Month(nisan)
“New moon, derived from 'new'”
Summary
The Hebrew month was a lunar period commencing with the new moon, with twelve months comprising the regular year and a thirteenth intercalary month added approximately every third year to align with the agricultural seasons.
☩Lunar Calculation
The Hebrew words for month (chodesh and yerach) are closely connected with the word for moon, as in many languages. From the institution of the Mosaic law onward, the month was lunar, with its commencement determined by observation of the new moon, which can be detected approximately forty hours after conjunction with the sun. In later times, the new moon's appearance was reported by witnesses to authorities who officially announced the new month by twice repeating the word 'Mekuddash' (consecrated). Months containing 29 days were termed 'deficient' (chasar), while those with 30 days were 'full' (malee).
☩Pre-Exilic Month Names
Before the Babylonian captivity, four month names appear in Scripture: Abib ('month of ears of grain'), the first month in which Passover fell and which commemorated the Exodus; Zif ('bloom of flowers'), the second month when Solomon's temple was begun; Bul ('month of rain'), the eighth month; and Ethanim ('month of gifts'), the seventh month when the temple was dedicated. These names, found mainly in Solomon's reign, are probably Phoenician in origin.
☩Post-Exilic Month Names
After the Babylonian captivity, new names prevailed, derived largely from the Babylonian calendar: Nisan (first), Sivan (third), Elul (sixth), Chisleu (ninth), Tebeth (tenth), Sebat (eleventh), and Adar (twelfth) appear in the Bible. The Talmud supplies the remaining names: Iyar (second), Tammuz (fourth, sacred to the idol of that name), Ab (fifth), Tisri (seventh), and Marchesvan (eighth). The intercalary month was called Veadar, the additional Adar.
☩Correlation with Modern Calendar
The variation between lunar and solar months prevents exact correspondence with modern months, but approximate correlations are: Nisan/Abib corresponds to March-April, Zif/Iyar to April-May, Sivan to May-June, Tammuz to June-July, Ab to July-August, Elul to August-September, Ethanim/Tisri to September-October, Bul/Marchesvan to October-November, Chisleu to November-December, Tebeth to December-January, Sebat to January-February, and Adar to February-March.
Related Verses243 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Month," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Month," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Month," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).