The Prophetic Year of 360 Days
By J. H. W.
With regard to the “time, times, and a half” in Dan. 7:25, why is it that we have 360 days in a year, when there are 365? J. B. ANSWER. This question illustrates the well-known truth that intercalaries are not taken into account in general statements, for it is also a mistake to say that 365 days make a year; a fraction is wanting. This is made up by intercalaries, the principal of which is a 29th day to every fourth February. Our present method of computing time is more accurate, perhaps, than was theirs; but it was unknown to them; and the prophecy is given in accordance with the method of reckoning then known. The Jews reckoned 30 days to the month (compare Gen. 7:11; 8:4; and 7:24); and twelve months to the year, and what remained was an intercalated or fractional month. As their year commenced with the new moon after the vernal equinox, this intercalated month was not of any definite length; if the new moon occurred soon after the expiration of the twelfth month, the intercalated month would be short, otherwise it would be longer. And as it was sometimes longer and sometimes shorter, it could not enter into any statement of round numbers; and their actual year could not be said to be 365 days. The exposition of prophecy based on this computation is not only clear but reasonable. Indeed it is difficult to imagine how the prophecy could be given in symbols otherwise than as it is, and be intelligible. J. H. W.