The Hebrew Calendar

The Jewish people used two basic calendars: SACRED — for sacred festivals CIVIL — official calendar of kings, childbirth, and contracts Names of Months Roman Months Month of Sacred Year Month of Civil Year Sacred Festivals/Biblical References Corresponding Agricultural Seasons Abib or Nisan Mar/Apr 1st 7th Ex. 12:2, 13:4 1st—New Moon; Sacred Year begins 14th—Passover … [Read more…]

On Measuring Time: Should We Observe Abib First?

We know that this observance was a command to the Israelites. Is it a command to us? We today are not subject to the laws and ordinances imposed upon the “nation of Israel. The law of Moses was taken away, superseded by the greater law of faith” and Christ. However, could God condemn our remembering … [Read more…]

On Measuring Time: To Summarize

A lunar year was made up of 12 lunar months and that figures out to approximately 354 days. A solar year or tropical year as it is called on which the return of the seasons depends is the interval between two consecutive returns of the sun to the vernal equinox, and this tropical year consists … [Read more…]

On Measuring Time: Feasts Still Observed

In the New Testament times they were still keeping some of the ancient Hebrew feasts. When Jesus was twelve years old, we read that Mary and Joseph, with Jesus, “went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast,” the feast of the Passover (Luke 2:42). The apostle Paul also mentioned certain of the feasts … [Read more…]

On Measuring Time: A Second (Autumnal) New Year

At some time, not noted in Scripture, the Hebrew people began observing a second new year which they still recognize today. This second new year (in the fall of the year) is often identified as their “civil” new year in contrast to the “sacred:” This new year falls in the seventh month, known in ancient … [Read more…]

On Measuring Time: The Hebrew Months—By Name

Before the Babylonian exile few of the months were identified by name. Numbers were the more common designation. During the exile the Jews adopted the Babylonian names of the months. The Bible records the names of most of the ancient Hebrew months. As we have seen, the month given by the Lord to Moses to … [Read more…]

On Measuring Time: The Use of “Months”

The Hebrew marking of Abib as the first month of the year at the time of the Exodus was not the beginning of counting time by months, for notice the reading of Exodus 12:2, “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months”—they already had months, of which this was to be known as … [Read more…]