When Passover falls on a weekly Sabbath, which occurs approximately 13 percent of the time, it impacts the calendar rules for determining the start of the count to Pentecost. In such years, the first day of Unleavened Bread, a high holy day Sabbath, falls on a Sunday, and the last day of Unleavened Bread, another high holy day Sabbath, coincides with the weekly Sabbath. This weekly Sabbath on the last day of Unleavened Bread is the only one within the Feast of Unleavened Bread in those years. To maintain a fixed and consistent rule, the count to Pentecost begins the next day, which is one day outside the Feast of Unleavened Bread. No scriptural evidence has been found to countermand this rule. Passover, though occasionally falling on a weekly Sabbath, does not qualify as a weekly Sabbath within the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as Leviticus 23:5-6 clearly distinguishes Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month from the Feast of Unleavened Bread starting on the fifteenth day. Using Passover as the starting point for the count is inconsistent with the method applied in the majority of years when Passover does not fall on a Sabbath.

According to Hebrew Calendar rules, Passover, observed on Nisan 14, can fall only on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or weekly Sabbath. Over the past century, it has occurred on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday in just over 87% of the years. When Passover falls on a Monday, the weekly Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread is Nisan 19, and Wavesheaf Day, the start of the count to Pentecost, is Sunday, Nisan 20. If Passover is on a Wednesday, the weekly Sabbath is Nisan 17, with Wavesheaf Day on Sunday, Nisan 18. When Passover occurs on a Friday, the weekly Sabbath coincides with Nisan 15, the First Day of Unleavened Bread, making Wavesheaf Day Nisan 16. The date of Wavesheaf Day shifts based on the day of Passover, which in turn affects the date of Pentecost. Since the weekly Sabbath is always on a Saturday, Wavesheaf Day consistently falls on a Sunday, and counting fifty days from that point ensures Pentecost also occurs on a Sunday. These rules also allow for Wavesheaf Day to occasionally fall outside the Days of Unleavened Bread, following the established patterns of the Hebrew Calendar.

The rules for observing Passover and related festivals, as outlined, remain consistent and unchanged in their timing. Passover, though a significant festival, is not a Sabbath, and thus it does not serve as the anchor for counting to Pentecost. The dates for Passover and other festivals such as the Days of Unleavened Bread, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day have not been altered from what is specified in Leviticus 23. Just as the weekly Sabbath's observance remains fixed as the seventh day of the week, the timing for Passover and associated festivals holds firm without exception, maintaining the consistent patterns established by God for our guidance.

Passover falls on a specific date, the 14th of the first month, as established in Leviticus 23:5. However, it does not always occur on the same day of the week. According to Hebrew calendar rules, Passover is always set on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, and this will never vary. The day on which Passover falls affects the date of the weekly Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread, which in turn determines Wavesheaf Day and ultimately the date of Pentecost. When Passover falls on a Monday, the weekly Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread is on the 19th of Nisan, making Wavesheaf Day the 20th, and Pentecost falls on Sivan 10. If Passover is on a Wednesday, the weekly Sabbath is on the 17th of Nisan, Wavesheaf Day is the 18th, and Pentecost is on Sivan 8. When Passover falls on a Friday, the weekly Sabbath coincides with the first day of Unleavened Bread on the 15th of Nisan, so Wavesheaf Day is the 16th, and Pentecost falls on Sivan 6. Lastly, if Passover falls on a Saturday, which is also a weekly Sabbath, the only weekly Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread is the 21st of Nisan, coinciding with the last day of Unleavened Bread as a double Sabbath, making Wavesheaf Day the 22nd, and Pentecost falls on Sivan 12. The count to Pentecost always begins the day after the weekly Sabbath that falls within the Days of Unleavened Bread, ensuring the starting point varies based on Passover's day of occurrence.

In addressing the calendar rules for Passover, it is essential to recognize the distinct separation between Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread as established by God. Passover occurs on the 14th of Nisan, while Unleavened Bread begins on the 15th, as clearly stated in Leviticus 23:5-6. Though related, they are separate festivals with distinct teachings, and blending them into one introduces confusion into the instruction. Popular usage in New Testament times sometimes referred to Passover as the first of the unleaveneds due to the use of unleavened bread in the Passover service, but the Old Testament maintains a clear distinction, showing this to be merely a customary practice rather than a legal definition. Therefore, Passover, even when it falls on a weekly Sabbath, is not legally part of the Days of Unleavened Bread and cannot be used to determine the wavesheaf day. Using Passover as the starting point for the count to Pentecost would place the wavesheaf offering on a Sabbath, violating the instruction in Leviticus 23:11 and Deuteronomy 16:9, which require it to be after the Sabbath on a common workday. The consistent rule remains to begin the count from the weekly Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread, ensuring clarity in observing these appointed times as God has directed.

The following is a concise rewrite of the sections related to 'Passover, Calendar Rules for' from the provided material, maintaining the original tone and focusing on the specific calendar details and rules as they relate to the broader context of significant events and timelines. —- The observance of Passover and its associated calendar rules are deeply tied to significant historical and covenantal events marking God's faithfulness. Passover is to be kept on the fourteenth day of the first month, at evening, specifically during the twilight period known as ben ha arbayim, which occurs just after sunset when light still remains. This timing, at the very beginning of the 14th of Abib, aligns with the historical moment when the Israelites in Egypt killed the Passover lambs as recorded in Exodus 12:5-6. Following the Passover observance, any remains of the lambs are to be burned, and the people are to stay in their homes until morning. The daylight portion of the 14th serves as a preparation day for the 15th of Abib, which begins at sunset and marks the start of the First Day of Unleavened Bread and the Night To Be Much Observed. This night, detailed in Exodus 12:42, commemorates the exact moment of Israel's release from Egypt, occurring precisely 430 years to the day after the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:17. The timeline of these events parallels other significant moments, such as Christ's crucifixion and entombment, reinforcing the precision of these dates. On the 15th of Abib, beginning at sunset, the Israelites ate unleavened bread as commanded, sourced from the produce of the land, as seen in Joshua 5:11. This observance of the Night To Be Much Observed is a memorial of God's faithfulness to His promises, both in the release from physical bondage in Egypt and in the spiritual release through Christ's sacrifice. The calendar sequence ensures that these events are observed at the correct times, with the 15th focusing on the night portion rather than the daylight, highlighting its significance over any other activities or offerings that might be assumed for that day. —-