Abib

Abib, meaning "ear of grain" or "green ears," was the original name for the first month of the Hebrew religious calendar. Later, after the Babylonian exile, this month was called Nisan. Abib/Nisan corresponds to March-April in the modern calendar. The Passover festival was celebrated on the fourteenth day of Abib (Exo.13.4; 23:15; 34:18; Deu.16.1). The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the fifteenth day of this month and lasted for seven days (Exo.23.15; 34:18). In the book of Esther, Nisan is mentioned as the month in which Haman cast lots to determine the day for the destruction of the Jews (Est.3.7). Ezra also mentions Nisan as the month in which the rebuilding of the temple was completed (Ezr.6.15).