Which Hebrew Months Were Mentioned During the Exodus — And Which Were Adopted After Babylonian Captivity?
- So Am I Books
- Jun 20
- 4 min read
The Evolution of the Hebrew Calendar: From Torah to Exile
Throughout history, the Hebrew language and culture have undergone significant changes. Among the most visible signs of these transformations is the Hebrew calendar, which regulates religious feasts, fasts, agricultural cycles, and sacred convocations. What began as a simple lunar system during the early Israelite period was gradually influenced—and in some cases replaced—by pagan Babylonian names and concepts after the exile.
The Hebrew calendar today consists of 12 lunar months, each containing 29 or 30 days. Every few years, a leap month (Adar II) is added to reconcile the lunar calendar with the solar year. But behind the modern calendar lies a deeper story—one of cultural preservation, foreign influence, and religious transformation.
Hebrew Month Names During the Time of the Exodus
When the children of Israel were delivered from Egypt, the Most High gave them a sacred calendar to mark the beginning of their national identity and worship cycle. Unlike the post-exilic names used today, the original biblical months were identified by number (e.g., “the first month,” “the third month”) or by rare native names—not Babylonian imports.
Here are the month names that were mentioned in Scripture before or during the Exodus era:
1. Abib (אָבִיב / Aviv) – Exodus 13:4, Exodus 23:15
Meaning: “Ear of grain” or “Spring”
Significance: The month of the Exodus; the beginning of months (Exodus 12:2)
Season: March–April
Notes: This was the first biblical month, beginning in spring when the barley ripened. It was later renamed Nisan under Babylonian influence.
2. Ziv (זִו) – 1 Kings 6:1, 6:37
Meaning: “Brightness” or “Splendor”
Significance: Second month of the biblical calendar
Season: April–May
Notes: Mentioned during Solomon’s reign, showing it predates the exile. Now called Iyyar.
3. Ethanim (אֵתָנִים) – 1 Kings 8:2
Meaning: “Steady flowings” (possibly referring to water)
Significance: Seventh month of the biblical calendar
Season: September–October
Notes: Associated with Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. Later renamed Tishrei in exile.
4. Bul (בּוּל) – 1 Kings 6:38
Meaning: Possibly “produce” or “rain”
Significance: Eighth month
Season: October–November
Notes: Rarely mentioned; replaced later with Cheshvan.
These are the only four Hebrew month names mentioned before or during the Babylonian exile in pre-exilic texts. They reflect native Hebrew linguistic roots rather than Akkadian or Sumerian loanwords.
Babylonian Influence After the Exile
When the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586 BCE, the Israelites were taken captive for 70 years. During this period, they adopted many Babylonian customs and terms, including the names of months. After the return from exile, the use of these foreign names became standard.
These Babylonian names have pagan associations and are not found in the Torah, but appear in later writings such as Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Zechariah:
Post-Exilic (Babylonian) Month Names:
Month | Name Origin | Pagan Influence | Hebrew Usage After Exile |
Nisan | From Nisanu (Babylonian New Year month) | Linked to the god Marduk | Esther 3:7, Nehemiah 2:1 |
Iyyar | From Ayaru | Harvest-related | 1 Kings 6:1 (as Ziv before exile) |
Sivan | From Simanu | Seasonal name | Esther 8:9 |
Tammuz | From Dumuzid, Sumerian god of fertility | Directly named after a false god | Ezekiel 8:14 |
Av | From Abu (Babylonian month) | Unknown deity connection | Mishnah era |
Elul | From Elulu | Possibly linked to the harvest | Nehemiah 6:15 |
Tishrei | From Tashritu | Means "beginning" in Akkadian | Not in Torah |
Cheshvan | From Araḥ Samnu (eighth month) | Misinterpreted over time | Later rabbinic texts |
Kislev | From Kislimu | Weather-related | Nehemiah 1:1, Zechariah 7:1 |
Tevet | From Tebetu | Means "to sink/dip" | Esther 2:16 |
Shevat | From Shabatu | Destructive floods | Zechariah 1:7 |
Adar | From Addaru | Means "dark/misty" | Esther 3:7 |
Tammuz: A Pagan God in the Hebrew Calendar
Perhaps the most striking example of pagan interpolation is Tammuz. In Ezekiel 8:14, the prophet describes women in the Temple weeping for Tammuz, a Babylonian fertility deity. It is astonishing that this name is now permanently engraved into the Hebrew calendar. Its adoption represents a clear syncretism between Israelite religion and Babylonian paganism.
Why This Matters: Theological and Cultural Implications
Understanding which month names are authentically biblical and which are pagan imports is crucial for:
Cultural Restoration – Those seeking to reclaim the original Hebrew identity (e.g., Hebrew Israelites) often reject Babylonian names and restore the numerical or native names like Abib and Ziv.
Biblical Accuracy – Many believe the modern Jewish calendar has been Babylonianized, which can affect how feasts and prophecies are understood.
Purity of Worship – The inclusion of names like Tammuz—associated with idol worship—raises theological questions for those pursuing scriptural purity.
Conclusion: Returning to the Ancient Paths
The biblical calendar during the time of the Exodus was simple, numeric, and reflective of Yah’s agricultural timing. Only a handful of native month names appear in Scripture prior to the exile. In contrast, the majority of month names used today stem from Babylonian culture and pagan religion.
As believers seek to return to the “ancient paths” (Jeremiah 6:16), reclaiming the original timekeeping of the Most High is a key part of spiritual restoration. Recognizing the Babylonian influence embedded in the calendar can awaken a new level of scriptural integrity and cultural awareness.
Sources:
The Bible (Exodus, 1 Kings, Ezekiel, Esther, Zechariah, Nehemiah)
The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906)
“The Babylonian Calendar” – Ancient Mesopotamian texts
Strong’s Concordance
Encyclopedia Britannica
