Between the Evenings - Defining Beyn ha Arbayim

3/22/2013

Background

Recently, one of the H.U.B. attendees was reviewing the term "between the evenings" as it relates to Passover. Some interesting information was uncovered but the expected results were not found. As a result, this is an open posting. The results of this little evaluation are not necessarily correct and we would like to open this topic to public review. Please read the following content and then add comments to the blog posting to highlight any issues you found with the study and provide any additional insight so we can all be growing in the Word.

Introduction

When studying the Feast of Passover and its ordinances one must first understand Yahweh's timeline. In order to understand when the Passover lamb was to be killed, as well as when we are to observe this Feast, we have to understand the phrase “between the evenings.”

Exodus 12:6 The Scriptures 1998+
(6) ‘And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then all the assembly of the congregation of Yisra’ĕl shall kill it between the evenings.

Exodus 12:6 NASB
'You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.

There are two terms here that require some attention. In the NASB, the word at is #996 in Strong's Hebrew Concordance which means: interval, space between, from root word #995 which means: to distinguish, to separate, to be easily distinguished.

The word twilight is #6153 in Strong's Hebrew Concordance which means: evening, between the two evenings, used to mark the time when the Passover lamb was killed.

H996
- Original: בּין
- Transliteration: Beyn
- Phonetic: bane
- Definition:
1. between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

- Origin: (sometimes in the pl. masc. or fem.) properly, the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from H995
- TWOT entry: 239a
- Part(s) of speech: Masculine

- Strong's: (Sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly the constructively contracted form of an otherwise unused noun from H995; a distinction; but used only as a preposition between (repeated before each noun often with other particles); also as a conjugation either... or: - among asunder at between (-twixt . . . and) + from (the widest) X in out of whether (it be... or) within.

H6153
- Original: ערב
- Transliteration: `ereb
- Phonetic: eh'-reb
- Definition:
1. evening, night, sunset
a. evening, sunset
b. night

- Origin: from H6150
- TWOT entry: 1689a
- Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine

- Strong's: From H6150; dusk: - + day even (-ing tide) night.

It is generally understood that Evening is toward the end of the day but the precise understanding of when it begins and concludes is a matter of debate. So, let’s look at some scripture that seems to point to and ending of “evening.”

Evening and Morning

From Genesis we see this contrast many times in Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31. Here is a sample:

Genesis 1:13 NASB
There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

Day and Night

So, at the very least we can demonstrate that evening begins at a particular time frame but is certainly concluded by morning. We also know from Genesis that the Dark is call night and the Light is called day.

Genesis 1:5 NASB
God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

Genesis 1:18 NASB
and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.

From this we know a couple of things. First, that the dark period of the timeframe from sunset to sunset is called night and the light period is day. This also demonstrates a difference between day, night, evening, and morning. Each of these words appears to have a different meaning from each other based on their usage in the same verse (Genesis 1:5). The differentiation for our purposes to note is that night (darkness) and evening are not the same.

So, now we know that evening is not the same as night (darkness) and is most certainly over by the time morning arrives.

Refining Evening

Evening is Before Night

We also see from Genesis that evening is sometime before the night based on the angels coming and meeting Lot at Sodom during the evening and lot inviting them to stay the night at this house:

Genesis 19:1-2 NASB
Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. (2) And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square."

Evening is Around Sunset

Deuteronomy provides an additional piece of insight into the timing of the “evening” when the lamb was to be slaughtered:

Deuteronomy 16:5-7 NASB
(5) "You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns which the LORD your God is giving you; (6) but at the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt. (7) "You shall cook and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses. In the morning you are to return to your tents.

Let’s look at the word sunset here since we have already looked at evening a bit. From the Interlinear Scripture Analyzer we can see the various forms that H8121 takes and the various renderings we start to see something interesting:

We see that H8121 really just means Sun. Now let’s look also at the word not rendered in the NASB translation above but it noted…H935.

From the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible we see the following entry with the definition for this particular Strong’s number highlighted:

So, H935 (Bo) can mean “to come” or “to go” which can be pretty variable in how it is to be interpreted. However, here, we know that evening is before the darkness which is night and is before morning. So, from that we can conclude in this context the relationship between H935 (Bo) and H8121 (Shemesh) must be the “going of the sun” which would imply the sun is going. This could mean anything from the moment after the mid-point of the sun’s time in the sky for the day to the moment right before it disappears below the horizon. The rendering of this as “sunset” in Deuteronomy 16:6 could be valid but may still have assumptions built into the rendering since it could also refer to say 1pm in the afternoon.

Psalm 55:17 puts a lower bound on the timing of evening and also aligns with the preceding conclusions.

Psalms 55:17 NASB
Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice.

Here we see that Evening, Morning, and Noon are identified separately. The word for Noon is H6672. Here are the various renderings of this word from the ISA:

From the AHLB:

So, we can now say scripturally that “evening” begins and ends somewhere between Noon (the brightest part of the day) and concludes somewhere before the sun disappears below the horizon based on our review of Deuteronomy 16:6 above.

A confirmation of this idea can be found in Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 6:4 NASB
"Prepare war against her; Arise, and let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the day declines, For the shadows of the evening lengthen!

From this we find that during the evening the shadows of the army and other objects are lengthening. This occurs as the sun lowers in the sky and gets closer to the horizon. The shallow angle of the light on the various objects it hits causes the shadows to get longer as the sun sets in the sky. So, again, we know that evening is somewhere in the moments past noon and before the sun sets below the horizon.

Final Observations

During the Mid-March through April timeframe in Jerusalem sunset occurs roughly between 5:30pm – 6:15pm (not taking daylight savings time into account – which today would make it 7:15pm at the end of the range).

So based on the scripture we have seen this puts us somewhere between the moments following Noon and darkness which occurs at some period after the sun sets below the horizon. If we assume that it takes an hour for darkness to set in after sunset then we have a range of time from roughly noon -7:15pm what might constitute “evening.”

This lines up with the NT scripture where the general consensus is that Yeshua died sometime around 3pm since he is our Passover lamb and Yahweh would have ensured that he fulfilled Passover with Yeshua perfectly.

Now that we have a scripturally-based definition of evening. What about “between the evenings?”

During this study nothing was identified in the scripture that conclusively explains the plurality of the phrase "between the evenings". We see a variety of terms in the scripture, Elohim comes to mind, that is plural in Hebrew but is a singular term. Perhaps in the phrase something similar is going on even though the word for evening here is also found in the singular in the scripture.

Alternatively, since we have to be talking about a singular day (Abib 14) here we cannot possibly be talking a about the evenings of two separate days. So, this expression still has to be referring to the Noon+ to dark time period. With that in mind, if you consider that this period is a series of moments and there is a beginning and ending moment of this period we have defined then the “between the evenings” is still just the single 7+ hour time period on Abib 14.

Potential Impact of the Conclusions Drawn

Based on the conclusions drawn on the definition of "evening" an individual brought up the question of when the day begins and ends. Based on an evening definition of moments past Noon up until darkness then would the day begin at the moments before noon instead of sunset? Going back to Genesis we define a biblical day as roughly sunset to sunset in general terms.

Genesis 1:5 NASB
God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

So, since Genesis 1:5 indicates "there was evening and there was morning, one day" and that is generally accepted to mean the biblical day begins at sunset, what do we do here? Does the biblical day begin at sunset based on the usage of "evening" or does the definition above change that?

H.U.B. Comments

So, now it's time for the community at large to offer their two cents into the conversation Is the evaluation above correct? If not, what other scripture refutes this evaluation? Below are just a couple of the many scriptures that come to mind that support seeking the input of these conclusions from the larger community:

Proverbs 27:17 The Scriptures 1998+
(17) Iron is sharpened by iron, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 The Scriptures 1998+
(20) Do not despise prophecies, (21) prove them all. Hold fast what is good.

Titus 1:9 The Scriptures 1998+
(9) clinging to the trustworthy word, according to the teaching, in order to be able both to encourage by sound teaching, and to reprove those who oppose it.

Shalom Aleichem!
The H.U.B.

10 Comments

justin case

3/25/2013 12:28:54 pm

interesting thoughts. Perhaps "between the evenings" is between the evening on the 13th of Abib and the evening of the 14th of Abib? If Yeshua observed the Passover according to Torah, but was also killed on Passover according to the Torah, how could that be? Unless he ate after the evening which began the 14th, but died prior to the evening that closed out the 14th. (ie: between the evenings.) In Genesis it says that YHWH divided the Day from the Night, it seems He did that with the evening (erev) possibly? If so, then perhaps evening is a short period of time. The word "erev" is used as evening, but the same root is used for the english word "mixed" as in the mixed mulitude. So if the word can mean "mixed" for the multitude then perhaps when used as "evening" literally means the mixing between the day and the night.? Just a thought.

Terry Cloth

3/25/2013 04:55:47 pm

In response to Justin’s observations:

First, I want to consider the idea of between the evenings being between the 13th and 14th. This is difficult to confirm. Scripturally, there is another interesting verse that has to be considered when evaluating the usage of the phrase “between the evenings.” That verse is Exodus 16:12:

Exodus 16:12 NASB "I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"

This is the exact phrase in both the English and the Hebrew as we find in Exodus 12:6. However, here, it specifically denotes that “between the evenings” or “at twilight” (as we see in the NASB) is simply followed by a morning. If the phrase usage is consistent in scripture and this is clearly showing that “between the evenings” is followed by a morning and the context of this verse indicates that is was a morning after a single evening of eating meat then multiple evenings on multiple days doesn't seem to fit.

Second: I want to consider the notion of erev being a “mixing between the day and the night.” This would seem to be a valid concept even based on the observations from the original posting. The definition of the word “evening” in the study boils down to a time period post-Noon and prior to darkness. During that entire time frame the daylight is waning and darkness is approaching. This in itself seems to picture the transition of day to night which could certainly be seen as a “mixing” of sorts. This sounds like a valid idea.

My challenge is this...do we have any solid scripture that helps refine the mixing of day and night notion for the timing of evening? Is there any scripture that hasn't been identified and presented here that refines the definition of “evening” to be any more precise than sometime post-Noon and prior to darkness?

Gabriel

6/12/2013 11:34:55 am

How would Leviticus 23:26-32 add to the definition of evening? verse 27 “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. ..." but then in verse 32 it says "It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”"

Gabriel

6/12/2013 11:45:09 am

In addition to my previous comment, see Exodus 12:18-19 "18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, ..."

Again, another instance of the unclear usage of the word "evening". fourteenth evening to twenty-first evening is seven days?

James

6/7/2015 12:41:35 am

Makes more sense than the dozens of "scholarly" comments and studies I've searched out trying to make sense of it.

Even though I'm not Jewish, and don't celebrste the old passover, it seems likely that a gentile who accepts Y'hshua as YHWH would eventually be led by the spirit to respect the teachings and Jewish feasts instead of adapted pagan ones.

From personal experience, it's a great topic to be side tracked from and learn so much more.

James

6/7/2015 01:33:32 am

As darkness/evening and light/morning were defined in Genesis, as taking place on the first day; then Sun and moon not being placed or created until the forth day; I wonder if the position of the sun actually has absolute relevance with respect to "between the evenings" of Passover. Would some sort of eclipse allow for two "darknesses/evenings within the normal 24-days of both the passover of Exodus and Messiah?

justin thought

3/25/2013 12:32:50 pm

See Brad Scott's study on the word "arab".

David Behrens link

6/19/2013 09:35:11 am

Gabriel,

Regarding Leviticus 23:26-32, from my understanding, Strong's (H6153) erev is correctly interpreted as dusk. However, I interpret dusk as one substance in three parts; a beginning, an end, and everything in between. The beginning of dusk is sunset. The end of dusk is the end of daylight. The duration of dusk is everything in between. From my understanding, the calendar day from Jewish man's perspective ended at sunset. In other words, the calendar day from Jewish man's perspective ended at the beginning of the dusk period. From my understanding, the calendar day from God's Perspective ended at the end of daylight. In other words, the calendar day from God's Perspective ended at the end of the dusk period. "Beyn ha'arbayim" would be the time period "between these two evenings", the evening perspectives of Jewish man and God, and would always be interpreted from God's Perspective. Twilight as interpreted from Jewish man's perspective is nesheph.

Since the calendar day from Jewish man's perspective ended at the beginning of twilight, sunset, I believe that the calendar day from Jewish man's perspective began during "twilight", nesheph, the dusk period between the two evenings described above.

So then, the calendar day from Jewish man's perspective ended at sunset (dusk), and began at nesheph (dusk). Then Leviticus 23:32 should be interpreted as, ".....on the ninth day of the month at evening (dusk, sunset), from evening (dusk, nesheph) to evening (dusk, sunset), you shall celebrate your sabbath." (Emphasis mine) Then Exodus 12:18-19 should be interpreted as, "18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening (dusk, sunset), you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening (dusk, sunset). 19 For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, ..." (Emphasis mine) Under this interpretation, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is 24 hours and one second in total duration. The leaven, when removed from the houses, is never removed within a total period of one second, since the total period of time required of removing the leaven from the houses always takes longer than one second. This extra one second, from God's perspective (Spirit of the Law, intent), was viewed as the "evening" (dusk, twilight) before the "beyn ha'arbayim", appointed time of sacrifice, on the fourteenth calendar day, and therefore this period of time can be viewed as longer than one second, given the proper conditions according to His Word. In other words, under the proper conditions under the Spirit of the Law (intent), it was permissible to eat unleavened bread on the fourteenth day of the month at evening (dusk, twilight) before the appointed time, "beyn ha' arbayim".

It would also be helpful to keep in mind the following Scriptural “theorems” during the discussion of the perpetual Passover ordinances: (I refer to them as theorems, because Merriam Webster’s online dictionary defines theorems as: general propositions not self-evident but proved by a chain of reasoning; a truth established by means of accepted truths). The accepted Truths, in this case, is the Word of God.

1. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, by the Letter of the Law, is always on the Jewish fifteenth calendar day. (Leviticus 23:6,7; Numbers 28:17,18)

2. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, by the Spirit of the Law (God’s Perspective), always began on the fourteenth calendar day. (Exodus 12:18)

3. The Hebrew phrase, “beyn ha’arbayim”, is always viewed from the Spirit of the Law (God’s Perspective).

These three theorems are clearly seen in my depiction of the Holy Week chronology in the free "Twilight Report" on my website.

In Christ's service,
David Behrens
Sola Gloria Dei!

David Behrens link

5/1/2013 10:14:18 am

Shalom H.U.B.,

It is my belief that "beyn ha arbayim" should always be interpreted from God's Perspective, that is, "between the evenings" of Jewish man and God. Does God have an evening from His Perspective? Yes. The first three days of Creation all had evenings associated with them, yet man was not created until the sixth day. So these evenings must belong to God, and must be viewed from His Perspective alone. To assume that God used a term to describe "evening' on Day 1, and that this term "ereb" had nothing to do with the initial conditions on Day 1, is simply, not logical. The vehicle for Light had not yet been created (sun created on Day 4), nor put in motion, (solar system movement on Day 6). God was in control of the light switch in (Numbers 9:15,16), not man. Also, God was in control of the light switch in (Genesis 1:5), not man. I conclude that evening from God's Perspective, belongs to the day, and is equivalent to "the end of daylight".

This Hebrew phrase, "beyn ha arbayim" plays a critical role in unlocking the chronology of Holy Week. In the visual timelines, provided freely in the "Twilight Report" at Paschal Lamb Ministries website, it is visually shown how all Biblical perspectives (Judaism, Messianic Judaism, Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) (JACOP), are reconciled to our Heavenly Father through the Holy, Precious, Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, our Paschal Lamb of God, at the appointed time, "beyn ha arbayim", on the day of His Crucifixion. It is also visually shown how Jesus was slain at midnight, on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, just as all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt were slain on that very same festival day.

In Christ's service,

David Behrens
Sola Gloria Dei!

Transforming Christian Vision - Teaching Christian Truth - Unifying Christian Perspectives

David Behrens link

6/19/2013 09:37:57 am

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.