BIBLICAL MONTHS CALENDAR

 

A) INTROCUTION.

B) THE JEWISH CATECHISM.

C) THE MONTHS AS LISTED IN THE BIBLE.

D) THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS AFTER THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.

E) EUROPEAN MONTH’S = GREGORIAN CALENDAR.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

The Western calendar is based upon the sun.  It is a Solar calendar.

The Muslim calendar is based upon the Moon.  It is a Luner calendar.

The Hebrew (Jewish) calendar is based upon both the moon and the sun.  In other words, it goes by sited new moon and Avid (Western calendar April) barley sittings.

The Rabbinic calendar (established in the 4th century under Hallel the 2nd) is established upon the entire Luner system (mostly the moon).  However, we know it to be off by two days.

 

 

B) THE JEWISH CATECHISM

 

 

It has been said that the Jewish Catechism is his Calendar.

 

The names of the months not found in the Bible are from the “Talmud,” the “Targum,” and other works.  In an interesting note is the fact that on one occasion the Passover (normally kept in the first month) was kept in the second month (see Second Chronicles 30:2).

 

In order to better understand the Hebrew calendars, one must know that the Jews have two (2) calendars from which they go by.  The first is the Religious calendar, which begins with the month of “Nisan,” or “Abid,” as found in Exodus 12:2.  The second is their Civil year calendar, which begins in the month of “Tishri,” which is the seventh month of the Religious year but the first month of the Civil year.

 

 

C) THE MONTHS AS LISTED IN THE BIBLE

 

 

First:  Abib (Our April):  Exodus 12:2; 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deuteronomy 16:1.  Looking at Exodus 13:4 we learn that Abib is the month when the “barley ears” begin to form.  Thus, this month is subject to change every year, meaning in reality that there is no month called “Abib,” for “Abib” is just a word to proclaim that the “barley ears” have begun to form, i.e., “Abib” is an agricultural term to designate this event.  In other words, “Abib” is only associated with what is taking place with the “barley ears” for that particular year.

Second:  Zif (Our May):  First Kings 6:1 & 37.

Third:

Fourth:  Tammuz (Stated as “fourth month,” its only mention) (Our July):  Jeremiah 39:2; 52:6.

Fifth:  Ab, or Av (Stated as “fifth month,” its only mention) (Our August):  Numbers 33:38.

Sixth:

Seventh:  Ethanim (Our October):  First Kings 8:2.

Eighth:  Bul (Our November):  First Kings 6:38.

Ninth:

Tenth:

Eleventh:

Twelfth:

 

According to Exodus 12:2:  “This month [speaking of Abib, but now Nisan will replace Abib, because Abib was changeable {see my note above}, whereas Nisan will be steady] shall be unto you the beginning of months:  it shall be the first month of the year to you.”  Thus it is, that the Jewish community has within its ranks two calendars.

 

Also, in order to make up for the loss of days (a Biblical year is 360 days in a year; thus losing 4 to 5 days each year) an entire month was added every 7th year.

 

 

D) THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS AFTER THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

 

 

First:  Nisan (Our April):  Nehemiah 2:1; Esther 3:7.

Second:  Iyar (Our May).

Third:  Sivan (Our June):  Esther 8:9.

Fourth:  Tammuz (Our July).

Fifth:  Ab (Our August) (See Above).

Sixth:  Elul (Our August / September):  Nehemiah 6:15.

Seventh:  Tisri or Tishre or Tishri (Our September / October).

Eighth:  Marcheshvan or Heshvan (Our November).

Ninth:  Chisleu or Kislev (End of Our November / December):  Zechariah 7:1.

Tenth:  Tebeth or Tevet (Our January):  Esther 2:16.

Eleventh:  Sebat or Shevat (Our February):  Zechariah 1:7.

Twelfth:  Adar (Our March):  Esther 3:7 & 13; 8:12; 9:1.

 

 

E) EUROPEAN MONTH’S (or better, Roman month’s; since they named them, or our today’s accepted:)GREGORIAN CALENDAR

 

 

JANUARY = Named after the double-headed god Janus, the god of beginnings and endings.

 

FEBRUARY = Named after the goddess Februa, the overseer and purifier of things.  However, like her counter part (see April), worshiped for fertility purposes.

 

MARCH = Named Mars, the Roman god of war.  And still later, after the planet Mars, the warring planet.

 

APRIL = Named after the goddess Aphrodite, goddess of fertility, because it represents the opening of buds and flowers in spring.

 

MAY = Named after the goddess Maia, goddess of growing plants.

 

JUNE = Named after the pagan sun goddess Juno, who is queen of the gods and patroness of marriage and weddings (since June is a popular month for weddings due to easier traveling weather in the Roman world).

 

JULY = Named after Julius Caesar, a man who to the Romans became god.

 

AUGUST = Named after Augustus Caesar, a man who to the Romans became god.

 

SEPTEMBER = This was the “seventh month” on the original Roman calendar, and the number “seven” in Italian is “septem.”

 

OCTOBER = This was the “eighth month” on the original Roman calendar, and the number “eight” in Italian is “octo.”

 

NOVEMBER = This was the “ninth month” on the original Roman calendar, and the number “nine” in Italian is “novem.”

 

DECEMBER = This was the “tenth month” on the original Roman calendar, and the number “ten” in Italian is “decem.”

​