Tishrei | Ethanim – The Month of Beginning, the Flowing Brooks, and the Strong
The biblical month of Tishrei | Ethanim is the seventh biblical month. It is the month that bears the beginning of the new biblical year (note: Rosh ha-Shana, beginning of the cycle of blessing), which has a special significance.
The month name ‘Tishrei’ means ‘beginning’ and ‘Ethanim’ encompasses the ‘month of flowing brooks’ or ‘steady rain’.
It is the month assigned to the tribe of ‘Ephraim’ who was the second son of Joseph. Joseph gave rise to Manasseh and Ephraim, though Ephraim, as the second born, was given preference over Manasseh in the blessing by his grandfather Jacob (cf. Genesis 48:17-19).
Genesis 48:17-19:
17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.”
17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.”
It was in Joseph’s interest to reverse the order of blessing of his father Jacob, but which was not granted to him. This reveals to us that it was God’s plan to proceed in this way, namely to shape the future through prophetic revelation. God had already established something in His predestined plan that could not be reversed by the will of man (cf. Psalm 33:4).
Psalm 33:4:
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
The name ‘Manasseh’ means, ‘the one who makes forget’, where the name ‘Ephraim’ means ‘double fruitfulness’.
The name meaning of Ephraim is related to the redemptive plan of Joseph. Through the two given names of Joseph’s sons, an important principle is unfolded, namely, to be focused on letting go of the past and looking confidently toward the fruitful future.
‘Ephraim’ is the 7’th tribe of Israel and literally means ‘double fruitfulness’; ‘double inheritance’. Furthermore, Ephraim bears the ‘flourishing fruit tree’ as a tribe symbol in the dimension of Joseph (cf. Genesis 49:22-26).
Genesis 49,22-26:
22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
The biblical feasts celebrated in the month of Tishrei | Ethanim are as follows:
1. Rosh ha-Shana – Feast of Trumpets => New Year in the blessing cycle of God (cf. Numbers 29:1)
2. 10’th day – Yom Kippur => The Great Day of Atonement (cf. Leviticus 16:29-31)
3. 15’th – 21’st day – Sukkot => Feast of Tabernacles (cf. Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:24; Deuteronomy 16:13)
4. first fruits of wine and oil
5. 22’nd – day => last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (cf. Leviticus 23:30; Numbers 29:35; Nehemiah 8:18; John 7:37).
The Increase of the Flow of the Spirit and the New Things
In the month of Tishrei | Ethanim we may expect the LORD to increase the flow of His Spirit in us in which we claim for ourselves the fullness of heaven. This power of our spiritual flow serves to make it flow to the people who are in need of it, so that they may be refreshed and continue to grow (cf. John 4:14).
John 4:14:
“… 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
“… 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Tishrei | Ethanim is the month when people who have started something new in the will of God are encouraged by the prophetic word to continue to step into a new field (Note: an old year in the blessing cycle has ended and a new year has begun => old things go and new plans flourish => double fruitfulness).
It is important to understand here that the righteous always greens and produces fruit in due time (cf. Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8).
Psalm 1:3:
3 That person (Note: the righteous) is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.
3 That person (Note: the righteous) is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.
Jeremiah 17:7-8:
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
The LORD begins something new this month and concludes the old (Note: Rosh ha-Shana => biblical New Year in the blessing cycle). This process is accompanied by a great increase in the anointing of the Holy Spirit and priestly ministry, which contributes to multiplicity as the pomegranates ripen during this time (cf. Exodus 28:33).
Exodus 28:33:
33 Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
33 Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
It is important that we respect and protect the increase of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
As it is required that we are ready for the renewing of our minds, since at this time the fields in Israel are plowed to receive the sowing for the new season (cf. Romans 12:2 i.c.w. Ephesians 4:23).
Romans 12:2:
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Ephesians 4:23:
… 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; …
… 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; …
Being Attentive to the ‘Sound of Issachar’ and Abstinence
In the month of Tishrei | Ethanim, it is significant that we pay attention to the sound of the tribe of Issachar (Note: the prophets) in order to understand the times related to the Feast of Trumpets => Rosh ha-Shana (cf. Numbers 29:1 i.c.w. Numbers 10:1-2; 1 Chronicles 12:32).
Numbers 29:1:
1 “ ‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.
1 “ ‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.
Numbers 10:1-2:
1 The Lord said to Moses: 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out.
1 The Lord said to Moses: 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out.
1 Chronicles 12:32:
… 32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; …
… 32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; …
The blowing of the trumpet or Shofar was the sound that announced the new year to the people of Israel.
It is crucial that we separate ourselves from false patterns of life or thinking that are contrary to the will of the Heavenly Father and repent in order to come into agreement with His will.
Fasting or abstinence plays an important role in this.
Abstinence and Fasting can serve as a crucial ‘weapon’ for breakthrough for the coming months in the New Year (cf. Leviticus 16:29-31 i.c.w. Luke 4:2.14).
Leviticus 16:29-31:
29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work – whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you – 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.
31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.
29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work – whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you – 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.
31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.
Luke 4:2.14:
… 2 where for forty days he (Note: Jesus) was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. …
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
… 2 where for forty days he (Note: Jesus) was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. …
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
The New Wineskin and the Expansion
This month we can surrender to the Lord in the following way, asking Him to transform us into the new structure of the wineskin, so that we are able to receive His new oil and wine. This challenges and expands us, as well as helps to restore believers who have fallen into hurt in their walk in Christ Jesus (Note: time of the offering of the firstfruits of wine and oil; cf. Isaiah 54:2 i.c.w. Mark 2:22: Luke 10:34).
Isaiah 54:2:
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
Mark 2:22:
“… 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
Luke 10:34:
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
The extension is indicated by the tents of the Tabernacles during the time of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles.
Moreover, the expansion of the new wine also implies the transition in faith to enter into the new.
In this regard, the memory of the successful faith projects of the transition from the past can serve as encouragement.
In this regard, the memory of the successful faith projects of the transition from the past can serve as encouragement.
Honoring the anointing of the forefathers can also be significant on a special day this month (cf. Genesis 26:18; Psalm 103:2).
Genesis 26:18:
18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
Psalm 103:2:
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – …
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – …
As the seventh month, Tishrei carries the head of the year, Rosh ha-Shana, whose arrangement in the seventh position indicates the completeness or complete work of God’s creation.
Entering this time frame implies that we have already passed through two feast cycles – Passover and Shavuot/Pentecost – and thus show readiness to enter another cycle of His glory – Sukkot.
Rosh ha-Shana, as the head of the year in the biblical annual cycle of blessing, is a day given to us by the Heavenly Father in order to receive revelation for the new year. It is the care of the Heavenly Father that brings forth a new beginning.
On Rosh ha-Shana, ‘the peak’ of the new year, it is wise in the fellowship of saints to seek the LORD and ask Him for a strategy, namely to get to the point where you are certain that you are going ahead in what the LORD is doing.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
