The Second Month (Ziw or Iyyar)

This month is mentioned in 1 Kings 6vs1:  “And it came to be, in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Yisra’el had come out of the land of Mitsrayim, in the fourth year of the reign of Shelomoh over Yisra’el, in the month of Ziw, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of YHVH.”

The fifty days, seven Shabbats, or weeks of counting the “Omer”, cover the entire month of Ziw. This begins with Bikurim (First Fruits), the previous month, and ends with Shavuot (the Festival of weeks), in the following month. This month has four of the special seven Shabbats to be counted.

Note again, however, that as the date of the previous month’s appointed time of “First Fruits” has been wrongly calculated on the Jewish calendar, and that this day is the beginning of the counting, the days of counting the Omer on this calendar will differ. Although attempting to maintain as close as possible to the Jewish calendar, this issue is most clarified in the Gospels, yet also appears clearly in the Torah.

The 5th of Iyyar this year is Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. The State of Israel was declared in Tel Aviv, by David Ben Gurion, on the 14th may 1948, or 5th Iyyar 5708 on the Jewish Calendar, or 5th Ziw (or Iyyar) 5951 on the Messianic Scriptural Calendar. It is celebrated on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th days of the week each year on, or closest to the 5th of Iyyar. Israel, back in the land, as a nation, is a sure sign and fulfillment of much Scriptural Prophecy.

The 29th of Ziw this year is also the 40th Day of Counting the Omer. This is the day Yeshuah ascended to Heaven, 40 days after the resurrection. This year (but not every year) it coincides with the Ascension Day on the Gregorian calendar.

Luke 24vs 49-53: “‘And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high’. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”