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ESV Global Study Bible :: The Hebrew Calendar

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The Hebrew Calendar

The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel's exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.

Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
First Month:
Abib (Preexile)
Nisan (Postexile)
March-April
Ex. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deut. 16:1; Neh. 2:1; Est. 3:7 (compare Gen. 8:13; Ex. 12:2; 18; 40:2; 17; Lev. 23:5; Num. 9:1; 20:1; 28:16; 33:3; Josh. 4:19; 1 Chron. 12:15; 27:2; 3; 2 Chron. 29:3; 17; 35:1; Ezra 6:19; 7:9; 8:31; 10:17; Est. 3:7, 12; Ezek. 29:17; 30:20; 45:18; 21; Dan. 10:4)
Festivals:
14th/15th: Passover (Ex. 12:18; Lev. 23:5)
15th-21st: Unleavened Bread (Ex. 12:14-20; Lev. 23:6)
16th: First Fruits (Lev. 23:9-11)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Second Month:
Ziv (Preexile)
Iyyar (Postexile)
April-May
1 Kings 6:1, 37 (compare Gen. 7:11; 8:14; Ex. 16:1; Num. 1:1; 18; 9:11; 10:11; 1 Chron. 27:4; 2 Chron. 3:2; 30:2; 13; 15; Ezra 3:8)
Festival:
14th: Later Passover (Num. 9:10-11)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Third Month: Sivan
May-June
Est. 8:9 (compare Ex. 19:1; 1 Chron. 27:5; 2 Chron. 15:10; 31:7; Ezek. 31:1)
Festivals:
4th: Pentecost [Feast of Weeks] (Lev. 23:15-16)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Fourth Month: Tammuz
June-July
Ezek. 8:14 (compare 2 Kings 25:3; 1 Chron. 27:7; Jer. 39:2; 52:6; Ezek. 1:1; Zech. 8:19)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Fifth Month: Ab
July-August
Not mentioned by name in the Bible (compare Num. 33:38; 2 Kings 25:8; 1 Chron. 27:8; Ezra 7:8, 9; Jer. 1:3; 28:1; 52:12; Ezek. 20:1; Zech. 7:3; 5; 8:19)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Sixth Month: Elul
August-September
Neh. 6:15 (compare 1 Chron. 27:9; Ezek. 8:1; Hag. 1:1, 15)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Seventh Month:
Ethanim (Preexile)
Tishri (Postexile)
September-October
1 Kings 8:2 (compare Gen. 8:4; Lev. 16:29; 23:24; 27; 34; 39; 41; 25:9; Num. 29:1, 7, 12; 2 Kings 25:25; 1 Chron. 27:10; 2 Chron. 5:3; 7:10; 31:7; Ezra 3:1, 6; Neh. 7:73; 8:2; 14; Jer. 28:17; 41:1; Ezek. 45:25; Hag. 2:1; Zech. 7:5; 8:19)
Festivals:
1st: Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1)
10th: Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29-34; 23:27-32)
15th-21st: Booths (Lev. 23:34-40)
22nd: Solemn assembly (Lev. 23:36)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Eighth Month:
Bul (Preexile)
Marchesvan (Postexile)
October-November
1 Kings 6:38 (compare 1 Kings 12:32, 33; 1 Chron. 27:11; Zech. 1:1)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Ninth Month: Chislev (Kislev)
November-December
Neh. 1:1; Zech. 7:1 (compare 1 Chron. 27:12; Ezra 10:9; Jer. 36:9, 22; Hag. 2:10, 18)
Festival:
25th: Dedication (John 10:22)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Tenth Month: Tebeth
December-January
Est. 2:16 (compare Gen. 8:5; 2 Kings 25:1; 1 Chron. 27:13; Ezra 10:16; Jer. 39:1; 52:4; Ezek. 24:1; 29:1; 33:21; Zech. 8:19)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Eleventh Month: Shebat
January-February
Zech. 1:7 (compare Deut. 1:3; 1 Chron. 27:14)
Hebrew Month
Gregorian (Modern) Month
Biblical References
Twelfth Month: Adar*
February-March
Ezra 6:15; Est. 3:7; 13; 8:12; 9:1; 15; 17; 19; 21 (compare 2 Kings 25:27; 1 Chron. 27:15; Jer. 52:31; Ezek. 32:1; 32:17)

*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.

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