Easton's Bible Dictionary: M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.

Year

Heb.shanah, meaning "repetition" or "revolution" (Gen. 1:14, 5:3). Among the ancient Egyptians the year consisted of twelve months of thirty days each, with five days added to make it a complete revolution of the earth round the sun. The Jews reckoned the year in two ways,

1. according to a sacred calendar, in which the year began about the time of the vernal equinox, with the month Abib; and
2. according to a civil calendar, in which the year began about the time of the autumnal equinox, with the month Nisan.

The month Tisri is now the beginning of the Jewish year.