10] When does the day end, as defined by the Law?   

To this point, we have come to understand the scriptures delineate distinct and unique Hebrew terms, bow shemesh, erev, ba erev, and neshef. Each of these phrases has a distinct and specific meaning.

The Hebrew word erev will usually have a prepositional word associated with it which allows the reader to comprehend a more grammatically and descriptively accurate understanding of the evening time. Words such as at, until, around, toward, with, from will give greater clarification to what is being communicated about the evening.

Let us now review two scriptures in the Pentateuch that speaks specifically of the term at evening or at even. Once again, this English term is the English translation of the Hebrew phrase ba erev.

By reading Leviticus 23:32 and/or Exodus 12:18, in the very Word of God, we learn that the day (not only the 12 hour portion of the day (light) but the entire 24-hour day) ends “at evening” (at even Hebrew: ba erev). 

By reading these two scriptures, we learn that a day does not end at sunset (bow shemesh). By reading these two scriptures, we learn that a day does not begin with the evening. (For a detailed explanation of the why the phrase sunset to sunset is taught – see the Bible Study Sunset to Sunset: What does that mean?)

As we will clearly see, the Hebrew term bow shemesh was not used in these two verses. Any idea that the sunset (bow shemesh) ends the day can never be substantiated here and frankly cannot be substantiated anywhere in Scriptures. To understand such will clear up any confusion as to when a day ends and a new day begins.

Notice Leviticus 23:32 (KJV) "It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even (ba erev), from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath."

Notice from the Septuagint (LXX version): "It shall be a holy Sabbath to you; and ye shall humble your soul, from the ninth day of the month: from evening to evening ye shall keep your Sabbaths."

To set the record straight, clearly, both erev and ba erev are used in this verse. The word (sunset) bow shemesh is not spoken of in this verse.

We shall examine the phrase at even and the phrase from evening until evening.

The phrase at even refers to a specific time period of a day.

The phrase from evening until evening refers to the length of the (24-hour) day.

Once again, prepositional words applied to evening, which are helpful in clarifying the meaning.

In order to understand that ba erev or at evening refers to a specific time period of a day, that is at the end of the day, let us read Leviticus 23:27-32, specifically verse 27.

From verse 27, we understand that the 10^th day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement (affliction). "Also on the tenth day of the seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonement; it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls..."

When is the Day of Atonement?

The Day of Atonement is the 10^th day of the seventh month.

Read also Leviticus 16:29-31 and Numbers 29:7. Very definitely, the Day of Atonement is not the 9^th day of the seventh month. It is the 10^th day of the seventh month.

Leviticus 23:32 tells us that: "It shall be a Sabbath of rest and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even (ba erev), from even (erev) unto even (erev) shall ye celebrate your Sabbath."

Logically and understandably, by reading Leviticus 23:32, we can conclude that at even (ba erev) refers not to the beginning of the day, rather at even (ba erev) refers to the end of the day or is at the day's end.

How can we conclude this fact? Let us notice!

If at even (ba erev) referred to the beginning of the day, then the Day of Atonement would be on the 9^th day of the seventh month, rather than the 10^th day.

If you start your fast (the Day of Atonement) on the 9^th day at even and if the 9^th day at even (evening) occurs at the beginning of the day, then you would be keeping the fast on and during the 9^th day.

But we know the Fast (the afflicting of your souls), the Day of Atonement, is observed on the 10^th day (cf. Leviticus 16:29-31; Leviticus 23:27; Numbers 29:7).

You start your fast at even of the 9^th, or as the 9^th day is ending, and more specifically, from evening of the 9^th and you continue to keep the fast unto evening, the ending, of the 10^th.

There is an evening at the end of the 9^th day and an evening at the end of the 10^th day.

We celebrate the Day of Atonement (the fast) on the 10^th day of the seventh month, "from even unto even” or "from evening to evening." 

You start the fast from the evening of the 9^th.

It would be correct to say, generally, at even (ba erev) of the 9^th day (and not the sunset (Hebrew: bow shemesh) because sunset is not used here), as a reference, as a starting time, you start your fast.

It would be correct to say, specifically, once the evening of the 9^th day is complete, once the evening sunlight, then twilight (which occurs in the evening) of the 9^th day has concluded, and dark/night of the 10^th day commences, then the 10^th day begins, and the fast begins. After all, the fast is on the 10^th day of the seventh month.

Another way to say this would be from even(ing) of the 9^th day, the 10^th day begins. As we read “from the ninth,”  “from the evening.”

Notice - Leviticus 23:32 does not state: “from bow shemesh to bow shemesh.”

Leviticus 23:32 states “from evening” because it is the evening of the 9^th day which is being given consideration.

As the 9^th day “at evening” has concluded, the night of the 10^th day commences; the 10^th day begins; now the Day of Atonement is to be kept.

The term “at evening” or “at even” (ba erev) always and only connotes the ending of the day, never the beginning of the day. Once again, we notice the term bow shemesh is never used in these Scriptures. And ba erev does not mean sunset.

Regarding the phrase, from even unto even, does this phrase tell us that a day has two evenings?

Your Sabbaths, but specifically in Leviticus 23:32, the Day of Atonement, are to be kept from even unto even.

The word from indicates a terminus, that is a stop or starting point. It is a fixed point or fixed time of clear distinction.

The word from is not the same as the word through or the word with. From designates physical or specific separation. You compare this from that. You start from here. You go from here to there. Therefore, you keep the Day of Atonement from even (evening). And what evening? The evening or even of the 9^thday, which of course belongs to the 9^th day.

A new day starts from the evening of the previous day, not with the evening of the previous day. Simply a day does not start with the even. The day is observed from evening (of the old day) until the evening (of the day).

The evening of the day concludes the day (both the 12-hour portion of light and the complete 24-hour day). A new day then logically begins with the night.

Again, we learn there is one evening for each day and the day ends at its evening.

When would the 10^th day end? The 10^th day ends at the evening of the 10^th day. You keep the Day of Atonement until the even of the 10^th day. The 11^th day would then start from the evening of the 10^th day and the pattern is maintained.

Now let us look at Exodus 12:18.

If the 9^th at even (ba erev) ends the 9^th day, would it not be logical to conclude that the 14^th at even (ba erev which again is the Hebrew phrase used here) would then end the 14^th day?

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even Exodus 12:18 (KJV).

We know the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the 15^th day of, and ends on the 21^st day of, the first month (called Abib or Nisan).

Read Leviticus 23:5-8 and notice specifically verse 6:  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Eternal; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.

Read also Numbers 28:16-25 and notice specifically, verse 17. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

Read Exodus 12:15-19 and notice specifically verse 15:  Seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread...

Notice the following verses: Exodus 13:6,7; 23:15; 34:18; Deuteronomy 16:4; II Chronicles 30:21; 35:17; Ezra 6:22. These all refer to eating unleavened bread for seven days.

Read Deuteronomy 16:3. Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste...

From the Scriptures, we are told, we learn, as a matter-of-fact, that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a seven-day feast. It is not an eight-day feast, nor is it a six-day feast. It is a seven-day feast. The Feast of Unleavened Bread commences on the 15^th day of the first month.

The 14^th day of the first month is not the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The 15^th day of the first month begins the first day of the seven day, Feast of Unleavened Bread.

From the 14^th, at even (ba erev), you begin to eat unleavened bread, as the 14^th day is ending and the 15^th day is beginning, as the night commences.

The 15^th day of the first month begins “from the evening” of the 14^th, just as the 10^th day of the seventh month begins “from the evening” of the 9^th day.

The 14^th “at even” (ba erev) ends the 14^th day.

Now count seven days (15 through 21). The 15^th to the 21^st is seven complete days. 

15,16,17,18,19,20,21 = 7 complete days.

It is clear, the at even (ba erev) of the 21^st day occurs at the end of the 21^st day, giving you seven complete days.

When the 21^st at even (ba erev) is complete then the Last Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread has ended. Thus confirming again that at even (ba erev) ends a day.

Moreover, sunset (bow shemesh) is not the operative phrase here. Bow shemesh is not used here, either!

The 15^th day of the first month begins after or “from the evening” of the 14^th day, for the sun’s light of the 14^th day is “all gone” and the night of the 15^th day has set in; just like the 10^th day of the seventh month begins after or “from the evening” of the 9^th day, when the sun's light of the 9^th day is “all gone” and darkness (night) of the 10^th day sets in.

To reiterate one again, the 14^th at even (ba erev) ends the 14^th day.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread ends once the evening of the 21^st day is completed, is “all gone” and the night of the 22^nd day commences.

In the Scriptures, we do not read that the Sabbaths end “at sunset” (bow shemesh).

We do not read that you are to celebrate your Sabbaths “from sunset unto sunset.”

We do not read the Sabbath or any day, ends or begins, “at sunset.”

Rather, it is clear from the Scriptures - you are to celebrate your Sabbaths “from evening unto evening.” We see that the day ends at evening, with the evening.

From these two Scriptures (Leviticus 23:32 and Exodus 12:18), as found in God’s Law, we learn that the day ends at evening. Each day has only one evening associated with it and it is the evening, when a day ends. Leviticus 23:32 specifically teaches us that the day is reckoned from evening unto evening. A day does not begin with, through or at the evening; rather a day begins from the evening of the previous day.

The evening does not begin the day. The evening ends the day (both the 12-hour light portion of the day and the complete 24-hour day).