuit. This additional notation seems significant in that the cited text indicates that the roll-over of
the week -- the peculiar ½ day unit -- occurred coincident to the two appearances of 'Echad to
Shabat')! (Note that the second instance of 'Echad to Shabat' in the cited text is suspect due to indi-
cated scroll damage -- as noted above).

Thus -- based upon extant information found on Scroll 4Q317 -- Sabbath time can be rec-
ognized to have explicitly occurred at new month and also again at mid-month. (This does not im-
ply that Sabbath time wasn't also counted in alignment with each seventh-day interval between the
14 stages).

Here it is important to recognize that the two respective intervals (with the ½ stage) equate
to extended Sabbath time. Extended Sabbath time (amid a formal 14½ stage progression) routinely
occurred twice per month.

The first extended Sabbath interval included the additional evening when 'the Moon rules
all the night in the midst of the sky', and the second extended Sabbath interval included the addi-
tional day-portion when 'the Moon rules all the day in the midst of the sky'

The startling conclusion concerning this probable early reckoning of Sabbath time
seems to be that the Sabbath was very formally computed based upon the lunar cycle, and this
formal reckoning explicitly included the two ½ stage intervals of extended Sabbath time (as
documented).

The composite information from this period of ancient history seems to show that Sabbath
time -- as it would have been counted under the established Temple -- was not counted in whole-
day units but rather was reckoned in sequences of evenings and daylights (exactly as detailed on
Scroll 4Q317).

In summary to the above (and to subsequent information), the following diagram attempts to
depict the Sabbath and New Month Schedule as it once was formally observed across 14 stages of
lunar waxing and 14 stages of lunar waning.

Lunar Monthly Sabbath Schedule
First Sabbath Cycle 7 evenings and daylights Moon waxing
Second Sabbath Cycle 7 evenings and daylights Moon waxing
An extended Sabbath interval Full Moon evening Whole Moon visible in night sky *

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