The Qumran calendrical texts.

[Norbert L]

Is it possible that this solar calendar was in use at the Jerusalem temple during the first and/or second periods? Given that the Sadducees and Pharisees had a clearly known theological dispute about the resurrection due the the NT texts, it's not beyond reason to believe that their would be calendar issues as well.

 

[HTacianas]

Is it possible that this solar calendar was in use at the Jerusalem temple during the first and/or second periods? Given that the Sadducees and Pharisees had a clearly known theological dispute about the resurrection due the the NT texts, it's not beyond reason to believe that their would be calendar issues as well.

There were calendar discrepancies between any number of groups at the time depending on the individual who determined the date of passover. The Qumran community is known for using a calendar that differed from the temple calendar. That led also to the discrepancy between the day of Passover in the synoptic gospels and the gospel of John.

 

[tampasteve]

IIRC there was a calendar dispute with the Essenes and other denominations of Judaism (also Samaritans) at the time. It still is not settled as the Karaites follow a different calendar.

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

The modern Jewish calender was only established in the 12th century, supported by Maimonides. In the 1st century, the calender depended on observation of moons and ripening of crops as much as the sun. So variation was frequent, especially in communities further from Jerusalem.

Thing is, the idea of everyone sharing a calender or having fixed correspondances between calenders, is modern. Throughout Roman times there were multiple conflicting calenders in use, such as the Pompeiian Era in Syria, the Palmyrene Era, dating by Indiction tax divisions in Egypt, etc. Many were based on the Sun (as was the official Roman calender), but many were lunar or lunisolar, or even weird idiosynchronous ones (akin in nature to the 260 day Maya versions).

That a separated religious community might use their own calender seems reasonable, even probable. It is hard to show therefore any correspondance with the Temple or other Jewish calenders.

 

[HARK!]

This series presents a comprehensive overview on this subject: