In the biblical context, the concept of months is integral to understanding the calendar system used by the Israelites and the timing of various religious observances and events. The Hebrew calendar, which is lunisolar, is based on the cycles of the moon, with each month beginning with the new moon. This system is evident throughout the Old Testament and plays a significant role in the religious and agricultural life of the Israelite community.

Hebrew Calendar and Months

The Hebrew calendar consists of twelve months, with a thirteenth month added periodically to align the lunar months with the solar year. The months are as follows:

1. Nisan (Abib): The first month of the Hebrew calendar, occurring in the spring. It is significant for the Passover festival, as described in Exodus 12:2, "This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year."

2. Iyar (Ziv): The second month, mentioned in 1 Kings 6:1, "In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD."

3. Sivan: The third month, during which the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) is celebrated, marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

4. Tammuz: The fourth month, noted for the fast commemorating the breach of Jerusalem's walls.

5. Av: The fifth month, known for the fast of Tisha B'Av, mourning the destruction of the First and Second Temples.

6. Elul: The sixth month, a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holy Days.

7. Tishrei: The seventh month, containing several significant festivals, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

8. Cheshvan (Bul): The eighth month, mentioned in 1 Kings 6:38, "In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was completed in all its details and according to all its specifications."

9. Kislev: The ninth month, during which Hanukkah is celebrated.

10. Tevet: The tenth month, noted for the fast of the Tenth of Tevet.

11. Shevat: The eleventh month, associated with the New Year for Trees (Tu BiShvat).

12. Adar: The twelfth month, known for the celebration of Purim.

Biblical Significance of Months

The concept of months is crucial in the biblical narrative for marking time and setting the rhythm of religious life. The Book of Genesis establishes the creation of the celestial bodies to mark time: "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years'" (Genesis 1:14).

The observance of the new moon, or Rosh Chodesh, is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, signifying the beginning of each month. Numbers 10:10 highlights its importance: "Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God."

Prophetic and Eschatological Context

In prophetic literature, months are often used symbolically to convey periods of judgment or blessing. For instance, in the Book of Daniel, the prophetic timeline is expressed in terms of months and years, as seen in Daniel 7:25, where the "time, times, and half a time" is interpreted by some scholars as a period of 42 months.

The Book of Revelation also uses months to describe eschatological events, such as the period of tribulation: "The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for forty-two months" (Revelation 13:5).

Cultural and Religious Observances

The Hebrew months are deeply intertwined with the agricultural cycle and religious observances. Each month carries its own significance and set of rituals, reflecting the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The timing of festivals and fasts serves as a reminder of God's providence, judgment, and redemption throughout Israel's history.

Understanding the biblical concept of months provides insight into the rhythm of life and worship in ancient Israel, as well as the theological themes that permeate the Scriptures.

Chapter xxix
... And Laban said to him: Thou certainly art of my own flesh and blood. And he
lived with him a month's time. ... So "a month's time" elapses. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxix.htm

To the Student
... the phrase in his own words. A month's earnest practise of this kind will yield
astonishing results. He should also study the paragraphs ...
/.../kleiser/phrases for public speakers and paragraphs for study/to the student.htm

Six Years in North Bengal --Missionary and Indigo Planter
... He had laid them down in his Enquiry, and every month's residence during
forty years in India confirmed him in his adhesion to them. ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter iv six years in.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... As, however, in 1821 she dated the day of Christ's birth a month earlier, that is
to say on November 25 ^th, and saw the departure of the kings for Judea on ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

Personal Experience
... that life was a burden. But thank God, this condition of life was only
of about two month's duration. Through the burning tears ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xiii personal experience.htm

I have Now Come to the Most Difficult Part of My Story. ...
... speaks from his own experience, for he visited the country; the other from the
testimony of a young peasant girl who came back from it for a month's visit to ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 10 i have now.htm

The Epistles of the Captivity.
... throughout the whole praetorian guard" (Phil.1:13), and before the Philippians,
at a distance of seven hundred miles from Rome (a full month's journey in those ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 93 the epistles of.htm

The Bishop at Work
... acts of pity, and now retiring mostly in harvest time (when all hands are busy and
all hearts are out of reach) to his beloved Witham for a month's retreat. ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter v the bishop at.htm

To the Rev. J. Jowett
... When you write to him, the letter must be put in post before the third Wednesday
of the month, on which day the Mexican letter-packet is made up. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev j jowett.htm

The Elf
... earlier days, in the evening revelations. Here is a specimen, taken at
random from the first month's sheaf. She and the Imp had ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xx the elf.htm

Month's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Month's (1 Occurrence). Genesis 29:14 And ... bone
and my flesh. And he abode with him a month's time. (DBY). ...
/m/month's.htm - 6k

Monument (7 Occurrences)

/m/monument.htm - 9k

Months (65 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 12:2 "This month shall be
to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you. ...
/m/months.htm - 28k

Pentateuch
... 221). An important instance occurs in Numbers. According to 33:38, Aaron
died on the 1st day of the 5th month. From Deuteronomy ...
/p/pentateuch.htm - 77k

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