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The year began on the new moon nearest to the vernal equinox. Months consisted of 29 or 30 days. The pattern of days in a month was not strictly set. An intercalated month could occur in either spring or autumn, and intercalation was performed by decree. Vernal intercalation always used a 29-day month, while autumnal intercalation always used a 30-day month. The day began with sunset. |
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The resemblance of the Jewish calendar to the Babylonian is striking. Note also that the Jewish calendar, in an earlier form known as the sacred calendar, originally began with the month of Nisan. The current calendar represents a six-month shift of the beginning of the year to the autumnal equinox. Thus, the correspondence of the earlier Jewish calendar to the Babylonian is shown in Table 9.19. |
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In the period from 516 B.C. to A.D. 70, the following procedure was used for calendric construction. |
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The beginning of the month was determined by direct observation of the new lunar crescent. Witnesses testified and their testimony was examined and corroborated by calculation. New months were sanctified and their beginnings were announced by the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court in Jerusalem. Communities were notified of the beginnings of months by kindling fires on mountains. |
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The problem of intercalation was addressed by a special committee of the Sanhedrin, known as the Sod Haibbur, or Calendar Council. This group was responsible for |
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| Table 9.19 Similarities between Jewish and Babylonian calendars. | | Month | Babylonian | Jewish | | 1 | Nisanu | Nisan | | 2 | Aiaru | Iyar | | 3 | Simanu | Sivan | | 4 | Duzu | Tammuz | | 5 | Abu | Av | | 6 | Ululu | Elul | | 7 | Tashritu | Tishri | | 8 | Arahsamnu | Marheshvan | | 9 | Kislimu | Kislev | | 10 | Tebetu | Tebet | | 11 | Shabatu | Shebat | | 12 | Addaru | Adar | | 13 | Addaru II | Adar II |
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