Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7300 Institutions and culture of OT » 7400 New Year, the With the exception of one reference (Ex 12:2) the New Year is never specifically dated. The religious calendar apparently began in the spring and the agricultural calendar in the autumn. Later Judaism began its calendar in the autumn. Evidence that the autumn was regarded as the New Year The dedication of Solomon's temple 1 Kings 8:2 Solomon waited 11 months after the completion of the temple (see 1Ki 6:38), before dedicating it, most likely because the great Feast of Tabernacles marked the beginning of the year. Instructions for celebrating the Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25:8-9 The Year of Jubilee was to be proclaimed on the tenth day of the seventh month, which was also the Day of Atonement. See also Leviticus 16:29 Ezekiel's vision of the new temple Ezekiel 40:1 This vision of the new temple takes place at the beginning of the year. The “tenth of the month” refers presumably to the seventh month. Jeroboam's institution of an autumnal festival 1 Kings 12:32 This autumn festival was clearly intended to be equivalent not only to the feast in Judah, but also to other pagan New Year festivals, in spite of the eighth month being distinctive. See also 1 Kings 12:33 Evidence that the spring was regarded as the New Year The institution of the Passover Exodus 12:2 This clearly links the spring Feast of Passover to the New Year. See also Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 9:2 Ezekiel's vision of the worship of the new temple Ezekiel 45:18-19 This purification of Ezekiel's (ideal) temple resembles the Day of Atonement but takes place in the spring. See also Ezekiel 45:21 Occasions associating the New Year with the autumn The sounding of trumpets Numbers 29:1 See also Leviticus 23:24 The Day of Atonement The Feast of Tabernacles Deuteronomy 16:13 See also Leviticus 23:34 Occasions associating the New Year with the spring Passover Leviticus 23:5 See also Exodus 12:11 The Feast of Unleavened bread Leviticus 23:6 See also Exodus 12:17 The Feast of Firstfruits Leviticus 23:10-11 This is also known as the Feast of Weeks (Ex 23:16; Lev 23:9-21). See also
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