ADAR, the twelfth month of the ecclesiastical year among the Hebrews, and the sixth of their civil year. There are but nine and twenty days in it, and it answers our February; it sometimes enters into the month of March, according to the course of the Moon. See hereafter the Article MONTHS.
On the third day of Adar the building of the Temple was finished, at the sollicitations of Haggai and Zechariah, and the Dedication of it made in a solemn manner.
On the seventh day the Jews celebrate a Fast upon the occasion of the death of Ezra vi. 15. In the Year of the World 3489, before J.C. 511, before the vulgar Æra 515.Moses.
On the thirteenth day they celebrate the Fast which they call Esther’s, in memory of that observ’d by Mordecai, Esther, and the Jews of Susa, to divert the calamities with which they were threaten’d by Haman.
On the fourteenth they celebrate the Festival of Purim, on the score of their Deliverance from the cruelty of Haman, Esth. ix. 17.
The twenty fifth day is kept in commemoration of Jehoiachim, King of Judah, advanced by Evil-merodach above other Kings, who were at his Court, Jerem. lii. 31, 32.
As the Lunar year, which the Jews have been used to follow in their calculation, is shorter than the Solar year by eleven days, which at the end of three years make a month, they then insert a thirteenth month, which they call Veadar, or a second Adar, which has nine and twenty days in it.