8B The Calendar Months of the Bible

Printed Edition

The Jewish months ran from new moon to new moon. (Isa 66:23) One Hebrew word, choʹdhesh, “month” (Ge 7:11), comes from a root meaning “new,” while another word for month, yeʹrach, means “lunation.”

MONTHS Sacred	MONTHS Secular	WEATHER	CROPS
1st	7th	Jordan swells from rains, melting snow	Flax harvest. Barley harvests begin
2nd	8th	Dry season begins. Mostly clear skies	Barley harvest. Wheat harvest in low areas
3rd	9th	Summer heat. Clear air	Wheat harvest. Early figs. Some apples
4th	10th	Heat increases. Heavy dews in areas	First grapes. Vegetation and springs dry up
5th	11th	Heat reaches maximum	Grape harvest begins
6th	12th	Heat continues	Harvest of dates and summer figs
7th	1st	Summer ending. Early rains begin	Harvest concluding. Plowing begins
8th	2nd	Light rains	Wheat and barley sown. Olive harvest
9th	3rd	Rain increases. Frost. Mountain snows	Grass developing
10th	4th	Maximum cold. Rainy. Mountain snows	Green lowlands. Grain, flowers developing
11th	5th	Cold weather lessens. Rain continues	Almond trees blossom. Fig trees bud
12th	6th	Frequent thunder and hail	Carob trees blossom. Citrus fruit harvest
13th		An intercalary month was added seven times in 19 years generally as a second Adar (Veadar)

[Diagram on page 1587]

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1st NISAN (ABIB) March—April

14 Passover

15-21 Unfermented Cakes

16 Offering of firstfruits

Barley

2nd IYYAR (ZIV) April—May

14 Late Passover (Nu 9:10-13)

Wheat

3rd SIVAN May—June

6 Festival of Weeks (Pentecost)

Early Figs

4th TAMMUZ June—July

First Grapes

5th AB July—August

Summer Fruits

6th ELUL August—September

Dates, Grapes, Figs

7th TISHRI September—October

1 Trumpet blast

10 Day of Atonement

15-21 Festival of Booths or Ingathering

22 Solemn assembly

Plowing

8th HESHVAN (BUL) October—November

Olives

9th CHISLEV November—December

25 Festival of Dedication

Flocks Wintered

10th TEBETH December—January

Vegetation Developing

11th SHEBAT January—February

Almond Blossoms

12th ADAR February—March

14, 15 Purim

Citrus

13th VEADAR March