Dictionary of Bible Themes A thirty-day period of the year measured from one new moon to the next. There were twelve months in the year, with a thirteenth inserted periodically to bring the lunar calendar into line with the solar year. Early month names may have been linked with the seasons. After the exile, Babylonian names were adopted. Numbers 28:11-14Months marked by the new moon See also Psalms 81:3Special sacrifices marked the first day of each month. Isaiah 66:23Ezekiel 46:6 Amos 8:5 No work was done on the first day of the month. Deuteronomy 21:13Months as periods of 30 days See also Numbers 20:29The prescribed period of mourning was 30 days (a month). Deuteronomy 34:8Exodus 12:2 The first month: Abib/Nisan See also Exodus 40:2Abib, meaning "young head of grain" was the Canaanite name for Israel's first month. Modern equivalent: March-April. Numbers 9:1Deuteronomy 16:1 Feasts in the month of Abib See also Exodus 13:4; 23:15Passover celebrated on 14th Abib. Leviticus 23:5-6the Feast of Unleavened bread (15th-21st) Leviticus 23:10-11pp Nu 28:16-17 Nehemiah 2:1The first sheaf of barley was brought to the priest on 16th Abib. Esther 3:7Nisan was the post-exilic name for the first month: 1 Kings 6:1The second month: Ziv See also 1 Kings 6:37Ziv was the pre-exilic name; the post-exilic name, Iyyar, does not appear in the Bible. Modern equivalent: April-May. Numbers 9:112 Chronicles 30:13-15 A late Passover might be held on 14th Ziv Hezekiah's celebration of the Passover was in the second month. Esther 8:9The third month: Sivan See also Exodus 19:1Modern equivalent: May-June. Ezekiel 31:1Leviticus 23:15-16 Pentecost celebrated in the month of Sivan on 6th Sivan Ezekiel 1:1The fourth month: Tammuz Ezekiel 8:14modern equivalent: June-July Tammuz was a fertility goddess; her annual death was mourned in the month named after her. Numbers 33:38The fifth month 2 Kings 25:8The name of the fifth month, Ab, does not appear in the Bible. Modern equivalent: July-August Nehemiah 6:15The sixth month: Elul See also Ezekiel 8:1Modern equivalent: August-September. Haggai 1:1Luke 1:26 1 Kings 8:2 The seventh month: Ethanim See also Ethanim is the pre-exilic name; its Babylonian equivalent, Tishri, does not appear in the Bible. Modern equivalent: September-October. Leviticus 23:23-24Feasts and sacred days in the month of Ethanim Leviticus 23:27pp Nu 29:1 The Feast of Trumpets (1st). This is celebrated today as the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) Leviticus 23:34pp Nu 29:7 the Day of Atonement (10th) Leviticus 23:36pp Nu 29:12 the Feast of Tabernacles (15th-21st) Solemn Assembly (22nd) 1 Kings 6:38The eighth month: Bul See also 1 Kings 12:32-33Bul's post-exilic equivalent, Marcheshvan, is not mentioned in the Bible. Modern equivalent: October-November. Zechariah 1:1Jereboam offset Israel's religious calendar by one month. This is the alternative Feast of Tabernacles (15th) Zechariah 7:1The ninth month: Kislev See also Nehemiah 1:1Modern equivalent: November-December. Haggai 2:18John 10:22 Hanukkah celebrated in the month of Kislev the Feast of Dedication of the Temple (25th) Esther 2:16The tenth month: Tebeth Jeremiah 39:1modern equivalent: December-January Deuteronomy 1:3The eleventh month: Shebat Zechariah 1:7modern equivalent: January-February Esther 8:12The twelfth month: Adar See also Esther 3:13; 9:1Modern equivalent: February-March. Esther 9:20-22Purim celebrated in the month of Adar See also the Feast of Purim (14th-15th) 4251 moon4442 firstfruits 4464 harvest 4971 seasons of life 4978 year 7308 Atonement, Day of 7354 feasts and festivals 7402 offerings 7402 offerings 7406 Passover 7408 Pentecost 7420 Rabbi |
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