While not technically a feast day, it is a commandment for Israel to observe the month of Abib as the first month of the year.
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. – Exodus 12:2
And Moses said unto the people, remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Yahuwah brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. This day came ye out in the month Abib. – Exodus 13:4
It’s prudent to look at the entire biblical year or calendar to understand the seasons and times in which we live. In the Exodus, Yahuwah deemed the beginning of the year as the month that the Israelite slaves of Egypt were freed from generations of bondage. Additionally, Exodus 12:3 says that the lamb was to be slaughtered on the 10th day of the first month and eaten on the 14th day of that same month. This is a foreshadowing of the Messiah’s death and resurrection, among other important events. It can be difficult to grasp the significance of dates, seasons, and times if we ignore or forget that they ever exist. Therefore, Yahuwah tells us in His Word to observe them forever.
Freedom from the bondage of sin was given to us, through the Messiah, in the biblical new year just as it was in Egypt. So, symbolically, the biblical new year represents a freedom from bondage and redemption. This period, however, is not in January as is commonly practiced, but in March through April of each year.
Now, you may be wondering how you would know when the biblical new year begins since most of the world recognizes January as the beginning of the year based on the Gregorian calendar and Jews recognize it in September (not sure why). The actual biblical month of September is embedded in the English name of the month. “Sept” means seven and September actually mark the beginning of the seventh biblical month. Likewise, “Oct” in October means eight and marks the beginning of the eighth biblical month… “Dec” means ten and the root of the tenth biblical month, which begins in December.
The phrase, “beginning of months” is literally translated the “head of new moons”, meaning it is the first new moon of the year which occurs in the month of Abib (new grain/grain harvesting season). In 2018, March 17 marks the beginning of the biblical new year.
As you’ve seen if you read the Sabbath Day article and as you will learn in the sections to come, the best place to start with being obedient to Yah regarding his holy days, is to stop observing superficial observances and pagan holidays that are intended to supersede and replace biblical commandments. They confuse us and serve no purpose; whereas, biblical observances serve as reminders of things that were and preparation for things that are to come. They prepare us to recognize the times and seasons as they relate to the Kingdom of God and to know what to do when they occur.
For example, the Samaritan woman and her people were waiting on the Messiah in John 4:25. They are a perfect example of those of that time with a certain awareness and understanding. When the Messiah told her who he was, she not only accepted it as fact, but she went and told others who were waiting and asked him to stay and they learned from him for two days. (John 4, 4:39)
These are examples of people who were aware of the seasons and times and who, when told by Jesus that he was the Messiah, believed based on his word. (John 4:41) They knew the signs of the times and what to do when those times came – learn from him and spread the news of his arrival.
Unlike the well-studied “Jews”, many of the common people, including John the Baptist, recognized the season and were prepared for it. On the other hand, the Judaic leaders of the synagogue didn’t get this truth, thus they rejected the very Word they claimed to represent. We all know how that ended…
If you search the internet, you will come across many calendars with all types of strange days, seasons, and observances. I recommend you study each biblical observance, which was commanded by God to be kept forever, in the bible for yourself and pray to Yahuwah for guidance. Then, do your best to observe all of God’s covenant holy days and commandments to the best of your ability!
You may download my Holy Days Calendar which I created for personal use based on my own study of Leviticus 23. You can use it as a starting point for understanding the biblical holyday appointments as the biblical references are listed in the calendar.
Next up… The first feast day of the year!