The Hebrew word Ṭêbeth, represented by H2887, is the name for Tebeth, the tenth Hebrew month. It is described as being of probable foreign derivation and appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its sole function within the text is to provide a specific name for a calendar month.
The single biblical use of H2887 occurs in the book of Esther. The term provides a precise chronological marker for a pivotal event: "So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth" Esther 2:16. In this context, the word does not carry symbolic meaning but rather serves to ground the narrative in a specific historical timeframe, marking the moment of Esther's entrance into the royal court.
Several related words provide the broader context for timekeeping and enumeration in which H2887 is situated:
- H2320 chôdesh (month): This is the general Hebrew term for a month, derived from the word for "new moon." It is used to measure the span of a person's life Job 14:5, to schedule appointed feasts and sacrifices Leviticus 23:27, and to mark religious observances tied to the lunar cycle Amos 8:5.
- H6224 ʻăsîyrîy (tenth): This is the ordinal number for tenth. It is used to specify the "tenth month" in various historical accounts 2 Kings 25:1 and also to denote a "tenth part" for offerings Leviticus 5:11 or as a remnant Isaiah 6:13.
While H2887 itself has no direct theological weight, its identity as the "tenth month" connects it to events of great significance in Israel's history and worship.
- A Time of Judgment: The tenth month marks the beginning of the final siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. This event, which initiated a period of profound national crisis, is recorded as beginning "in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month" (2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 52:4).
- A Time of Remembrance and Restoration: The sorrow associated with the tenth month's history is reflected in "the fast of the tenth," an observance mentioned by the prophet Zechariah. However, this fast is prophesied to be transformed into a time of "joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts" for the house of Judah Zechariah 8:19.
- A Measure of Consecration: The related term for "tenth" H6224 is also used to define a portion set aside for God, such as the "tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering" Leviticus 5:11, linking the number to acts of atonement and holiness.
In summary, H2887 Ṭêbeth is a unique and specific term used once to name the tenth month. While its direct usage is limited to a single chronological detail in the story of Esther, its identity connects it to the broader biblical themes associated with the "tenth month." These themes encompass both judgment and the promise of future restoration, establishing the month as a significant time in the historical and prophetic calendar of Israel.
TRV