897 B

Raw Blame History

Kislev (which was the ninth month)

"Kislev" is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. The fourth day of Kislev is near the end of November on Western calendars. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths and rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)

They spoke ... they said

The word "they" refers to Sharezer and Regem Melek.

Should I mourn in the fifth month

"Should I mourn in month 5." The assumed knowledge is that the Jewish people fasted during a part of the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar because this is when the Babylonians destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. The fifth month is during the last part of July and the first part of August on Western calendars. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths)

by means of a fast

"by fasting"