TIP OF THE DAY 129: Hebrew calendars: Seasons and units of the day

MJ. Smith

I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day (when it doesn't time out)

POST ISSUE: Seasons, length of day, and units of the day

It is easy to forget that a major acculturalization issue is adjusting the seasonal symbolism from the northern to the southern hemisphere and to adjust the times of day to the more extreme differences in length of day and night. This post looks at Hebrew seasons and units of time into which day and night are broken.

QUESTION: How were seasons referenced Biblically prior to the use of months?

SOFTWARE: Ask the question as a search argument to a smart All search.

ANSWER: The synopsis from the search:

In Biblical times, seasons were primarily referenced as "summer and winter" rather than the four seasons known today. The Bible makes no explicit mention of spring or autumn. Instead of months, seasons were described by their characteristics and agricultural activities. Winter, lasting from November to May, was the rainy season. It was characterized by cold temperatures, making people vulnerable and affecting travel and work. Summer, in contrast, was hot, dry, and rainless. It was associated with harvesting and threshing. The transition between these seasons was subtle, with summer gradually fading into winter and vice versa. Biblical references to seasons often related to appointed times for specific events or activities, such as kings going to war in spring, rather than strictly calendar-based divisions.

Same question asked of Perplexity:

Prior to the use of months, the Bible primarily referenced seasons in terms of agricultural and climatic patterns rather than specific calendar divisions. The two main seasons recognized in biblical texts were summer and winter, often referred to as "seedtime and harvest" or "the days of sun" and "the days of rain".

This binary division of the year was based on the climate patterns in ancient Israel, which experiences a dry summer season and a rainy winter season. God's promise to Noah after the flood emphasizes this cyclical nature: "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).

The agricultural cycle played a significant role in defining these seasons:

• Summer (roughly May to September): Characterized by sunny, dry weather suitable for harvesting crops.
• Winter (roughly October to April): The rainy season, associated with planting and the early stages of crop growth.

It's important to note that the Hebrew words commonly translated as "spring" (aviv) and "autumn" (stav) in modern usage actually referred to specific agricultural states rather than fixed seasons in biblical times:

• "Aviv" originally denoted a stage in the ripening of barley rather than a season.
• "Stav" is mentioned only once in the Bible (Song of Solomon 2:11) and refers to the time of winter rains rather than autumn as we understand it today.

The biblical perspective on seasons was thus closely tied to God's promises, agricultural cycles, and the natural rhythms of the land, rather than a fixed calendar system.

QUESTION: In Jerusalem what time is sunrise and sunset at summer solstice? At winter solstice?

SOFTWARE: The Logos/Verbum smart search failed to provide an answer.

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Sunrise and Sunset Times

• Earliest sunrise: Around 5:34 AM (near the summer solstice in June)
• Latest sunrise: Around 6:38 AM (near the winter solstice in December)
• Earliest sunset: Around 4:35 PM (near the winter solstice in December)
• Latest sunset: Around 7:53 PM (near the summer solstice in June)

Day Length

• Shortest day: Approximately 9 hours and 47 minutes (winter solstice, around December 21)
• Longest day: Approximately 14 hours and 13 minutes (summer solstice, around June 21)

The exact times can vary slightly from year to year due to the Earth's elliptical orbit and the precise timing of the solstices. However, these figures represent the typical pattern for Jerusalem.

It's worth noting that Jerusalem experiences significant variation in daylight hours throughout the year due to its latitude (approximately 31.8° N). The difference between the longest and shortest days is about 4 hours and 26 minutes.

QUESTION: What units of time are days and nights divided into?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Biblical days and nights were divided into several units of time, reflecting both natural phenomena and cultural practices. The primary divisions were:

Day and Night

The biblical day began at sunset and ended at the following sunset. This cycle was established in Genesis 1:5, where evening precedes morning. The day consisted of two main parts:

1. Night: From sunset to sunrise
2. Light-day: From sunrise to sunset

Smaller Units

Within these larger divisions, time was further broken down into:

1. Watches: The night was divided into watches, typically three in the Old Testament and four in the New Testament period.
2. Hours: By the Talmudic period, both day and night were divided into 12 hours each. These were seasonal hours, meaning their length varied depending on the time of year.
3. Parts (Heleq): Each hour was subdivided into 1080 parts.
4. Moments (Rega): The smallest unit mentioned, with 76 moments making up one part.

Other Time References

The Bible also uses less precise time indicators:

• Evening (Erev): The period around sunset
• Morning: The period around sunrise
• Midnight: The middle of the night
• Noon: Midday

It's important to note that these divisions were not as precise as modern timekeeping. The focus was more on general periods of the day rather than exact minutes or seconds.

Note that Weights & Measures Converter. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014 does not include a time converter. Evans, Eli, and Jessica Parks. Israelite Feasts and Sacrifices. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014 contains a very limited calendar converter for major feasts.