The Biblical Significance of the Month of Kislev (5786)

KISLEV – the 9th month. The name is based on three Hebrew letters: Caf, Samech, and Lamed.

• Confidence / trust / hope (kesel, kislayim — confidence, assurance)

• Security / comfort

• To be fat or thick (a secondary meaning referring to abundance or fullness)

  
  

Kislev is the month of hope or trust, especially hope for rain, because it occurs during the early winter in Israel when people wait for the heavy rains to begin.

Why Kislev?

• Kislev falls during the darkest time of the year, near the winter solstice.

• Hanukkah’s theme is light overcoming darkness, both spiritually and historically.

• The Maccabees rededicated the Temple in 164 BCE after defeating the Greek Seleucids.

This is the basis for the Hanukkah festival, which begins on the 25th day of Kislev.

In Israel, around the Hanukkah season (which begins on December 15), people eat foods prepared with oil—jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot or fried potato pancakes called latkes.

Each day of Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting another candle on the hannukia.

Songs are sung for the holiday, especially Maoz Tsur Yeshuati.

Hanukkah is called the “Festival of Lights” or the “Feast of Dedication.”

The theme is light overcoming darkness. The winter solstice is on December 21, the shortest day of the year. After this, the days grow longer.

Yeshua knew and celebrated Hanukkah. It was part of His culture and part of His incarnate life.

22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem;

23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.

24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.

26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:22–30)

Eternally one with the Father. God’s law given to Moses for the people of Israel is Jesus’ law. We must understand, respect, submit, and obey (in the Spirit and not merely the letter) as His sheep, as His disciples.

God’s law includes God’s calendar.

God brings order to the year for Israel. There is order in all of God’s creation. Life is a process. There is a God-given sequence to everything-a time for every purpose under heaven.

Growing up from birth to maturity is a process.

Discipleship is a process.

Fruitfulness is the result of faithfulness to God’s process.

The agricultural year is the most often-used biblical picture. It is a process that leads to fruitfulness and eternity.

Kislev is a reminder of hope for the future, light in the darkest month of the year.