Review article

The Hebrew Calendar in Old Testament Times

Julia Neuffer ; Editor SDA Bible Commentary

Abstract

Those who have Jewish neighbors know that they celebrate their New Year’s Day, which they call Rosh Hashana, in the autumn. If we ask a rabbi the date of Rosh Hashana, he will explain that it is the first of the Jewish month Tishri, but that it falls on different dates in our September or October in successive years, since it comes approximately at the new moon. The reason for this is that the Jews have a lunar calendar, now modified in form but originally reckoned by the moon. In ancient times the appearance of the new crescent after sunset, following several moonless nights, marked the beginning of the first day of each new month. The rabbi may explain further that the New Year season lasts through Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), on the 10th of the month, the most solemn day of the whole year, when Jews attend special synagogue services.
If we consult the Bible on these points, we find that New Year’s Day (called the Blowing of Trumpets) and the Day of Atonement are the 1st and 10th of the 7 th month (Lev. 23:24-32), not of the 1st month; and that the Passover, which always comes in the spring, is in the 1st month (Lev. 23:5). We find the answer to this puzzling situation, and to other problems, by a study of the origin and nature of the Jewish calendar as set forth in the Bible and other ancient records.

Keywords

Hebrew-Calendar; Old-Testament; Rosh-Hashana; Yom-Kippur

Hrčak ID:

99637

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/99637

Publication date:

15.12.1998.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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