And in the Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text considered canonical by some but relegated to the Apocrypha by others, we find a particularly intriguing answer. : what makes a day special? What elevates it beyond just another sunrise and sunset? For the author of Jubilees, the answer lies in certain new moons.
Specifically, the new moons of the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth months. These aren't just any ordinary lunar beginnings; they're designated as "days of remembrance" and "days of the seasons." They mark the four divisions of the year, a cosmic rhythm etched into the very fabric of time. These are moedim, appointed times.
The text emphasizes that these dates are "written and ordained as a testimony forever." This isn't some fleeting, human-made invention, but something divinely established, a constant throughout history. The Book of Jubilees presents itself as a revelation given to Moses by angels, so these instructions carry significant weight within its narrative.
And here’s where it gets really interesting. The text credits Noah with solidifying these dates as significant. It says, "And Noah ordained them for himself as feasts for the generations for ever, so that they have become thereby a memorial unto him." Noah, the hero of the flood, the one who saved humanity from utter destruction, he embraced these new moons as special times, turning them into feasts and memorials.
Why Noah? Well, consider the timing. According to Jubilees, it was on the new moon of the first month that Noah was commanded to build the ark. And it was on that same day, after the long, devastating flood, that the earth finally dried, and Noah could open the ark and see the world anew.
The new moon of the first month, then, isn't just a marker of time; it's a symbol of new beginnings, of redemption, of the possibility of life after devastation. Noah's association with this day, and the other seasonal new moons, elevates them from mere calendar markers to potent symbols of hope and remembrance.
So, the next time you glance at the moon, think about Noah, think about the flood, and think about the enduring power of time and remembrance. Maybe, just maybe, you'll see a little more than just a celestial body hanging in the night sky. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of something truly ancient and meaningful.