Tammuz is the fourth month on the Biblical calendar and coincides with June-July on the Gregorian calendar. Jeremiah 52:6, refers to this month as the “fourth month.” However, following the Babylonian Exile, Jews introduced the name, “Tammuz” as the name of this month. Tammuz was the ancient Babylonian god of agriculture and fertility. The only time the Bible records this name is in Ezekiel 8:13-14. God was showing the prophet Ezekiel all the abominations that were going on in the Temple. Honoring idols, such as this, was among the reasons why God allowed the Temple to be destroyed and the Jewish people exiled. So renaming the fourth month, Tammuz, served as a reminder that idolatry brings God’s judgment.
The 17th of Tammuz: A Historic Day of Calamities
The 17th of Tammuz is a minor fast day among Jews. Moreover, it is the beginning of a three-week mourning period for the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Holy Temples. The purpose of the fast is to remind the Jewish population of their forefathers’ sins, which led to their nation’s tragedies. In addition, its purpose is to stir the hearts of the Jewish community to repentance.
The Sin of the Golden Calf
Israel’s downfall began with the sin of the golden calf (Exodus 32). Moses had spent 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai, and the Israelites thought he had abandoned them. So, they demanded that Aaron make gods to lead them (vv. 1-2). Possibly out of fear of the people, Aaron made a golden calf idol (from the earrings of the people) for the Israelites to worship. Their worship included eating, drinking (in the sense of drunkenness) and sexual immorality.
According to Jewish history, it was on the 17th of Tammuz when Moses came down from Mount Sinai and found Israel worshiping the golden calf. As a result, Moses became angry at the sight of this. Then, he threw down the stone tablets God had given him, causing them to break. Immediately, Moses called for those “who were on the Lord’s side,” to join him and all of the Levites did (v.26). As a result, three thousand Israelites who worshiped the golden calf were killed by the Levites that day (vv. 27-28).
Unfortunately, this was not the only time the people of Israel sinned before God and broke their covenant with Him. This resulted in major calamities, throughout history. For example, the following events took place on the 17th of Tammuz:
- The priests in the First Temple stopped offering the daily sacrifices because Jerusalem was under siege by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces. Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem on their way to destroying the first Temple.
- The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans, in 69 CE, after a lengthy siege. (Three weeks later, after the Jews put up a valiant struggle, the Romans destroyed the second Holy Temple on the 9th of Av.)
- Roman persecution, a Roman general named Apostomos publicly burned a Torah scroll and erected an idol in the Temple.
What lesson can we learn from Israel’s tragedies?
In reflecting on the Israelites’ experience this month of Tammuz, it is a good idea for us to ask the Lord to show us if we have made any golden calves, and if so, repent and ask God for forgiveness. What is a golden calf? A golden calf (idol) can be anything we place ahead of God in our lives or anything that tugs at our heart more than God does. Scripture tells us that, whatever we do, we are to “do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and that we are to serve God only (Deuteronomy 6:13).
Eventually, when we remove our focus from God, we allow the things of this world to become our golden calves. Consequently, we soon find ourselves drifting away from the one true God. As a result, we begin to forget what it is that is truly meaningful in this life. In addition, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to follow the teachings of God’s Word.
God is calling every one of us to throw away the golden calf—whatever that may be. And, we have the assurance that when we repent of our sins, we will be forgiven (1 John 1:9) because of Christ’s sacrificial atonement upon the cross.
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