What are the harvest times in Israel?
| Months | Weather | Crops & activity |
|---|---|---|
| Tishri (Sep/Oct) | First rains | Ploughing begins |
| Heshvan (Oct/Nov) | Ploughing / grain planting | |
| Kislev (Nov/Dec) | Grain planting continues | |
| Tebeth (Dec/Jan) | Main rains | |
| Sebat (Jan/Feb) | ||
| Adar (Feb/Mar) | Spring rains | Almond in bloom / flax harvest |
| Abib (Mar/Apr) | Barley harvest begins | |
| Zif (Apr/May) | Barley harvest completed | |
| Sivan (May/Jun) | Dry season | Wheat harvest begins |
| Tamuz (Jun/Jul) | Wheat harvest completed / first figs | |
| Ab (Jul/Aug) | Summer heat | Vintage (grape harvest) begins |
| Elul (Aug/Sep) | Date harvest / summer figs |
From the above, one can see that the harvest season in ancient Israel began in Adar (Feb/March) and continued by stages into autumn. The barley harvest began in March-April: the first sheaf being cut and waived in the middle of Abib, which could be any time between 21st March and the middle of April. It is the same in modern Israel. Concerning the wheat and grape harvests, the Westminster Dictionary of the Bible says this:
"In Palestine wheat was sown in November or December,
after the rains began. The harvest was in April, May or June in
Palestine varying according to the locality and the weather at
the time." (page 635)
"The vintage began in the middle of September and continued into October. It was a season of festivity. In the vineyards there were singing and joyful noise, and the treaders in the press kept time by shouting as they trod the grapes. (page 629)
These details concerning harvest times in Israel are vital when
determining the start of a year in the sacred calendar and the
sacred Festivals in it. The answer to the next question will clarify
this point further.
