5th Month – Av – Today in the Bible

July/August

Av (אׇב) – 5th 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)

Av(אׇב) is the fifth month of the biblical calendar. In Hebrew, “Av” means “father.” However, since this month was not referred to by this name until after the return from the Babylon captivity, its name likely originates in “Abu” which could refer to the Mesopotamian god, “Abu,” or from an Akkadian word meaning, “reed.” This month is simply referred to as “the fifth month” in the Bible.

We’re continuing to remember places in the Bible where the New Moon is mentioned. Since the month of Av is known for the destruction and judgment that has befallen the Jewish people over the centuries, we’ve chosen to remember a word from the LORD to Hosea. In it, the LORD lays out a laundry list of wrongs committed against Him by the children of Israel. The New Moon in these verses may be referring to the Feast of Trumpets, one of the appointed times of the LORD, which occurs on the New Moon.

Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the judgment applies to you, for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread out on Tabor. And the revolters have gone deep in depravity, but I will chastise all of them.

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; for now, O Ephraim, you have played the harlot, Israel has defiled itself. Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the LORD. Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, and Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also has stumbled with them. They will go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.

They have dealt treacherously against the LORD, for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them with their land. Blow the horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah. Sound an alarm at Beth-aven: “Behind you, Benjamin!” Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke; among the tribes of Israel I declare what is sure. The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary; on them I will pour out My wrath like water. Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to follow man’s command. Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like rottenness to the house of Judah. When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb. But he is unable to heal you, or to cure you of your wound.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, and there will be none to deliver. I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. – Hosea 5 (NAS)

Some of the highlights for the month of Av are:

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem
Nehemiah began rebuilding the wall
The spies deliver a bad report
The destruction of the first and second temples

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

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 Av

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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