Av — The Fifth Month.
A season of remembering, a season of returning. From the scouts’ report to the fall of the Temples.
This month calls us back to the Father who comforts His people
The Fifth Month on God’s Biblical Calendar: Understanding “Av” and Its History
In Scripture, God identifies the months of His Biblical Calendar by number—not by name. The month we know today as Av is simply called “the Fifth Month.” The familiar name Av entered Jewish usage only after the Babylonian exile, likely around the 5th century BCE. Before that time, Israel referred to months by their numerical order (e.g., “First Month,” “Fifth Month,” etc.).
Where the Name “Av” Comes From
The name Av is Babylonian in origin and is thought to mean “father.” Interestingly, the Hebrew word אָב (av) also means father, and this linguistic overlap has shaped many later Jewish reflections on the month—especially during Tisha B’Av, the day of mourning for the destruction of both Temples. Some traditions add the title “Menachem Av” (“Comforting Father”), pointing to God as the One who comforts His people in seasons of sorrow.
Av on Today’s Jewish Calendar
Although the Bible never uses the name Av, the Fifth Month remains positioned exactly where God placed it—fifth in the year beginning with Nisan. On the modern Gregorian calendar, Av falls roughly from mid‑July to mid‑August in the United States and is a summer month of 30 days.
Why the Fifth Month Matters
The Fifth Month carries deep historical weight. Many of the most tragic events in Jewish history occurred during Av, especially on the ninth day, known as Tisha B’Av. This date has become a day of fasting, mourning, and remembering the calamities that have struck the Jewish people across millennia.
A cluster of grapes so large two men carried it. Yet only two carried faith. In the Fifth Month, we remember the cost of fear and the comfort of the Father who restores.
Biblical and Historical Events in the Fifth Month (Av)
1 Av (1273 BCE) – Aaron, the first High Priest and brother of Moses and Miriam, dies at age 123 (Numbers 33:38–39).
1 Av (513 BCE) – Ezra and his followers arrive in Israel.
7 Av (586 BCE) – Babylonian forces under King Nebuchadnezzar breach the First Temple.
7 Av (67 CE) – Civil war erupts inside besieged Jerusalem; one faction burns the city’s food stores, accelerating starvation.
7 AV (1492 CE)– The expulsion of Jews from Spain begins.
9 Av — Tisha B’Av – This date marks repeated tragedies throughout Jewish history:
- 1312 BCE – The Twelve Scouts return from Canaan. Ten deliver a fearful report, causing Israel to reject God’s promise. This rebellion leads to the decree that the generation would not enter the land.
- 586 BCE – The First Temple is destroyed by Babylon.
- 70 CE – The Second Temple is destroyed by Rome.
- 135 CE – The Bar Kochba revolt is crushed; Judea is devastated.
- 136 CE – Jerusalem is plowed under and rebuilt as a pagan Roman city.
- 1096 CE – The First Crusade begins, resulting in mass Jewish slaughter.
- 1290 CE – Jews are expelled from England.
- 1492 CE – Jews are expelled from Spain.
- 1914 CE – World War I begins; Jewish communities in Eastern Europe face persecution.
- 1941 CE – Heinrich Himmler receives approval for the “Final Solution,” leading to the Holocaust.
- 1942 CE – Mass deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto to extermination camps begin.
- 1994 CE – The bombing of the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires kills 85 and injures 300.
The Weight of the Ninth of Av
Across centuries, Av 9 has become a symbol of national sorrow—yet also of hope. Jewish tradition teaches that in the ashes of destruction, God plants the seeds of comfort and future restoration.
The month’s very name, Av, reminds us of the Father who sees, remembers, and ultimately redeems.