After sunset on Wednesday (8th May) we will enter the the 2nd month of God's calendar. The first name that was given to this second month, by man, was Ziv. Probably a Canaanite name. Then during the Babylonian exile it was re-named Iyar. This second month is definitely bitter sweet.
First we observe Yom HaZikaron on 5th Iyar (Monday 13th May this year) The IDF Memorial Day, when we remember the thousands who have given their lives defending this tiny Nation over the last 76 years, and very sadly the numbers have increased dramatically over this year.
The following day, 6th Iyar (Tuesday 14th May this year) the mood changes to joy, as we celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut, Independence Day. This year will be the modern State of Israel's 76th birthday.
Later in the month, on 28th Iyar (Wednesday 5th June), we celebrate Jerusalem Day, remembering the reunification of Jerusalem, after the 6 day War in 1967, 57 years ago. As I said a real mixture of emotions, alongside the continuing anguish and heartache that Israel is being forced to experience at this time.
There were an amazing combination of events, over many years, that culminated in the Birth of this modern State of Israel, and the victory of the 6 Day War was one of the many miracles, with the re-unification of Jerusalem, but all tinged with the sadness of the thousands of lives lost, and that continue to be lost, protecting this tiny bit of real Estate in the Middle East, which has continued to be under constant attack from our enemies outside and within over the lsat 76 years.
I found out something very moving, late in 2022, when I was visiting Ammunition Hill, that really warmed my heart. I was slowly walking around the gallery where there are the most moving photographs of the young men who gave their lives over that 6 days. Towards the end I saw the name Cpl. Herzi Halevi - and it had recently been announced that Herzi Halevi had been appointed the new Chief of Staff of the IDF.
When I went home I discovered this Cpl. was Herzi Halevi’s uncle, and that his mother, who was pregnant with him at the time of the 6 Day War, named after his uncle when he was born 6 months later. I am sure that young mother and father would have had no thought of their son growing up to be appointed the COF of the IDF. The family must be so proud. (This is a photo of Halevi visiting his uncle’s grave at Mount Hertzl.
Now if for any reason you were not able to celebrate Pesach last month on 14th of the first month, Numbers 9:11 records that God allows you to celebrate on the 14th of this second month. I think this shows, again, how important God feels it is for the descendants of The Children of Israel to remember that momentous event that changed the world for ever.
In fact we have it recorded in 2 Chronicles that The Children of Israel took advantage of this when Hezikaya sent letters to all Israel and Judah and also to Efrayim and Manasseh, summoning them all to the House of The Lord in Yerushalayim to keep the Pesach to the Lord, The God of Israel. For the King, his officials, and the entire community in Yerushalayim, agreed to keep Pesach in the second month, as they had not been able to observe it at the proper time because the Cohanim had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number.
The story continues: on the 14th day of the 2nd month , ashamed of themselves, the Cohanim and Livim had consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the House of The Lord. They stood at their stations, as prescribed in the Torah of Moshe.
I think this is the only time it is recorded that the option of celebrating in the 2nd month was used, though I have used it myself…..and was thankful for the opportunity, especially during COVID.
As you know, the counting of the Omer started after we celebrated Pesach, and we will continue counting throughout this whole 2nd month, taking us through to the 6th day of the 3rd month bringing us to Shavuot.
There are references to ‘a 2nd month’ before the Exodus, in Gen 7:11, and 8: 14, referring to Noach’s flood, but of course this was over a thousand years before God gives very clear instructions when The First month of the year should be - so I would think it very unlikely the references to the 2nd month here relates to the New Calendar That God gave to the children of Israel as they left their exile and slavery in Egypt.
So the first reference to this 2nd month in the Tenach is in the Book of Sh’mot, Exodus, after the Children of Israel have made that amazing exit. In Chapter: 16: it is recorded when the Children of Israel arrived at the Seen Desert on the 15th day of the 2nd month they starting grumbling to Moshe and Aaaron, wishing The Lord had killed them too in Egypt, rather than be free with no food!!! Such a short time after all those amazing signs and wonders! Really?? They were already doubting their amazing God. Well maybe if I had been there I probably would have grumbled too.
Then later we read In Numbers 1:18 that on the 1st day of the 2nd month in the second year after the people of Israel left Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moshe there in the Tent of His presence in the Sinai Desert. He said,
"You and Aaron are to take a census of the people of Israel by clans and families. List the names of all the men twenty years old or older who are fit for military service. Ask one clan chief from each tribe to help you.”
I see this as The Lord wanting to bring order to this huge group of ex-slaves.
The tabernacle had been completed just one month before, on the 1st day of the 1st month of this 2nd year, and now it was very important that the Children of Israel knew their identity tribe by tribe, and how each tribe was significant to The Lord.
As we know there was a very disciplined way that each tribe then camped around the tabernacle, and also in the order they moved out, when the cloud lifted.
It is then recorded in Numbers 10:11 “on the 20th day of the 2nd month of the second year (20 days after the tribes had been counted and recorded ) the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony and the people moved out in orderly stages from the Sinai desert.”
Later on we still have the month referred to as just the 2nd month, in 2 Chronicles 3:2 When Shlomo laid the foundations of the temple in the 4th year of his reign, on the 2nd day of the 2nd month, though in 1 Kings 6:37 we have it recorded when the foundation of the house of The Lord was laid in the 4th year it says in the month of Ziv. The first time we have this man given name recorded. So it seems the 2nd month was called "just that” the 2nd month for around 480 years before it got its first man given name!
Finally in the Book of Ezra we have it recorded that it was in the 2nd year after their arrival at the house of God in Yerushalayim, in the second month that Zrubavel and son of Shaltiel, ,Yeshua the son of Yotzadak, the rest of their kinsmen the Cohanim and Levim, and all who had come out of exile to Yerushalayim began the project, of rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel.
So we welcome and rejoice and give thanks indeed, for this new portion of time, remembering God’s faithfulness, His goodness, His steadfastness, and that we can be absolutely sure that He, The Lord God of Israel, is continuing to work His Purposes out through all the joys and pain and sorrow that have been experienced by The Children of Israel ever since they were chosen.
יהי רצון מלפנין יהוה אלהינו ואלהי אבותינו שתחדש עלינו חודש טוב באדנינו ישוע המשיח
May it be Your will Lord our God and God of our fathers, that you renew for us a good month in our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.