The institution of the Jewish year is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of the Exodus from Egypt. The Jewish calendar, which is lunisolar, was established by God as a means to order the religious and communal life of the Israelites. This calendar is marked by its unique system of months and years, which are integral to the observance of Jewish festivals and holy days.

The formal institution of the Jewish year is recorded in the Book of Exodus. In Exodus 12:1-2 , God speaks to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, "This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year." This declaration marks the month of Nisan (also known as Abib) as the first month of the Jewish religious calendar. The significance of this month is underscored by its association with the Passover, a pivotal event in Jewish history commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

The Jewish calendar is composed of twelve months, with a thirteenth month added in leap years to align the lunar months with the solar year. The months are Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, and Adar. In leap years, an additional month, Adar II, is inserted. This system ensures that the festivals, particularly those with agricultural significance, occur in their appropriate seasons.

The Jewish year is also characterized by its cyclical nature, with a focus on both the agricultural cycle and the commemoration of historical events. Leviticus 23 outlines the appointed feasts of the Lord, which are to be proclaimed as sacred assemblies. These include the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Each of these feasts is tied to specific times in the Jewish calendar, reinforcing the rhythm of religious observance.

The Jewish calendar also plays a crucial role in the sabbatical and jubilee cycles. Leviticus 25 describes the sabbatical year, which occurs every seventh year, as a time of rest for the land. The jubilee year, occurring every fiftieth year, is a time of liberation and restoration. These cycles emphasize themes of rest, renewal, and divine provision.

The institution of the Jewish year reflects a divinely ordained structure that governs the spiritual and communal life of the Jewish people. It serves as a constant reminder of God's sovereignty, His acts of deliverance, and His ongoing relationship with His chosen people. The calendar is not merely a tool for marking time but is imbued with theological significance, shaping the identity and faith of the Jewish community throughout history.Exodus 12:2
This month shall be to you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
Nave's Topical Index

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... with a Tyrian artificer, the son of a Jewish mother, of ... Let us then draw up the
chronology of the Greeks from ... fifty-nine years; and to the first year of the ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
... The long genealogical registers with an artificial chronology and a ... prior to the
destruction of the Jewish state by ... made to write to Egypt in the year of the ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter ii the old testament.htm

Catalogue of his Works.
... prove by means of it that the Jewish religion, of ... reasons need be stated here: first,
the chronology of the ... of Constantine,"that is, to the year 325,"but ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/church history/section 2 catalogue of his.htm

Ancient Chaldaea
... He instituted the year and divided it into twelve ... states, incessantly harassed it
year after year by their ... the ark has passed into Jewish tradition concerning ...
/.../chapter iancient chaldaea.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... and left, and laid desolate for many a year to come ... five years attributed to Manasseh
by the Jewish annalists cannot be fitted into the chronology of the ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Deists.
... that legislation and wisdom, instituted the Jewish Religion and ... published in 1695
(the year before the ... in itself all history, chronology, criticism, divinity ...
/.../abbey/the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter iii the deists.htm

Book ii.
... to strengthen his assertion by so evident a character of chronology. ... and fat him
thus up every year, and then ... into the third court went in the Jewish men, when ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/book ii.htm

Sozomen as Author.
... respect to the great men who instituted and perpetuated ... which happened certainly
after 434, the year of the ... Julian to Jewish patriarchs, leaders, and people ...
/.../sozomen/the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/part ii sozomen as author.htm

The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr
... souls, and destined for eternal punishment, not for a five-hundred-year period only ...
do, whenever they can, as you can realize"for in the Jewish War recently ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the first apology of justin.htm

[Endnotes]
... apocryphal books were never acknowledged by the Jewish Church. ... 751 of the city of
Rome, the year of the Birth of Christ according to the chronology adopted in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/endnotes.htm

Does Egyptology confirm or deny the biblical record? | GotQuestions.org

If Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation, why had He already eaten the Passover meal? | GotQuestions.org

How did Elijah send a letter to King Jehoram, if Elijah had already been taken to heaven? | GotQuestions.org

Chronology: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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