If the meaning of Abib in the Scripture is so obvious how come the Rabbis don follow the Abib calendar?
Up until the 2nd centuries CE the Rabbanites in fact followed the Abib calendar. True, they supplemented the observance of the barley with their astronomical calculations of the equinox (which they learned from astrologers) and other non-Biblical factors. Nevertheless, their writings reveal a recognition that the barley has special significance for intercalating the year. A Brayta (2nd century CE Tanaitic source) quoted in the Talmud Bavli says as follows: “Our Rabbis taught, Based on three things is the year intercalated: on the Abib, on the fruits of the trees, and on the equinox. Based on two of them the year is intercalated but based on one of them alone the year is not intercalated. And when the Abib is one of them everyone is pleased.” (Bavli Sanhedrin 11b) Another Brayta relates: “Our Rabbis taught, The year is intercalated based on [the Abib in] three regions: Judea, Transjordan, and Galilee. Based on two of them the year is intercalated but based on one of them alone the year
