Page 128 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies

Israel’s Calendar

January - Shebat. This is the coldest month, which brings with it darkness and heavy rain.
February – Adar. This is also a rainy month alternating with sunny days. The almond trees begin to
blossom, and the late barley seeds are sown.
March – Nissan. This is the beginning of the barley harvest. This month has a lot of sunshine but heavy
winds. This month is known in the Bible as the month of the “latter rains,” which supplies the water
needed to make the wheat crops “white for harvest. The apricot and almond trees are beautiful.
April – Lyyar. It is the barley harvest month. During this month, flowers are in full bloom, and the grass
is the greenest in the year. It is considered the most beautiful month. During this month, the harvesting
begins in the Jordan Valley and on the coastal plain. The peach, pomegranate, and olive trees are in full
blossom and show their foliage.
May – Sivan. This is the month of the wheat harvest. The rain ceases and will not return for about five
months. The landscape changes. The grass withers. The flowers fade away. Spring fruits are ready for
picking, including almonds, apricots, plums, and vine fruits.
June – Tammuz. The land becomes barren and parched, and harvesting continues in the highlands.
July – Av. The grapes, figs, and olives are ripe. Intense summer heat is cooled by westerly breezes, and
farmers are busy on their threshing floors.
August – Elul. It is the hottest month of the year, and almost every day exceeds 90 degrees in the shade
and is hotter inland. The grapes, figs, peaches, apples, and pears ripen and are ready for market.
September – Tishri. The summer heat can be intensified by the desert winds. The farmers dry their figs
for winter and make their grapes into raisins, syrup, and wine. The pomegranates and bananas ripen.
The first rains of the winter come toward the end of the month.
October. – Heshvan. Farmers would be finishing with their grape and fig harvests, olives would be
gathered, the fattened sheep would be slaughtered, and the sugarcane and dates would ripen. Plowing
would begin, and the rains would loosen up the hard ground.
November – Kislev. Temperatures are very pleasant, around 60-70 F in most of the country. Some rain
falls, but not hard.
December – Tevet. Temperatures are also very pleasant. Some rain and the weather fluctuates.

As far as weather, the best time to visit Israel is between March and May, and in September or October.

Religious Holidays in Israel

The Seven Annual Feasts of the Lord
Leviticus 23 is the single chapter in the Scriptures that sums up everything. God’s eternal plan from
chaos to eternity is ingeniously revealed through the nature and timing of the Seven annual Feasts of
the Lord.

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Leviticus 23:1-2 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto
them, The set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set
feasts.

Sacrifice is the major feature of the feasts. Believers are not responsible for keeping these feasts, but
knowledge of them enhances our faith. Our Lord kept every one of them without fail, even celebrating
Passover on His last earthly night.

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