Tel Aviv Study Suggests Qumran Sect Abandoned 364-Day Calendar Due to Astronomical Drift and Political Shifts
A new study by Prof. Eshbal Ratzon at Tel Aviv University proposes that the Qumran sect initially used their 364-day calendar but later abandoned it due to accumulating seasonal errors and changing political alliances. The research suggests the calendar served as a practical tool during the sect's early separation from Jerusalem authorities but became a theoretical religious ideal as it drifted out of sync with the solar year. This explanation resolves a long-standing debate about whether the calendar was ever actually used, highlighting how astronomical inaccuracies and political shifts under Alexander Jannaeus influenced the sect's practices.
