3rd Month – Sivan – Today in the Bible

May/June

Sivan (סִיוָן) – 3rd month; 30 days

Also, in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God. – Numbers 10:10 (NKJ)

Sivan (סִיוָן) is the third month of the biblical calendar. Per Wikipedia, the name “Sivan” is cognate to an Akkadian word (“simanu”) meaning “season” or “time.” Easton’s Bible Dictionary relates that this word is related to the Persian word “sivanu” which means “bricks.” Still others believe this word means “bright” or “their covering.” Before the Babylonian exile, Sivan was simply referred to as the third month.

Before the exodus from Egypt, Sivan was known as the ninth month of the year. But God changed the order of the months when He delivered the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. From then on, He wanted them to count their months beginning with the month that they were freed and became a nation.

In previous posts, we promised to remember places in the Bible where the New Moon is mentioned. This month we’ll recall a word from the LORD found in the book of Amos. Amos prophesied during the days of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of the northern kingdom of Israel.

Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit. And He said, “Amos, what do you see?”

So I said, “A basket of summer fruit.”

Then the LORD said to me: “The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. And the songs of the temple Shall be wailing in that day,” says the Lord GOD– “Many dead bodies everywhere, they shall be thrown out in silence. Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, and make the poor of the land fail, saying: “When will the New Moon be past, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, falsifying the scales by deceit, that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals– even sell the bad wheat?” – Amos 8:1-6 (NKJ)

Some of the highlights for the month of Sivan are:

The Torah was given at Mount Sinai
Korah’s rebellion
Reuben finds mandrakes
Mordecai sends out his decree that the Jews may defend themselves

We hope you’ll continue to join us as we learn together the biblical events occurring in the month of Sivan.

Many congregations take the opportunity to bless the upcoming new month on the Sabbath before. The blessing takes on different forms depending upon the congregation, below is a sample blessing.

Birkat Hachodesh

May it be Your will, LORD, our God and God of our fathers,

that You begin for us this month of Sivan

for goodness and for blessing.

May You give to us long life,

a life of peace,

a life of goodness,

a life of blessing,

a life of sustenance,

a life of physical health,

a life in which there is fear of heaven and fear of sin,

a life in which there is no shame or humiliation;

a life of wealth and honor,

a life in which we love Torah and fear God;

a life in which the LORD fulfills the requests of our hearts for good.

Amen. Selah.

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