The second month of the Jewish Lunar Calendar is the month of Iyar. This name is not found in the Bible. The second month is thought to have been so named during the Babylonian Captivity.

There are several interesting events that occurred in the second month:

• The second Passover occurred in the second month. (Numbers 9:11) (This was an opportunity to participate in Passover, given by the Lord to those who were “ceremonially unclean” at the time of the first Passover. It is a picture of the Lord giving Israel, who missed the Messiah the first time, another opportunity.)
• The Children of Israel left the area of Mount Sinai for their journey to the Promised Land. (Numbers 10:11)
• Solomon began the first Temple. (First Kings 6:1)
• Zerubbabel began the second Temple. (Ezra 3:8)

In 1948 David Ben Gurion, the Prime Minister of Israel, declared Israel a state, in the second month, Iyar, of the Jewish calendar. This was a large step up from over 1800 years of being deported from the Promised Land and wandering the world over. Ben Gurion made the Declaration on May 14th. The next day, May 15th, the Israeli War of Independence began with attacks from the Arabs.

In 1967 the Egyptian army was gathered on the Western border of Israel. On June 5th the Israeli air force surprised the Egyptians, Jordanians, Syrians and Iraqis by attacking. The famous Six Day War began. It was the second month, Iyar, of the Jewish calendar. Gershon Solomon, of The Temple Mount Faithful, reports supernatural events that occurred during this short war. It was he who blew the shofar (ram’s horn trumpet) on the Temple Mount when the Israeli army captured that precious piece of real estate on the third day of the war. The gaining control of Jerusalem, and specifically the Temple Mount, was an enormous step up for the Children of Israel.

There are great variances between the dates of the Jewish calendar and our Gregorian calendar. For example, the Six Day War began on June 5, 1967, or Iyar 27. The Israeli War of Independence began May 15, 1948. There are three weeks between these two dates. And yet, in the Year of Our Lord 2007, May 15th fell on Iyar 27. In 2007 the anniversaries of the beginning of the War of Independence and the Six Day War both occurred on the same day!

Iyar 27, 2007 also marked the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War. It was on that date that the Jews won, and then gave back, control of the Temple Mount to the Arabs, because they feared the giant Arab nations. This reminds us of the 40 years spent in the Wilderness because the Children of Israel feared the giants in the Promised Land.

The hatred of the Muslims still encircles Israel. According to Bible prophecy, there will be at least one more war. And according to prophecy, this last war will result in yet another step up for Israel. This time they will be the pre-eminent nation of the world. May the Lord be praised forever!

For a detailed history of the Six Day War and the events leading up to it, please see:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/67_War.html