Question: Exodus 24:16 states that Moses waited an additional 6 days before before entering into his 40 days and 40 nights on the mount, bringing the Pentecost count to 105/106 days instead of 99/100 (56 days, as opposed to 50, after the 7 complete Sabbaths). How, then, can your interpretation of the count to Pentecost (7 Sabbaths complete + 50 days) be correct?
Answer: We have to carefully examine all of the relevant texts to ascertain every aspect of the time line in order to come to a conclusion. In other words, Exodus 24:16 must be placed in its proper context. Here are the details of the count to Pentecost.
From the Day of First Fruits (Abib 16), we are instructed to count 7 Sabbaths Complete. This will always bring us to the 8th of the Third Month. Scripture tells us plainly that from the day after the 7 Sabbaths Complete, we shall number 50 days (Again, see Leviticus 23:16). So on the day after the 8th of the Third Month, we then count 50 days; day 1 being the 9th of the Third Month. If the Third Month has 30 days, then the 50th day will fall on the 28th of the Fourth Month. If the Third Month has 29 days, then the 50th day will fall on the 29th of the Fourth Month. Very Simple.
In Exodus 19:1, we read: "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai." From this we learn, that Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai on the 15th day of the Third Month. We can know this because Moses tells us that they arrived on the same day of the month that they had left Egypt, which was the 15th (
Num. 33:3). This means that Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai exactly 7 days after the "seventh complete Sabbath," which is always the 8th day of the Third Month. (See chart:
Pentecost | Calculation Restoration).
If we continue reading, we see that the Israelites were commanded by Moses to consecrate themselves and wash their clothes for they were to meet with Yahuwah - in 3 days. "For on the third day, Yahuwah will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people" (
Ex. 19:10-11). By this we can conclude that Yahuwah descended on Mt Sinai in the sight of all the people exactly 10 days after the "seventh complete Sabbath" (8th day of Third Month + 7 days + 3 days).
In
Exodus 20:18-21, we read that the Israelites were terrified at the presence of Yahuwah, so they ask Moses to speak to Yahuwah for them. Moses then ascends the mountain, where he remains for "forty days and forty nights"
So far we see –
- Arrival at Sinai on the 15th - exactly 7 days after the "seventh complete Sabbath
- Yahuwah descends upon the mountain on the 3rd day after their arrival.
- Then Moses is called up to the mountain for forty days
(
Ex. 24:18). After 40 days, Moses descends Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments Law of Yahuwah (
Deut. 9:9-12). From this, we can conclude with certainty that Moses descended Mt. Sinai with the Commandments EXACTLY 50 days after the "seventh complete Sabbath" (8th day of Third Month + 7 days + 3 days + 40 days). Amazing!
For further details of this timeline, refer to
Pentecost | Calculation Restoration.
