But the New Testament does not state the exact place in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The Bethlehem sheep stayed in the fields at night under the guard of shepherds, rather than being moved into a sheepfold, as was typical. A public celebration of Passover with the slaughtering of paschal lambs was the climax of the festivities. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007); Rabbi Mike L Short; Bryce Haymond; Leo Hohmann The place these special Temple sheep used for delivery of their lambs was the tower of the flock, When we first entered the cave there was another group of tourists within. He is, indeed, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.. In fact, any livestock found in a 6.8 mile radius of Jerusalem could be used for whole burnt offerings or peace offerings, depending on the sex of the animal for which offering. Where did the shepherds get the Lambs for sacrifice? Jesus Birth Traditional vs Actual Site, Jesus Birth The Significance of Migdal Edar, Where Was Herods Temple? Their solution was to keep livestock in the wilderness, or Syria, etc. The shekalim 7:7 of the Mishnah does not suggest that Migdal-Eder was used as a permanent location for sacrificial lambs. Today we had the privilege to travel to the Western bank to the small town of Bethlehem. Interestingly, the smearing of blood on the doorposts did not become a part of the Passover pageantry. They attended other tasks not related to the incense or sacrificial service. Paganism spread throughout Israel and Judea and reduced the number of Jews who made the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The lambs sacrificed daily in the Temple ceremonies as well as the lamb sacrificed annually for the nations sins at Passover in the Temple were but a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice of God. In his work, Edersheim referenced the Jewish Mishnah (The Mishnah was the first recording of the oral law and Rabbinic Judaism. Some scholars believe that it is more likely that Yeshua was born in the autumn festival of the Feast of Tabernacles but there is a problem with this theory because all males had to be in Jerusalem for this Festival, as specified in the Torah. Therefore, according to the Jewish regulations, the flocks under the care of the shepherds near Bethlehem must have been for the Temple-services. These shepherds watched over sheep destined as sacrifices in the Temple at Jerusalem. Everything points to these shepherds watching over sheep used for sacrifice. Your email address will not be published. . They were not to leave the meat over past the conclusion of the night (Exodus 12:10). Here they kept a place that was ceremonially clean for the ewes to lamb. To this day, they slaughter a lamb at sunset, read Exodus Chapter 12, and eat the Passover meal after midnight together with unleavened bread (matzah) and bitter herbs. Lets look at two passages in Genesis (Genesis 35:521 and Genesis 48:7): And they journeyed: and the terror of the God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. . It is also widely known that the word Bethlehem means house of bread. This too may be a referenceto Jesus, as He stated during the Seder (Last Supper) with His Disciples that He is the bread which is broken for each of us (Luke 22:19); and He had previously said that He is the true bread which came down from heaven (John 6:3233) and that He is the bread of life (John 6:35). You reference the Gemara, etc. Pilgrims came from hundreds of miles away to sacrifice animals at an ancient temple in Jerusalem, new research suggests. Our plans were to (first) travel to the actual location where Jesus Christ was born and view the manger, but surprisingly the Prime Minister of Great Britain (David Cameron) also had the same idea so we had to make a quick change. 301 W. Wabash Avenue Mangers in 1st century Israel were made of stone as it was more abundant than wood. . But he did understand that God was all-powerful and that He was good, holy, and righteous. But Deborah, Rebekahs nurse, died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. Because of the planets involved and their position in the sky they deduced that a Righteous King would be born in Judea. He resurrected on the Feast of First-fruits when Israel offered the first fruits of the land to the Eternal. The caves were specially cared for to keep them clean and prepared for the birthing process. Once the sheep were of age the shepherds would bring them to the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed for the Sabbath (Friday). Fortunately, God had His plan of redemption through Jesus, which He had establishedfrom the very foundations of the world (Romans 5:1221; 1 Peter 1:1820; Revelation 13:8; John 1:29). And finally, the feast was to be held in one house, and no part of the meat was to be taken outside the house (Exodus 12:46). Where was that? Once the lambs were of age, the shepherds would take them to Jerusalem for the temple sacrifices. The Magi, who were astronomers from the east saw a special star in the sky. I thought it was quite intriguing that all of the fixtures within the church served purposes, which are absolutely amazing tour guide Habib explained. When they were ready, they were taken to Jerusalem to I grew up on a farm and we raised sheep. The angel gives the shepherds a sign with two parts: 1) wrapped in swaddling cloths And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. It seems the officers, whose province it was to take care of the temple, permitted a market of these animals, and other things necessary for sacrifice, to be kept in the court of the Gentiles, in order that the worshippers might be supplied with victims requisite for the altar. According to the Luke has the most complete account of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, as recorded in Chapter 2: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and linage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. No alien sojourner, hired servant, or uncircumcised person may eat the meat of the paschal lamb (Exodus 12:43-45). Your email address will not be published. Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses. The information learned from Habib will not be forgotten and has helped the biblical passages show new life. On that day, God came down and tabernacled with man. Posted March 25, 2010. He is without a doubt the best tour guide within all of Israel and today he showed all of us why. When a baby was born, the umbilical cord was cut and tied; then the baby was washed and rubbed with salt and oil, and wrapped with strips of cloth. So the December birth date is, at the very least, doubtful. But you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. There also were many spaces within the ceiling to allow the natural light to illuminate the room representing the star light and also the light of the heavenly host. Dont know about the Middle East; I never bred and raised sheep there. a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger? To be a sign, it would have to be distinctive, understandable, and unique. Who were the shepherds of Bethlehem that greeted Yeshua at the time of his birth? Where did the sacrificial lamb come from? When the shepherds heard the spectacular announcement by the multitude of heavenly host praising God, they knew exactly where to go to find the baby, wrapped in swaddling cloths, just like the newborn Temple lambs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This all said, again there are much better arguments to use in disproving the Dec 25 brith date of Yeshua. With regards to shepherds in the field and what Luke 2 says about that, no mention is made of lambs in this biblical passage or in Mish. Critique and Rebuttal. They were Levitical shepherds (shepherd-priests). Gods ultimate plan of redemption is further seenin the account of Abrahams willingness to offer his son, Isaac, on an altar at Gods command (Genesis 22). John the Baptist was the only son of Zacharias, and he was also of the priestly line. The impression given is that they were able to go with haste because they knew from the description of the wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger exactly where to go to the Tower of the Flock, Migdal Edar. He died on Passover when the sacrificial lambs were sacrificed. An analysis of bones found in an ancient At the time of the Feast of Passover the lambs to be sacrificed had to be one year old and without blemish, this means they were born on or around the Passover season. Many people including me have covered this topic over and over again for decades, so all the info is out there already. Reflecting on these passages in Genesis regarding to the death of Rachel, it is easy to imagine Jacobs anguish. The census required families to travel back to their fathers town of origin. [8] In Micah, after the prophecy of the coming Messiah Who In that day will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever, referring to the Kingdom of God and the Lords rule of the Earth, there is this prophecy of the first appearance of the Lord:[9], And you, Migdal Eder [tower of the flock], hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it shall happen and shall come, the first [or beginning] dominion, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.[10]. At the same time, Mish. Imagine the spiritual and prophetic significance of heavens angelic messenger revealing to these shepherds the birth in Bethlehem of the spotless and sin-free Lamb of Elohim who was destined to be sacrificed from the beginning of the world (Rev 13:8; John 1:29; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5). At that elevation there is usually a mild snow if any. Scholars interpret Micah 4:8 as a prophecy indicating that the Messiah would be revealed from the tower of the flock (Migdal Eder) which is connected with the town of Bethlehem, southeast of Jerusalem. So the minimum age for any sacrifice is eight days. WebThese were the men who raised the lambs that were to be sacrificed in the Temple. The description reflects the procedure in the time of the First Temple: The paschal lamb was slaughtered in three groups when the first group entered and the Temple court was filled, the gates of the Temple were closed. In his address to the priests and Levites he said, Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the God of Israel (II Chronicles 29:10). The daily Temple sacrifice required two unblemished sheep from Bethlehem. All of this thanks to THE LAMB BORN IN BETHLEHEM! Luke 2:8,Shepherds living out in the fields. It is the new year, everything starts anew. This reference to Passover stresses the classical message of the festivalthe humble origin of the Jewish people, the covenant with Abraham, Gods intervention in Egypt, the fulfillment of Gods promises, and the reaffirmation of faith. The lambing season in first-century Israel, due to the existing breed of sheep then, occurred from late March to mid-April. Following the rededication of the Temple by King Hezekiah, the priests are described as tossing the blood of the paschal lamb upon the altar (II Chronicles 30:16). A blood sacrifice is required by God, as presented in Leviticus: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17:11). WebA small Alaska Native camp existed in Sheep Camp during the winter of 1897 98. Both are component parts of the same festival, the festival of Passover. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Yeshua lay in the tomb after living a life without sin. When his time had come Jesus was led to Jerusalem to be sacrificed. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. He changes the calendar of our lives. Once the lambs were of age, the shepherds would take them to Jerusalem for the temple sacrifices. We know from Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. If the lambs were one year oldat the time they were sacrificed during Passover that means they would have been born at around the same time a year before, that is, in the Spring, during the lambing season. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. The sacrifices were only to be offered by the hands of the Kohanim.Before building the Temple in Nativity scenes displayed at Christmas depict the birth of Jesus in a stable surrounded by donkeys, sheep, and cows. There is an interesting clue in the Greek Interlinear Bible. We know that every word of Scripture has meaning(Deuteronomy 32:47), so there must be a reason. Pronounced: nee-SAHN, Origin: Hebrew, Jewish month, usually coinciding with March-April. 5 What was the tower of the flock in the Bible? The Jewish historian Josephus writing in the first century records that at Passover up to 265,000 lambs would be sacrificed in the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. December would have been too cold and probably too rainy for the shepherds to be out at night watching their flocks. . I suspect that shepherds and other lower class peasant type people might have been outcasts to the super-Pharisaical types who, like the Brahmam class in Hinduism, considered anyone belonging to a lower social-religious class to be vitally an untouchable. The place these special Temple sheep used for delivery of their lambs was the tower of the flock, located close to the road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. In the writings of Hippolytus, early church father (ca. Aramaic is one of the Semitic languages, an important group of languages known almost from the beginning of human history and including Arabic, Hebrew, Ethiopic, and Akkadian [ancient Babylonian and Assyrian]). WebWhen the ewes were ready to deliver, the shepherds moved them inside a manger. Jesus Movements, Where Was Herods Temple? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The first element goes like this: the shepherds around Bethlehem were not overseeing ordinary flocks but were responsible for raising sheep for sacrifice at the But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This is a big problem with God and, consequently, with man. King Josiah, in 637 BCE, next spearheaded a Jewish spiritual revival with the accidental discovery of a Torah scroll in the course of repair work to the Jerusalem Temple. The explanation for the uniqueness of the Passover sacrificial rite may be found in its commemorative aspects. I believe that Jacob trusted in God for redemption and that he knew God would eventually make all things right, including the removal of death and heartache. Every These strips ensured that the child was warm and that his limbs would grow straight. I am currently researching the shepherds from Luke and shepherds/shepherding throughout the Bible. However, based on biblical record (, Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks. Pronounced: TALL-mud, Origin: Hebrew, the set of teachings and commentaries on the Torah that form the basis for Jewish law. Note what is said of the shepherds: And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. They did not have to go around Bethlehem searching each and every stable forthis newly born baby. a month in advance of Pesach (Nisan), sheep may have been left there by shepherds. We do it on December 25th merely because it is a centuries old, entrenched tradition and we use this time to bring the good news and of the Nativity story in Matthew and Luke. What's special about Bethlehem-Ephrathah, is that it was a very small village where its sole purpose was to raise the sacrificial lambs that would be used in the And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Once the sheep were of age the shepherds would bring them to the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed for the Sabbath (Friday). Summary: There was a place just outside of the town of Bethlehem, but still within the region commonly known as Bethlehem, where Passover lambs were kept by specially trained and purified shepherds. An Israelite slaughtered his offering and the priests caught the blood. We dont tell people that Christ was born on THIS actual day, but rather that, we celebrate the fact that He WAS born. According to Rabbi Abraham Bloch, the main distinction between the Hag HaPesach and Hag HaMatzot lies in the historical area that each seeks to reflect. Sources: Thus, Jewish tradition in some dim manner apprehended the first revelation of the Messiah from that Migdal Eder, where shepherds watched the Temple-flocks all the year-round. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Then came the Feast of Unleavened bread (leaven symbolises sin). Although it is not known for certain, I can offer some thoughts which I believe have merit. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The beginning of the Hebrew year is in springtime on the first day of the month of Nissan. From the description of the swaddling clothes and the manger, the shepherds knew right where to go to find the babe. Ibelieve he was making a statement which, among other things, pointed to a particular place in Bethlehem as the birthplace of Christ. So the lambs offered for Pesach were around 9-11 months old. In Hebrew, the name of the tower is Migdal Eder. At Migdal Eder the ewes delivered in a clean environment (as specified by Rabbinic regulations for these special temple animals) and their lambs were sorted and immediately inspected for spot or blemish. Clean cloths cleaned off the lambs, after which they were wrapped in cloths to keep them warm. Sheep can handle cold and wet weather just fine. Sin came into the world through Adam in the Garden of Eden, as presented in the early chapters of Genesis. Every important event in Yeshuas life corresponds to a Festival or day commanded by the Eternal. The construction of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalemlent new significance to the festival of Passover. Where was the tower of the flock located? They were not to break any of the bones of the lamb (Exodus 12:46). Sacrificial Procedures Maaseh ha-Korbanos a) Animal and Bird Sacrifices. Only cattle, sheep, goats, pigeons and doves can be offered as sacrifices. So an event as important as his birth would have to coincide with a Festival as well. All of the information that follows is all from our tour guide, Habib. Press ESC to cancel. [4] When the ewes were ready to deliver, the shepherds moved them inside a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. The Eternal is an Elohim of order. Some scholars regarded the injunction to have the lamb roasted as a distinction from ancient pagan spring festival rites, when meat was eaten either uncooked or half-broiled. [10] Micah 4:8 composite translation, also uses definitions from Strongs Exhaustive Concordance. He once and for all would take away the sins of the world (Heb 10:10, 12), thus rendering their jobs as temple shepherds unnecessary. Sheq. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 170-235 after Yeshua), we find that he mentions the date of the birth of Yeshua as the 25th of December. My first book, The Last Shofar! Why did the shepherds bring the sheep to Jerusalem? there were shepherds living out in the fields. Once again, we have Emperor Constantine and his mother, Helena, to thank for the erroneous selection of the site of Jesus birth. literally House of God], he and all the people that were with him. Hag HaPesach (the festival of the paschal lamb)the sacrificial rite of the paschal lamb and its consumptionwas the main feature of the ancient Passover ceremony that ushered in the holiday. [5] Perhaps there was no room due to the impending holiday, which many traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate. Pilgrims from distant lands brought animals to sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem, fueling the city's economy, new research suggests. Edersheims book was the result of a seven year effort. Every important event in Yeshuas life corresponds to a Festival or day commanded by the Eternal. In Proverbs 14:4, in the Septuagint [Greek translation of the Old Testament], the word means a stall or a crib. What, then, was the stall or manger referred to in the New Testament; and what kind of animals were fed or housed there? Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture was taken from The Scriptures, There are several biblical references indicating that this procedure was also followed in Solomons Temple. Indeed, that was a unique sign to these shepherds that this baby was, indeed, the Savior, Christ the Lord, the promised Messiah, as told to them by the angel which appeared to them, and as foretold by the Prophets of Israel. In this case, I believe the road map supports my position that Jesus was actually born at a place called Migdal Edar (Heb. Probably not. Furthermore, the lambs were slaughtered by the Israelites, privately by each family, and the priests poured the blood on the base of the altar. The clues to the possible season of Yeshuas birth are based on teachings by Jonathan Cahn. And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. But from Micah 4:8 we now know that He was actually born at the Tower of the Flock (Migdal Edar). 6 How old did sheep have to be to be used for sacrifices? A statue of Hippolytus in Rome today still mentions April as the month of Yehsuas birth [This date varies from year to year as the Hebrew months are based on the moon. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it (Exodus12:8). Pig smell is the worst! One one hand it says that shepherding of small cattle was a decent profession to earn a living. The shepherds in charge of these special lambs were from the tribe of Levi. He sent the Set-Apart Spirit to his disciples on, In the writings of Hippolytus, early church father (ca. Typically, Migdal Eder, at Bethlehem is the perfect place for Yeshua the Messiah to be born. (765) 361-6100, Civil Rights Road Trip: Selma and Tuskegee, Juthani 15 Seeing New Sides to Old Dispute, Morrison 14 Torn Between Beauty, Ugliness, Story of Bethlehem Sheep More than Legend. On that night, the Israelites were ordered to eat the paschal lamb, and several restrictive rules were added to this feast. An analysis of bones found in an ancient Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. The need for a substitutionary sacrifice and shedding of innocent blood to atone for sin is well established in Scripture, beginning in Genesis 3:21, where God made use of animal skins to cover the nakedness and shame of Adam and Eve following their disobedience. According to the Mishnah Baba Kama, they banned livestock. It was a place fit for the Lamb of the Eternal to be born. We headed to the Shepherds Fields within Bethlehem that was specifically dedicated to the shepherds depicted within the nativity story. If this was so then, it makes no sense that they would be outcasts since they were doing a service and raising product for Temple service and service for the people. Crawfordsville, IN 47933 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It all fits together, for thats the place where sacrificial lambs were born! Their job was to raise animals that were healthy and without blemish and pure enough for the temple sacrifices as stated in the Eternals instructions in the book of Leviticus. Once they would know to purchase the libation and meal offering, this would be out of pocket expense, they would then abandon the animal. In biblical times, the region around Bethlehem was ideal for raising sheep. [Alfred Edersheim The Life and Times of Jesus Messiah (1899)], There was a place just outside of the town of Bethlehem, but still within the region commonly known as Bethlehem, where Passover lambs were kept by specially trained and purified shepherds. Nothing is too difficult for God! Ill let you research this subject out. Note: In my next Post I will discuss the significance of Migdal Edar. 3 What does it mean that baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes? 2 This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you. The Talmud (Pesachim 64b) similarly records: King Agrippa once wished to take a census of the hosts of Israel. Migdal Eder was a tower used from ancient times by the Levitical shepherds to protect their sheep and lambs from enemies and from wild beasts. A swaddle helps your baby feel safe and secure as she adjusts to life outside the womb. In the area of the camp, a sign proclaimed that "George II is Chief of the Chilkoots and a friends [sic] They saw it at the time of Yeshuas birth and they journeyed from their country to look for him and honour him. Herod died shortly after his murderous order. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A passage in the Mishnah leads to the conclusion, that the flocks, which pastured there, were destined for Temple-sacrifices, and, accordingly, thatthe shepherds, who watched over them, were not ordinary shepherds. Dont know. This phenomenon took place during the springtime, around the time of the Passover. Presumably they were carefully watched over to keep them safe from incurring any blemish that might render them unusable for the temple service.
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