Adar is the twelfth month in the Hebrew calendar, marking the end of the annual cycle of months. It typically corresponds to February-March in the Gregorian calendar. The name "Adar" is of Babylonian origin, like many of the names of the Hebrew months, reflecting the period of the Jewish exile in Babylon.

Biblical References and Significance

Adar is mentioned in several books of the Bible, most notably in the Book of Esther. It is during this month that the Jewish festival of Purim is celebrated, commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people from the plot of Haman, as recorded in Esther 9:1: "In the twelfth month, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but the opposite occurred, and the Jews overpowered those who hated them" .

The month of Adar is also mentioned in Ezra 6:15, which records the completion of the Second Temple: "And this temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius" . This event marks a significant moment in Jewish history, symbolizing the restoration of worship and community life after the Babylonian exile.

Cultural and Religious Observances

Adar is a month of joy and celebration for the Jewish people, primarily due to the festival of Purim. The festival is characterized by feasting, giving gifts to friends, and charity to the poor, as outlined in Esther 9:22: "as the days on which the Jews gained relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. They were to observe them as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor" .

In Jewish tradition, the saying "When Adar enters, joy increases" reflects the festive spirit associated with this month. It is a time when the Jewish community reflects on themes of divine providence, deliverance, and the reversal of fortunes, as exemplified in the account of Esther.

Leap Year and Adar II

In the Hebrew calendar, which is lunisolar, a leap year occurs seven times in a 19-year cycle. During a leap year, an additional month, Adar II, is added to ensure that the calendar remains aligned with the solar year and the agricultural seasons. In such years, Purim is celebrated in Adar II, maintaining its position as the twelfth month.

Conclusion

Adar, as the twelfth month, holds a special place in the Hebrew calendar, rich with historical and religious significance. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and deliverance, themes that resonate deeply within the biblical narrative and Jewish tradition.Ezra 6:15
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Esther 3:7
In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... had died there in 680, a few months before the ... I think that these two names designate
the northern districts ... of kings taken from Manetho assign twelve years to ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... Most of them received no special names, but many ... are ended, at the expiration of
twelve thousand years ... ten months, the high priest Abbar three months, the two ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

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