ABIB [A bibb] (sprouting or budding) — one of the months of the Hebrew calendar (corresponding to our March–April). On the 15th of this month, the people of Israel left Egypt. Abib was made the first month of the year in commemoration of the Exodus (Ex. 23:15; Deut. 16:1). The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were celebrated during the month of Abib. After the Captivity, the month was called Nisan (Neh. 2:1; Esth. 3:7). Also see CALENDAR.

TEL ABIB [tel uh BIB] (mound of the flood) — a locality in Babylonia near “the River Chebar” (a great irrigation canal) where the prophet Ezekiel stayed among the captives for seven days (Ezek. 3:15). These captives had been taken prisoner in Judah and had been deported to Babylon in 597 B.C. The largest city in modern Israel, Tel Aviv, derives its name from Tel Abib.