According to modern Rabbi Shmuel Safrai, there are 12 divisions with 24 total rotations. The first division started on the first month of Nissan (mid-March to mid-April). Abiyah’s division is #8 and therefore would serve in the second month Iyyar (mid-April to mid-May) and again in the eighth month of Chesvan (mid-October to mid-November). The divisions rotated on the Sabbath day. Divisions serving one week, twice a year. Beyond this, a precise and exacting science for the purpose of determining dates and times is limited. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron [Light-bringer], and her name was Elizabeth [My God oath]. 6 They were both upright before God, observing all the mitzvot ·instructions· and ordinances of Yahweh blamelessly. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth [My God oath] was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. 8 Now while he served in the priest’s office before God in the order of his priestly division, 9 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of Yahweh and burn incense (as the Cohen Gadol ·High Priest· on Yom Kippur ·Day of Atonement·. On the 7th month of Ethanim on the 10th day). 10 All the people were outside, praying, at the time of the incense burning, † Context: This ritual of burning incense to fill the Most Holy Place with smoke before offering the blood on the Mercy Seat is commanded by God in (Lev 16:2-3, 16:12-14). This, in the greater context of making atonement for the entire nation on Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement]. See (Lev 16:11-17). 11 when there appeared to him an angel of MarYah [Master Yahweh], standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias [Remembered by Yah] was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth [My God oath], will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John [Yah is gracious]. 14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of MarYah [Master Yahweh], and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with Ruach haKodesh [Spirit of the Holiness], even from his mother’s womb. 16 ‡ MP: Messiah’s forerunner will turn the hearts of children to their fathers (possibly forefathers) and restore connection therein. (Mal 4:6) He will turn many of the children of to MarYah [Master Yahweh], their God. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah [My God Yah], ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ § Quoted from Mal 4:5-6 (Heb Bible 3:23-24) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for Adonai .”
Note on textual variations: Why a virgin female as compared to young female? In the Hebrew Masoretic text, the prophecy in Isaiah uses the Hebrew word almah [a woman of marriageable age] whereas the verse in Matthew uses the Greek word parthenos [a pure virgin or woman of marriageable age]. However the translators of the Greek Septuagint, which is older than any existing Hebrew text, used parthenos in their translation of the verse in Isaiah. Therefore the translators understood the verse in Isaiah as referring to a literal virgin birth. (Is 7:14) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph [May he add], of David [Beloved]’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary [Rebellion]. 28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Shalom ·Complete peace·, favored lady! Adonai is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
Note: In the Blessing of Aaron (Num 6:26), “God will give you peace,” this is called the peace of the Kingdom of David. (See also Is 16:5). ‡ MP: Messiah son of David will be the Shepard Leader Ruler teaching God’s people to live holy by God’s instructions. (Eze 37:24-25) § MPr: The King who the 12 Tribes will obey is the King Messiah. (Deut 33:5 in Jerusalem Targum). (Deut 33:5) He will be great, and will be * MP: The Righteous Branch from David’s household is given the name “Lord Our righteousness”. (Jer 23:5-6) † MP: Messiah is the Son of God, “a son is given”. Hence Messiah has divine origins. (Is 9:6) called haBen haElohim Chayim [the Son of the God Living]. MarYah [Master Yahweh] ‡ MP: Messiah, as a descendant of David, establishes an everlasting throne for the house of David. (2 Sam 7:16; 1 Chr 17:11-12; Ps 89:29) § MP: The Messiah’s throne is everlasting. (Ps 45:6-7) God will give him the throne of his forefather, David [Beloved], 33 * Quoted from Ps 132:11 † MP: Messiah is the son of God. (See also 2 Sam 7:12-14; Ps 2:7). (1 Chr 17:3-15) and he will ‡ MP: The Kingdom will be received by the Saints of haElyon [the Most High]. (Dan 7:18) reign over the house of Jacob [Supplanter] forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” § Quoted from Is 9:7
Note: In Malachi, the word “suddenly” refers to the imminent coming of the Messiah once this messenger appears. From the writings of Josephus, we know John the Baptist and Yeshua were contemporaries of one another. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Elyon [Most High],
*1:5 Context: Priestly division of Abiyah. In (1 Chr 24:7-18) there is a list of priestly division to serve in the Temple, scholars date this around 400 B.C.E. In Oral Tradition, the list of a weekly rotation schedule is detailed. The priests themselves lived not only in Jerusalem but also in other settlements in the land of Israel. When it was “time for the division to go up (to Jerusalem)” (Mishnah, Ta’anit 4:2), the priests left their homes, went up to Jerusalem for a week, and afterwards returned to their homes in Judea or Galilee. According to modern Rabbi Shmuel Safrai, there are 12 divisions with 24 total rotations. The first division started on the first month of Nissan (mid-March to mid-April). Abiyah’s division is #8 and therefore would serve in the second month Iyyar (mid-April to mid-May) and again in the eighth month of Chesvan (mid-October to mid-November). The divisions rotated on the Sabbath day. Divisions serving one week, twice a year. Beyond this, a precise and exacting science for the purpose of determining dates and times is limited.
†1:10 Context: This ritual of burning incense to fill the Most Holy Place with smoke before offering the blood on the Mercy Seat is commanded by God in (Lev 16:2-3, 16:12-14). This, in the greater context of making atonement for the entire nation on Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement]. See (Lev 16:11-17).
‡1:16 MP: Messiah’s forerunner will turn the hearts of children to their fathers (possibly forefathers) and restore connection therein. (Mal 4:6)
§1:17 Quoted from Mal 4:5-6 (Heb Bible 3:23-24)
*1:27 MP: A virgin female will conceive and bear a son, (combined with Gen 3:15, seed of a woman). Note on textual variations: Why a virgin female as compared to young female? In the Hebrew Masoretic text, the prophecy in Isaiah uses the Hebrew word almah [a woman of marriageable age] whereas the verse in Matthew uses the Greek word parthenos [a pure virgin or woman of marriageable age]. However the translators of the Greek Septuagint, which is older than any existing Hebrew text, used parthenos in their translation of the verse in Isaiah. Therefore the translators understood the verse in Isaiah as referring to a literal virgin birth. (Is 7:14)
†1:30 MP: Star out of Jacob. Star and Scepter (Gen 49:10) together identify royal leadership. (Num 24:17)
‡1:31 MP: Messiah is the son of God. His throne is established forever. (Messiah is the son of God, see also 1 Chr 17:13-15; Ps 2:7). (2 Sam 7:13-14; 1 Chr 17:11-14)
§1:31 MP: The Messiah’s dominion is everlasting. (Dan [He judged] 7:13-14)
*1:32 MP: Messiah comes to bear the responsibility as the prophesied heir who establishes the everlasting kingdom as the heir to the throne of David. (Is 9:6, 7)
†1:32 MP: Messiah son of David establishes a kingdom and rule that is over all and establishes righteousness and justice in accordance with Adonai, God of heaven’s Armies. (Also see Is 16:5; Dan 2:44). (Is 9:7) Note: In the Blessing of Aaron (Num 6:26), “God will give you peace,” this is called the peace of the Kingdom of David. (See also Is 16:5).
‡1:32 MP: Messiah son of David will be the Shepard Leader Ruler teaching God’s people to live holy by God’s instructions. (Eze 37:24-25)
§1:32 MPr: The King who the 12 Tribes will obey is the King Messiah. (Deut 33:5 in Jerusalem Targum). (Deut 33:5)
*1:32 MP: The Righteous Branch from David’s household is given the name “Lord Our righteousness”. (Jer 23:5-6)
†1:32 MP: Messiah is the Son of God, “a son is given”. Hence Messiah has divine origins. (Is 9:6)
‡1:32 MP: Messiah, as a descendant of David, establishes an everlasting throne for the house of David. (2 Sam 7:16; 1 Chr 17:11-12; Ps 89:29)
§1:32 MP: The Messiah’s throne is everlasting. (Ps 45:6-7)
†1:33 MP: Messiah is the son of God. (See also 2 Sam 7:12-14; Ps 2:7). (1 Chr 17:3-15)
‡1:33 MP: The Kingdom will be received by the Saints of haElyon [the Most High]. (Dan 7:18)
*1:35 MP: Enmity between “Thy seed and her seed.” - Women have ovum, not seed as males, therefore this is a miraculous birth. (Gen 3:15)
†1:35 MP: Messiah is the Son of God. (Ps 2:7)
‡1:47 Quoted from 1 Sam 2:1
§1:48 Quoted from 1 Sam 1:11
‡1:55 Quoted from Gen 13:15, 17:19
§1:68 MP: Messiah is the sprout from David’s line. (Combined with Is 11:1). (Ps 132:17)
*1:68 Quoted from Ps 41:3, 72:18, 106:48
†1:71 MP: Messiah is at the right hand of God crushing the kings against him. (Ps 110:5)
‡1:71 MP: In the last days, Moab will seek Israel for refuge and the throne of the honest judge from David’s line will be established. (See also Is 9:7). (Is 16:4-5)
§1:73 Paraphrase Quoted from Gen 17:2
*1:76 MP: A messenger will prepare the way for the Messiah. (Mal 3:1) Note: In Malachi, the word “suddenly” refers to the imminent coming of the Messiah once this messenger appears. From the writings of Josephus, we know John the Baptist and Yeshua were contemporaries of one another.
†1:76 Quoted from Is 40:3; Mal 3:1