Seasons.
When God created the lights in the firmament He said, "Let them be for signs and for seasons," and it is well known that the different seasons on the earth are in great measure caused by the days being longer or shorter, and thus having more or less of the heat of the sun. After the flood, God declared that while the earth remained the seasons should continue, Genesis 8:22 these fall approximately thus:
1. Seed-time }
2. Harvest }
3. Cold } falling in October to March.
4. Heat } falling in April to September.
5. Summer }
6. Winter }
These seasons must overlap each other in Palestine, and are somewhat different in the hill country from what they are in the plains and valleys. Seed-time follows what was called 'the early rain,' in October and November, and continues till January. Harvest commences in sheltered places as early as the beginning of April: in the hill country it is a month later; and in the north it extends to the end of July. The rains of November clothe the fields with grass. In January oranges, citrons, and lemons are ripening. In February and March, apple, pear, plum, and apricot trees are in blossom. During May, in some places, apricots and melons are ripe. In June, figs, cherries, and plums begin to ripen, but August is the chief month for fruit. The vintage extends through September. In August the great heat begins to dry up the vegetation, and it gradually changes the whole scene into what appears to be a dry and barren land; but the early rains soon show that it is only the surface that is parched.
In places there are masses of choice wild flowers, and where the land is well cultivated, it is now, as formerly, very productive. "Twenty thousand measures of wheat" year by year were sent to Hiram in exchange for timber. 1 Kings 5:11. Wheat, honey, oil and balm were sent to Tyre as merchandise. Ezekiel 27:17. Barley also is produced plentifully.
The Jewish Calendar here given follows the order usually found in books of reference, but the climate and seasons have somewhat altered. Some of the names of the months apparently point to the time of the year in which they fell. Thus Abib signifies 'budding' or 'ear of corn'; Zif, 'blossom'; and Bul, 'rain.' See MONTHS and RAIN.
JEWISH CALENDAR AND ITS ANTITYPES.
Jewish Calendar and Its Antitypes
JEWISH CALENDAR AND ITS ANTITYPES
Sacred
Months
Civil
Months
English Months
Jewish Months
Seasons
Feasts
Antitypes
10
4
Dec-Jan
Tebeth
29 days
Mid Winter
11
5
Jan-Feb
Sebat
30 days
Winter
12
6
Feb-Mar
Adar
29 days
Cold, Latter rain, Spring
14 Purim
15 or Lots
1
7
Mar-Apr
Abib or Nisan
30 Days
Barley Harvest begins
14 Passover
16 First fruits of Barley
15-21 Unleavened Bread
Christ our Passover
The Resurrection
2
8
Apr-May
Zif or Igar
29 days
Summer
3
9
May-Jun
Sivan
30 Days
Wheat Hervest
6 Feast of Weeks
Pentecost
First-Fruits of Wheat
Descent of Holy Spirit
4
10
Jun-Jul
Tammuz
29 Days
Hot Season
5
11
Jul-Aug
Ab
30 Days
Principal month for fruit
6
12
Aug-Sep
Elul
29 days
Vintage general
7
1
Sept-Oct
Ethanim or Tisri
30 days
Early Rain
1. Feast of Trumpets
10 Day of Atonement
15-21 Tabernacles.
Israel Awakened; afflict their souls; receive their Messiah, the Millennium.
8
2
Oct-Nov
Bul or Marchesvan
29 days
Seed Time
9
3
Nov-Dec
Chisleu
30 days
Winter begins
25 Feast of Dedication
Tammuz and Ab are not mentioned in scripture. The names in italic are used by Josephus and others.