What is the significance of the Abib?
The Abib indicates a stage in the development of the barley crops. This is clear from Ex 9:31-32 which describes the devastation caused by the plague of hail: “And the flax and the barley were smitten, because the barley was in the ear [abib] and the flax was in bloom [giv’ol]. And the wheat and the spelt were not smitten because they were dark [afilot].” The above passage relates that the barley crops were destroyed by the hail while the wheat and spelt were not damaged. To understand the reason for this we must look at how grain develops. When grains are early in their development they are flexible and have a dark green color. As they become ripe they take on a light yellowish hue and become more brittle. The brittle barley was destroyed while the more flexible grains were not. Abib, therefore, represents a condition and not a time. Exodus 13:4 then means we departed Egypt when the barley was in a certain condition. Because the definite article is used, a correct translation of the M
