With the exception of one reference (Exodus 12:2) the New Year is never specifically dated. The religious calendar apparently began in the spring and the agricultural calendar in the autumn. Later Judaism began its calendar in the autumn.
Evidence that the autumn was regarded as the New Year
The dedication of Solomon's temple
1 Kings 8:2 Solomon waited 11 months after the completion of the temple (see 1 Kings 6:38), before dedicating it, most likely because the great Feast of Tabernacles marked the beginning of the year.
And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim.
Instructions for celebrating the Year of Jubilee
Leviticus 25:8–9 The Year of Jubilee was to be proclaimed on the tenth day of the seventh month, which was also the Day of Atonement. See also Leviticus 16:29
And you shall count off seven Sabbaths of years — seven times seven years — so that the seven Sabbaths of years amount to forty-nine years. Then you are to sound the horn far and wide on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement. You shall sound it throughout your land.
Ezekiel's vision of the new temple
Ezekiel 40:1 This vision of the new temple takes place at the beginning of the year. The “tenth of the month” refers presumably to the seventh month.
In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month — in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been struck down — on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He took me there.
Jeroboam's institution of an autumnal festival
1 Kings 12:32 This autumn festival was clearly intended to be equivalent not only to the feast in Judah, but also to other pagan New Year festivals, in spite of the eighth month being distinctive. See also 1 Kings 12:33
And Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.
Evidence that the spring was regarded as the New Year
The institution of the Passover
Exodus 12:2 This clearly links the spring Feast of Passover to the New Year. See also Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 9:2
“This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year.
Ezekiel's vision of the worship of the new temple
Ezekiel 45:18–19 This purification of Ezekiel's (ideal) temple resembles the Day of Atonement but takes place in the spring. See also Ezekiel 45:21
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the first day of the first month you are to take a young bull without blemish and purify the sanctuary. And the priest is to take some of the blood from the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the gateposts of the inner court.
Occasions associating the New Year with the autumn
The sounding of trumpets
Numbers 29:1 See also Leviticus 23:24
“On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This will be a day for you to sound the trumpets.
The Day of Atonement
“The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You shall hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present a food offering to the LORD.
The Feast of Tabernacles
Deuteronomy 16:13 See also Leviticus 23:34
You are to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress.
Occasions associating the New Year with the spring
Passover
Leviticus 23:5 See also Exodus 12:11
The Passover to the LORD begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.
The Feast of Unleavened bread
Leviticus 23:6 See also Exodus 12:17
On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
The Feast of Firstfruits
Leviticus 23:10–11 This is also known as the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:9–21).
“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.