The Ninth of Av

It was 1,949 years ago (from our 2019, Jewish 5779) that Jerusalem and Zerubbabel’s temple (enhanced by Herod) were crushed by the Romans.  It happened on the Jews’ 9th of Tisha B’Av which this year began at sundown this past Saturday, August 10th.

The wall of Jerusalem was breeched by the Romans on the 17th of Tammuz in 70 AD, so the Jews annually observe a 3 week fast from the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av.

What is most interesting is the number of things that have happened to the Jews on that very day of their calendar. (Their calendar is lunar so it does not stay with ours.  It is corrected about every 3 years, so their Tisha B’Av 9 falls somewhere in our July or August.)

Here are Tisha B’Av 9 events that cause Jews to fast on that day:

1. On the 9th of B’Av, the children of Israel cried and panicked over the prospect of entering the land under Moses when there were giants ahead.  God punished them with 38 years of life in the wilderness.

2. On the 9th of B’Av, Jerusalem fell – our year 586 B.C.

3. On the 9th of B’Av, our 70 A.D., Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by the Romans.

4. On the 9th of B’Av (135 A.D.), the Jewish revolt under Bar-Kokhba was smashed.
   After this the Romans literally plowed under temple mount and the surrounding areas of Jerusalem.  I think this is what is referred to in Daniel 9:26 when it says it was destroyed “with a flood.”

5. On the 9th of B’Av, the Jews were expelled from England – our year 1290.

6. On the 9th of B’Av, the Jews were expelled from France – our year 1306.

7. On the 9th of B’Av, the Jews were expelled from Spain – our year 1492.
   This, in large part, funded the voyages of Christopher Columbus.

8. On the 9th of B’Av, Germany entered WWI – our year 1914.

9. On the 9th of B’Av (August 2, 1941), Himmler’s “Final Solution” was implemented – exterminate the Jews.

10. On the 9th of B’Av (July 23, 1942), the Germans began emptying the Warsaw ghetto taking the Jews to the Treblinka extermination camp.

It is without question that the Jews have suffered immensely in part for being God’s vehicle to give us the word, the Bible, and the Word, Jesus.  A reminder that Jesus told Christians they too would suffer as His servants (Mark 8:35).

The Jews have also suffered greatly for failing to glorify God and give Him thanks, rather living life their way (Romans 1:21).  A warning for us!