What Happened on the Ninth of Av?

By Karen Engle, ICEJ Managing Editor

The Ninth of Av, or Tisha B’Av in Hebrew, is a yearly fast day in Judaism that remembers several tragedies that occurred on that date in Jewish history. “Av” is the fifth month on the Hebrew calendar, so the “ninth of Av” is the ninth day of the fifth month—this year, from sundown on August 12 to sundown on August 13.  

A Day of Mourning

Every other major holiday on the Hebrew calendar except the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is a time of joy. But because of the terrible events that occurred on this date—particularly the destruction of the First and Second Jewish temples—the Ninth of Av for the Jewish people is a day of deep mourning for what was lost. Each year on that date, the Jewish people spend the day reflecting on those dark moments in their history. 

On the Ninth of Av, it’s customary to grieve like one would mourn the loss of a family member. The Jewish people refrain from food and drink, listening to music, sitting on chairs, wearing leather shoes, shaving or cutting hair, and even studying the Torah. It’s traditional to sit on low stools and read the book of Lamentations, which recounts just one of those terrible Ninth of Avs 2,000 years ago when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC: 

The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground and keep silence; they throw dust on their heads and gird themselves with sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem bow their heads to the ground. My eyes fail with tears, my heart is troubled; my bile [liver] is poured on the ground because of the destruction of the daughter of my people … How shall I console you? … For your ruin is spread wide as the sea; who can heal you? (Lamentations 2:10–11, 13) 

Does the Ninth of Av Matter for Christians?

Though the Ninth of Av is a significant and sad date in Jewish history, it’s also a date connected to prophecy in the Bible and is, therefore, of interest to Christians. 

King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem on the Ninth of Av in 586 BC, and in several waves, took the Jewish people captive to Babylon. However, even before they were exiled, the prophet Jeremiah brought his people a word of hope: their captivity would end after 70 years (25:11). Indeed, that prophecy was fulfilled in 537 BC when gentile King Cyrus released the Jews to return home 70 years after their captivity so they could rebuild Jerusalem. 

Then, in AD 70, Titus of Rome destroyed Jerusalem again on the Ninth of Av. This time, Jews were forced out of Jerusalem and exiled to many nations, not just one—and this is why more than half of the Jewish population today does not live in Israel, just as Scripture foretold: 

Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known. (Deuteronomy 28:64) 

When the children of Israel returned to Jerusalem after Babylonian captivity, it was from one nation only. But the Hebrew prophets spoke of a day when God would bring His people home “a second time” (Isaiah 11:11) from “among the nations, wherever they have gone” (Ezekiel 37:21; notice Ezekiel here uses the plural “nations”). Moses prophesied that this regathering would be from “one end of the earth to the other”—a worldwide regathering. 

But to be brought back, they had to first be exiled—which happened twice, both times on the Ninth of Av. Each tragedy set into motion what the prophets foretold, fulfilling prophecy about Israel’s exiles and affirming the legitimacy of God’s Word.  

But they confirm to us something else. 

The Coming Spiritual Restoration of Israel

The existence of Israel today and God’s people living and thriving in the city of Jerusalem is without a doubt fulfilled prophecy. Even so, it’s merely a shadow of something even more remarkable to come (Colossians 2:16–17), when God will completely restore His people physically to the land but also spiritually to Him: 

I will bring them back, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness. (Zechariah 8:8) 

Tragic events like the destruction of the two temples can seem negative—as if God has forgotten His people. Yet when aligned with His Word, it’s evidence of His faithfulness. The people of Israel are alive today and dwelling in Israel—and specifically Jerusalem—because God willed it to be so. What He says in His word will happen; He will fulfill everything He has promised.  

Tragic Events Mourned by Jews on the Ninth of Av

1313 BC  – The spies returned from the Canaan (which later became the Land of Israel) with a bad report. 

586 BC  – The Babylonians destroyed the first Jewish temple (Solomon’s Temple). 

AD 70   –  The Romans destroyed the second Jewish temple (Herod’s Temple). 

AD 135  –  Bethar, the last stronghold of the Bar Kokhba war, was captured and the Jewish rebels massacred. 

AD 136 –  The Roman emperor Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem, called it Aelia Capitolina, and restricted Jews from entering it.

1290   –   Jews were expelled from England under King Edward I. 

1492   –  Jews were expelled from Spain under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. 

1914  –   World War I began (which many historians conclude continued into World War II, resulting in the Holocaust) 

1942   –   Treblinka death camp began operating, and deportations began from the Warsaw Ghetto. 

We invite you to join us in prayer for Israel during this challenging time according to the command of Isaiah 62:

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
(Isaiah 62:6–7)

Join this global movement of prayer by using our monthly prayer points whenever you pray corporately or individually. Also, if possible, join us in prayer every morning at 9:00 a.m. (EST) for our Global Prayer Gatherings and Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. (EST) as intercession resounds around the globe on our Rosh Chodesh Prayer Wave.