The 9th of Av, also known as Tisha B’Av is the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av. The Hebrew calendar is lunar, while most of the world uses a solar, Gregorian calendar. In 2024, the 9th of Av starts at sundown on August 12th and goes through sundown on August 13th. It is a day of mourning for Jews and the whole nation of Israel. Additionally, the days leading up to it are known as the Dire Straits.
What happened on the 9th of Av?
According to Jewish history, 10 catastrophes happened on the 9th of Av…
- The 12 spies, who were sent by Moses to survey the Promised Land, returned and reported their findings on the 9th of Av in 1445 BC. Of the 12, only 2, Joshua and Caleb, had a favorable report. Because of the other 10, the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness and it was the next generation who was able to enter the Promised Land. Read the story in the Book of Numbers.
- In 586 BC, the first temple, built by Solomon, was destroyed by Babylon along with the whole city of Jerusalem. That’s what’s depicted in the top image. All the temple treasures were carried off to Babylon along with the Israelites. Their exile in Babylon lasted 70 years. That story is in 2 Kings 24-25.
- The 2nd Temple, rebuilt by Zerubbabel and expanded by King Herod, was where Jesus preached. Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple in His Olivet Discourse. We find this in Mark 13. (Also in Matthew 24 and Luke 21)
- As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”
- 2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” (Mark 13:1-2 NLT)
- This prophecy was fulfilled on the 9th of Av, 70 AD. Coincidence? I think not. God likes to remind His people of His punishments so they would turn to Him rather than pagan gods or the secular world.
- In 135 AD, during the Jewish Bar Kokhba Revolt, the Romans killed at least half a million Jews on the 9th of Av. This began the dispersal of Jews all over the world.
- Various enemies of Israel took notice of the significance of the 9th of Av and picked that day to attempt to destroy Israel.
- Jews were expelled from England on the 9th of Av, 1290.
- In 1306 on the 9th of Av, Jews were expelled from France.
- On the 7th of Av 1492 — during the “Dire Straits” — Spain expelled the Jews as part of the Inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Between the 9th and 10 of Av in 1914, Germany entered World War I, which created an upheaval in German Jewry and later led to World War II and the Holocaust.
- in 1941, on the 9th of Av, Nazi commander Heinrich Himmler formally received approval from the Nazi Party for the “final solution”. For the Nazis, this “final solution” solved their problem of what to do with the Jews — simply kill them.
- On the 9th of Av 1942, began the mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland to the Treblinka death camp.
Today, the Dire Straits and the 9th of Ave is a time of mourning, fasting, and caution. Jews read Lamentations, portions of Job, and Jeremiah.
One For Israel Explains Its Significance…
Related: Why the Jews?
Will Iran Attack Israel on the 9th of Av?
As I write this, Israel’s government and military are contemplating a preemptive strike on Iran before Iran and Hezbollah attack them. Amir Tsarfati, who lives in the Galilee area of Northern Israel, expresses this concern…
Will Iran and Hezbollah attack Israel on the sacred and important day on the Hebrew calendar known as Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of the month of Av)?
Tisha B’Av is recognized as one of the saddest days on the Hebrew calendar, as it commemorates the destruction of the first two temples in Jewish history, not to mention several other tragic events.
Just as Hamas saw the importance in attacking Israel on Simcaht Torah – the last and the happiest day of the feast of tabernacles known as the day the Law was given on Mt. Sinai, and just as the Egyptian and Syrian armies attacked Israel on Yom Kippur of 1973, could it be that Hezbollah in Beirut and the ayatollahs in Tehran [Iran] are looking into another disaster associated with this sad day?
One thing for sure – unlike October 6th 1973 or October 7th of 2023 – this time we are ready!
Amir Tsarfati on Telegram
