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Iyyar

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

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The second month in the Jewish calendar, consisting always of twenty-nine days, and falling between the tenth of April and the eighth of June (R. H. 3a et passim; Targ. Yer. to Exodus 12:39; Targ. Sheni to Esther 3:7). This month in the Bible is designated as (1 Kings 6:1 = the month of beginning the Temple-building), probably the same as the Phenician or Punic (Lidzbarski, "Nord-Semitische Epigraphik," p. 267). The word "Iyyar" is undoubtedly connected with the root , and thus denominates the month as the month of light, over and against Adar, which etymologically is the dark month. Like all the names of the months, "Iyyar" is a loan-word from the Assyro-Babylonian ("A-a-ru"; see Delitzsch, "Handwörterb." p. 34b). This month falls in the 'OMER (2), the first of Iyyar being the sixteenth day of Omer.

The principal events recorded in Iyyar are as follows:

• Iyyar 1.—According to Seder 'Olam R. , the census of the people was begun under Moses (Numbers 1-2:18).
• 2.—Solomon began the building of the Temple (see above; 2 Chronicles 3:2).
• 7.—Anniversary of the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem (Meg. Ta'an. 2:1, 12:5).
• 8.—Memorial day of the massacre of the Jews of Speyer during the First Crusade (, 1096; see Grätz, "Gesch." 6:101 et seq.; Jellinek, "Ḳonṭres Gezerot").
• 10.—Eli died (1 Samuel 4:1-18).
• 15.—Arrival of the Israelites in the desert of Sin (Exodus 16); also the day for Pesaḥ Sheni (Numbers 9:7; 2 Chronicles 30).
• 16.—The manna began to fall (Exodus 16).
• 17.—On this day, rising against Florus, the Jews broke down the colonnade connecting the citadel Antonia with the Temple (3826 = 66; Josephus, "B. J." 2:16, § 17); also the anniversary of the imprisonment of the Jews in England (5047 = Friday, May 2, 1287; Grätz, c. 7:197-198).
• 18.—LaG be-'Omer = thirty-third day of Omer, when marriages may be solemnized.
• 21.—Siege of Jotapata began 3827 = 67 (Grätz, c. 3:410-414).
• 23.—Arrival of Israel at Rephidim (Seder 'Olam R. ).
• 27.—A day of victory on account of the recognition of the independence of Judea under Simon I. (Meg. Ta'an. ); beginning of a new Era (3618 = 142 B.C.; I Macc. 13:41,42).
• 29.—Death of Samuel the prophet (Meg. Ta'an. c.).