The Bible records many miracles occurring in the Hebrew month of Nisan on the 17th day. No other day except Passover is mentioned as many times in the Bible. According to the Torah and traditional Jewish interpretation, other events that occurred on Nisan 17 include the following:
- Nisan 17, Noah’s Ark safely rested on Mt. Ararat (Genesis 8:4). Note that the seventh month was later designated as the first month at the time of the Exodus by God himself. (Exodus 12:2).
- Nisan 17, Hebrews entered Egypt (Exodus 12:40,41) 430 years before deliverance.
- Nisan 17, Moses led the Israelites through the Parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 3:18, 5:3).
- Nisan 17, Israel entered and ate the first fruit of the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10-12)
- Nisan 17, The cleansing for the Temple by Hezekiah (eight hundred years after entering the promised land. (2 Chronicles 29:1-28.)
- Nisan 17, Queen Esther saved the Jews from Elimination (Esther 3:12, 5:1)
- Nisan 17, The Resurrection of The Messiah Jesus Christ the Only Begotten Son of God (think about it).
Notes
1. Noah’s Ark
The Hebrew New Year begins in the month of Nisan (April of the contemporary calendar). However, there is another calendar that may have been used to account for the days of the Flood. This account is documented in an ancient Jewish commentary on the Genesis passage. You can explore the details if you wish, but the net result is an amazing statement of God’s engineering of history. According to this ancient calendar, the ark rested on the mountain on precisely the same day that Jesus was resurrected from the tomb. Yes, that’s right. Thousands of years before the resurrection, God engineered history to point toward the pinnacle event of salvation. Just as the ancient judgment ended on the day the ark touched ground, so the judgment of the restored world ended on the same day of the year when the tomb could not hold Him for all who will accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
2. Entered Egypt
The Hebrews entered Egypt 430 years to the day they exited (see #3 below)
3. Crossing the Red Sea
Moses recorded the fact that Israel crossed over the Red Sea and physically left the land of Egypt on the 17th of Nisan in (Numbers 33:1-8). 1)These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2) And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out. 3) And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; (Nisan) on the morrow after the Passover (still the 15th) the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (Remember, Israel’s days start at sunset). 4) For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments. 5) And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. (Evening of the 15th). 6) And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. (Evening of 16th). 7) And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pi-hahiroth, which is before Baal-zephon: and they pitched before Migdol. (Evening of the 17th). 8) And they departed (morning of the 17th) from before Pi-hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.”
4. Ate Fruit in Promised Land
Nisan 17th Exodus 12:37-39. On this same date, 40 years later, Joshua would meet “the Commander of the army of the Lord” which begins Day 1 of the 7 day Battle for Jericho according to Joshua 5:13-6:5.On Nisan 16 was the last day God rained Manna. Joshua 5:12. On Nisan 17 Israel ate the first fruits of the promised land.
5. Hezekiah
Immediately upon becoming king, Hezekiah commenced a great religious reform. In eight days they had re-opened the great Temple of Solomon and cleansed it of defilement (2 Chronicles 29:1-17). The cleansing of the temple was not completed until the sixteenth day of the first month (Nisan). On the 17th they began the sacrifices in the house of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 29:18-36).
6. Queen Esther
Haman, had convinced the king to sign a decree to destroy the Hebrews (Esther 3:1-12). The decree went out on the 13th day of Nisan (Esther 3:12). Esther then proclaimed a three day fast (Esther 4:16) for the 14th, 15th and 16th. On the 3rd day (5:1) Esther approached the king saying to herself ‘If I perish, I perish!’ (an attitude of death or resurrection… it’s in God’s hands!) On the 17th day of Nisan, the tables were turned on the enemy Haman, and instead of the Jews being destroyed, his own life was taken! 7)The Commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem by Artaxerxes, (King Of Persia) was given in the month of Nisan, (Nehemiah 2:1-8). Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected in the month of Nisan, see our class on the amazing prophesy of Daniel Chapter 9. *Do you have any idea how many scholars, scribes, and men and women of God have given their time, their energy, their wealth, and even their very lives to pass on the scriptures for us in the End Times?
Say this prayer if you want to be saved: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things- and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Saviour. I believed you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. Please come into my heart and life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me peace. Amen.