Daily Tidbits 12/24/11 – 10th Month: Tevet

The 10th Biblical month is Tevet. It is rooted in the Hebrew word tov (“good”), meaning to surround the house. As winter brings cold and early rains, it becomes a season of gathering indoors to read scrolls, teach, and dedicate our children. A beautiful picture of finding goodness and warmth in God’s Word during darker times, connected to the themes of Hanukkah and the early rains of teaching.

This evening begins the tenth month — טבת Tevet (Est 2:16). It comes from טב tov, good. Tov literally means to surround the house. Sometimes it is even rendered merry. Cold is קר qar — men drawn home out of the wind. That gathering is tov: the house enclosed in goodness.

Winter is the early rain. Men come inside to קרא qara — to read the scrolls — and to dedicate their children. The early rain itself is teaching. Be glad, then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He hath given you the former rain moreh moderately (Joe 2:23). The Targum says, in the Word of the LORD your God.

This evening (12/24/2011) will begin the 10th month of the Biblical calendar, which is known as טבת ‘tevet’ (Esther 2:16). טבת ‘tevet’ comes from the word טב ‘tov’ which means good. טב ‘tov’ literally means to ‘surround the house’ but interestingly is translated on some occasions as ‘merry.’

It is interesting to note that the word for cold in Hebrew is קר ‘qar’ which has the meaning of men gathering to the home to escape the cold. This is associated with טב ‘tov’ which literally means to ‘surround the house.’

Winter is the time of the early rains in the mideast. This is the time of cold where men gather in homes to {קרא ‘qara’} read scrolls and teach ‘dedicate‘ their children. The early rains also mean ‘teaching’ which is fascinating.

Joe 2:23 Then be glad, sons of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God. For He has given to you the early rain (מורה ‘moreh’) according to righteousness, and He will cause the rain to come down for you, the early rain (מורה ‘moreh’) and the latter rain in the first month.

The Targum is, “in the Word of the Lord your God;”

Heavy rains in Hebrew is the word סגריר ‘sagriyr’ which comes from the word סגר ‘sagar’ which means to be closed in from the root word סך ‘sakh’ which is the origin of the word סוכה ‘sukkah.’ Recall that Hanukkah, the midst of which will always occur on the first of Tevet, is just a replay of Sukkot.