Explaining The Zadokite Jubilee Years.

In the Dead Sea Scrolls we find 6 sets of Jubilee Years numbered 2 thru 7.

The 1st jubilee starts with Gamul

The 2nd jubilee starts with Jedaiah

The 3rd jubilee starts with Miyamin

The 4th jubilee starts with Shecaniah

The 5th jubilee starts with Jeshebeab

The 6th jubilee starts with Aphses

This is the same rotation as the 6 years of Priestly Rotations.

The Jubilee years are counted as 7x7=49 then the 50th is the 1st of the next set of Jubilee years. The 50th year lands on the Priest that starts the next Jubilee cycle and the end of that Jubilee lands on the next priest in line just as the 6 years.

This also keeps the 7's count unbroken and the priestly cycle unbroken even in the Jubilee years.

Some people have questions about the 50th year being the 1st of the next 7 years.

We have the same count when looking at the count for the 3 Pentecost.

We are told to count 7 complete weeks and then the next day is the 1st of the next weekly count. On the Zadokite Priestly calendar the count to Pentecost starts on the day after the Sabbath after the Days of Unleavened Bread which is the 1st day of the week or the 26th day of the 1st month. Then the count of seven complete weeks ends on a Sabbath and the 1st day of the week is the 50th day. It is also the 1st day of the week and the 1st day in the count of the 7-day weekly count that never changes. To have a 50 count and then start the 7-day count over again will break the continual 7-day week thus making the 50th an 8th day.

This is the same principle in the jubilee count. The Zadokite Priest have a 6-year priestly rotation that works within the 7-year sabbatical counts, within a 49-jubilee count, within a 294-year cycle that starts with the 1st priestly order of Gamul and ends with Gamul.

Keeping the 7-cycle unbroken just as the weekly 7-day cycle is never broken.

Another question I have been ask is that if you have the 50th year as the 1st year of the next jubilee aren't you breaking the command to sow six years and rest the 7th?

the instructions in Leviticus 25 tells us how to count and when to sow.

I believe the Zadokite Priest followed these instructions.

Verse 3 says to sow and six years and let the land rest the 7th. or Sabbath year.

Verse 8 goes on to say number 7 sabbath of years or 49 years and then hallow the 50th year and proclaim liberty thought out all the land.

Verse 11 says in the 50th do not sow but eat from the land.

Verse 21 says he will bless you in the 6th year with enough for 3 years.

Verse 22 says sow in the 8th year and eat of the old crop until the 9th year when the crop comes in.

So, no command is broken by considering the 50th as the 1st of the next 7 years because the 50th is set apart just as the day of Pentecost is set apart but you still don't break the count of 7's.