The Hebrew Months Named in Scripture
In the Hebrew Scriptures written prior to the Babylonian
exile, four months are labeled with Canaanite names.
The term Aviv describes the agricultural conditions that existed in
the month when the Exodus occurred which is equivalent to Month 1.
Aviv is a word meaning ripening barley and the month of
Aviv is the month of ripening barley
(Exodus 13:4,
23:15,
34:18,
Deuteronomy 16:1).
Ziv was a name for Month 2 which literally means light
(1 Kings 6:1,
6:37).
Ethanim was a name for
Month 7 which literally means strong perhaps referring to strong
rains
(1 Kings 8:2).
Bul was a name for Month 8
(1 Kings 6:38).
In the Hebrew Scriptures written during or after the Babylonian
exile, five months appear with Babylonian names. Nisan
was a name for Month 1
(Nehemiah 2:1,
Esther 3:7).
Sivan was a name for Month 3
(Esther 8:9).
Elul was a name for Month 6
(Nehemiah 6:15).
Kislev was a name for Month 9
(Nehemiah 1:1-2,
Zechariah 7:1-3).
Adar was a name for Month 12
(Ezra 6:15,
Esther 3:7,
3:13,
8:11-12,
9:1,
9:15,
9:17,
9:19,
9:20-22).
The name of the pagan deity Tammuz used for Month 4 is mentioned
once in
Ezekiel 8:14.
It is of great interest to note that the believers who followed
יהושע
the Messiah never used pagan names to describe Hebrew Months. They were well
taught by the Master and simply numbered the Hebrew Months as Adam and Noah
did from the beginning. One example of this can be seen in Luke's writing.
Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month, Elohim sent the angel Gabriel
to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named
Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
The Ancient Paths
The moon is a faithful witness in heaven that
יהוה
has firmly established throughout the ages by His word.
Psalms 89:34-37 I will not violate My covenant, nor alter the word that has
gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My set-apart-ness, I will not lie to
David: His seed shall endure throughout the ages, and his throne as the sun before
Me. It shall be established throughout the ages like the moon, like the faithful
witness in the sky. Selah.
This truth contradicts those who teach that the moon was on a constant cycle of 30 day
months, and that a year contained 360 days before the flood. The way in
which the Creator reckons time is ultimately demonstrated by the chronology encoded in
the history and future prophecy of Scripture.
יהוה
instructed Israel to follow the ancient paths or the Creation Calendar.
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says
יהוה
, “Stand in the way and see and ask for the
ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and you shall find
rest for your souls.”
The good way is also the narrow and precise
way spoken of by
יהושע
the Messiah.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is
the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. But narrow
is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and only a few find it.
Although the Hebrew Hour and the Hebrew Day can be observed from any location on
earth, the Hebrew Month and the Hebrew Year must be calculated from the Temple Mount
in Jerusalem. The foundation stone on the Temple Mount is considered the origin of the
physical universe in Hebraic thought. It was in the vicinity of the Temple Mount that
יהוה
made covenants with Abraham and King David, Solomon built the First Temple, Zerubbabel
built the Second Temple, and
יהושע
the Messiah renewed the covenant with mankind in
His own blood. It is for these reasons that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is so
intrinsically important.
It is first crescent visibility from Jerusalem which is the Scriptural reference
standard for time keeping. As Elohim created the lights in heaven for signs, appointed
times, days and years
(Genesis 1:14),
they truthfully tell what time it is. The
Scriptures indicate that the Torah of Elohim is truth
(Psalms 119:142).
They also indicate that the Torah goes forth from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come and let us go up to the
mountain of
יהוה
, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways,
and we will walk in His paths: for the Torah will go forth from Zion, and the word
of
יהוה
from Jerusalem.
For this reason, no one should forget Jerusalem when it comes to sighting the new moon.
Psalms 137:5-6 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth – If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.
In the Age of Life, Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth.
Zechariah 8:3 This is what
יהוה
says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in
Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of
יהוה
Almighty will be called the Set Apart Mountain.”
The new moon and the Sabbath figure prominently in the Age of Life.
Isaiah 66:22-24 “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure
before Me,” declares
יהוה
, “So will your name and descendants endure. From one
new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will
come and bow down before Me,” says
יהוה
.
Reckoning the renewed first visible crescent moon from Jerusalem is a highly spiritual
act, as it directly connects a person with heaven, and thereby with one's Creator. The
heavenly bodies are out of the domain of mankind to control. When a person reckons the
beginning of a month by sighting the first visible crescent moon from
Jerusalem, that person comes into alignment with the Creator of the universe.
There is not a court on earth that will successfully reject the witness of heaven.
The cycles of the moon are one way the Creator communicates with His people. There are
many man-made religious systems that operate on calendars that do not take the cycles
of the moon into account. However, the heavens will always declare the brilliant majesty
of
יהוה
who is the Creator of the universe.
Psalms 19:1-6 The heavens declare the brilliant majesty of Elohim and the
firmament shows His handywork. Day after day they constantly pour forth speech, and
night after night they display intelligence. There is no speech or language where their
voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the
end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun which is as a Bridegroom
coming out of His chamber, as a champion rejoices to run a race. It rises at one end of
heaven and makes its circuit to the other: nothing is hidden from its heat.
Psalms 97:6 The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people
see His brilliant majesty.
