Troubleshooter

There is also evidence from the writings of Philo, Josephus and the Essenes...
...comfirming that it was Jewish practice to determine the weeks and sabbaths by the lunar cycle.

“Again, the periodical changes of the moon, take place according to the number seven, that star having the greatest sympathy with the things on earth. And the changes which the moon works in the air, it perfects chiefly in accordance with its own configurations on each seventh day. At all events, all mortal things, as I have said before, drawing their more divine nature from the heaven, are moved in a manner which tends to their preservation in accordance with this number seven. … Accordingly, on the seventh day, Elohim caused to rest from all his works which he had made.”

Philo - Allegorical Interpretation, 1 IV (8)

Notice Philo's connection between lunar 'weeks' and 'creation week'.

It is obvious that his comments are simply descriptive of Jewish practice...

...like the following concerning Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles.

“But to the seventh day of the week he has assigned the greatest festivals, those of the longest duration, at the periods of the equinox both vernal and autumnal in each year; appointing two festivals for these two epochs, each lasting seven days; the one which takes place in the spring being for the perfection of what is being sown, and the one which falls in autumn being a feast of thanksgiving for the bringing home of all the fruits which the trees have produced”

Philo - The Decalogue XXX (159)

Scripture clearly states that Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles begin on the 15th day of their respective months.

Leviticus 23:5-6 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

Leviticus 23:34 The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

So Philo is confirming that the 15th of the month is a seventh day Sabbath every year...

...and always when the moon is full...

"And this feast is begun on the fifteenth day of the month, in the middle of the month, on the day on which the moon is full of light, in consequence on the providence of Elohim taking care that there shall be no darkness on that day.”

Philo’s Special Laws II, The Fifth Festival, Section XXVIII (155)

The coincidence of a weekly Saturday/Sabbath with the 15th day of the month and a full moon every year is not possible.

Elsewhere Philo confirms that weeks are determined by phases of the moon...

“…there is one principle of reason by which the moon waxes and wanes in equal intervals, both as it increases and diminishes in illumination; the seven lambs because it receives the perfect shapes in periods of seven days—the half-moon in the first seven day period after its conjunction with the sun, full moon in the second; and when it makes its return again, the first is to half-moon, then it ceases at its conjunction with the sun.”
Philo - Special Laws I. (178)

...and he expresses it again while using an analogy...

“For it is said in the Scripture: On the tenth day of this month let each of them take a sheep according to his house; in order that from the tenth, there may be consecrated to the tenth, that is to Elohim, the sacrifices which have been preserved in the soul, which is illuminated in two portions out of the three, until it is entirely changed in every part, and becomes a heavenly brilliancy like a full moon, at the height of its increase at the end of the second week”.

Philo - On Mating with the Preliminary Studies, XIX (102)

The following article has similar quotes from the Essenes and Josephus.
http://www.creationcalendar.com/Cale...husEssenes.pdf