Used by permission. 2 This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you. Animal Sacrifice Powered Ancient Jerusalem's Economy 6 How old did sheep have to be to be used for sacrifices? The events and Holy days of the Old Testament, were a foreshadowing of the earthly life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Once again, we have Emperor Constantine and his mother, Helena, to thank for the erroneous selection of the site of Jesus birth. He was born in the small city of Bethlehem. When Messiahs presence comes, everything that was before is old everything now is new. It was prophesied that he would be a descendant of David, the shepherd king who was also born in Bethlehem around a thousand years prior to Yeshua (for more information see THE BIRTH OF YESHUA ) The renewal of the covenant was to be formalized by a national celebration of Passover, with the paschal lamb ritual as the highlight of the celebration. Critique and Rebuttal. The rabbis did not ban shepherds. It is defined as a stall where animals are kept, and in Luke 13:15 it is translated that way. [7] The ancient rabbis referenced this passage in the writings of the Mishnah and Targum. Jesus Birth The Case for Migdal Edar | Truth in Scripture Kuehls Temple, Where Was Herods Temple? The Lamb in the Manger Is there a logical place where God would choose to have His Son born, one which would be described by the angel to the shepherds in the country as being . That the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, was a settled conviction. So that free from sin, we might live for righteousness. When was Yeshua really born? It was important that the sheep that was to be sacrificed did not possess any blemishes (broken legs, or injuries). But Deborah, Rebekahs nurse, died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. Interestingly, the smearing of blood on the doorposts did not become a part of the Passover pageantry. In the year 720 BCE, King Hezekiah set out to restore the ancient covenant. 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? Every morning and evening a lamb was offered on the altar of sacrifice as a symbol of In the area of the camp, a sign proclaimed that "George II is Chief of the Chilkoots and a friends [sic] The weather was not cooperating today. Sacrifices Nothing suggests there were full time special shepherds enlisted to keep watch over sheep. Their function was to serve in the Temple, even those with certain challenges. Ephrath means ash heap and place of fruitfulness, and seems to refer to Isaiah 61:3, which mentions beauty from ashes . Gestation period for a ewe is about 5 months. 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). I thought it was quite intriguing that all of the fixtures within the church served purposes, which are absolutely amazing tour guide Habib explained. We headed to the Shepherds Fields within Bethlehem that was specifically dedicated to the shepherds depicted within the nativity story. We know that these things occurred somewhere in the city of Bethlehem. In a sense, John the Baptist was the first of several things: First Christian, first Christian witness, first Christian preacher, first Christian prophet, and first Christian martyr. It was important that the lambs that were to be sacrificed did not have any blemishes (broken legs, or injuries). * They were led into the city at the time of the Passover Festival to shed their blood like the ancient lambs before them. A LAMB BORN IN BETHLEHEM NAZARENE NOTES Probably not. All of the information that follows is all from our tour guide, Habib. The clues to the possible season of Yeshuas birth are based on teachings by Jonathan Cahn. King Solomons sacrifice was enormous 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Zevach Sh'lamim: Peace Offering. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007); Rabbi Mike L Short; Bryce Haymond; Leo Hohmann The Eternal. When the Magi from Persia came to Jerusalem in search of the Jewish Messiah, they called upon King Herod as a courtesy and inquired of him where the Messiah was to be born. 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. Reflecting on these passages in Genesis regarding to the death of Rachel, it is easy to imagine Jacobs anguish. [7] The Micah prophesy starts in Micah 4:6 and continues through 5:5; see explanations and structure in the Companion Bible. On this day everything begins. At my church, I direct our Living Nativity. But the New Testament does not state the exact place in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The Hag HaPesach reenacts the events of the 14th of Nisan (the pre-exodus period), and the Hag HaMatzot marks the actual departure from Egypt of the Israelites, which was concluded with the crossing of the Red Sea (exodus period). Typically, Migdal Eder, at Bethlehem is the perfect place for Yeshua the Messiah to be born. I think shepherds could have been out in December with their flocks as far as that aspect of the nativity story. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? For an overview and complete chapter listing of this fascinating study, click here. Just try to leave out the pagan trappings! I rejoice anytime the name and Truth of Yeshua is lifted up and proclaimed, even if it is on December 25. The hills around Bethlehem were home to the hundreds of lambs used in ritual worship at the Temple. (Luke 2:420 KJV). According to Josephus a Passover-feast at Jerusalem in Neros time, the priests counted 256,000 sacrifices confirming the capacity of such large numbers. He was born on the beginning of the Hebrew year. Comprised of the Mishnah and the Gemara, it contains the opinions of thousands of rabbis from different periods in Jewish history. Cooper P. Abrams III states in his article regarding Migdal Edar in Jerusalem: This watch tower from ancient times was used by the shepherds for protection from their enemies and wild beasts. They attended other tasks not related to the incense or sacrificial service. Passover again assumed its prime function as a religious festival. WHEN WAS YESHUA THE MESSIAH BORN? First His birth, then His death, resurrection, etc, The Eternal commands us to begin the year and everything on the first day of the month of Nissan. The construction of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalemlent new significance to the festival of Passover. 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. What about the watch tower of the flock? Undoubtedly, this was a military tower used to watch over the valley at the edge of Bethlehem and to provide protection to the city. It would have to be a Spring Festival as everything would have to be in order. Because of the planets involved and their position in the sky they deduced that a Righteous King would be born in Judea. The Mishnah states it is because livestock eats crops. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The explanation for the uniqueness of the Passover sacrificial rite may be found in its commemorative aspects. The Eternal is an Elohim of order. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel [Heb. They were not there when Yeshua was born but around two years later they found him and his parents living in a house. 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). It was in this special manger, Migdal Eder, that Jesus was born after Mary and Joseph could not find other lodging. Location: Canada. The word in Hebrew means repetition, which means that it was memorized material. On this day the calendar changes, the old calendar is gone and a new one begins. The temple sheep, the ones raised for the purpose of these Passover sacrifices, would have been pastured and born in the fields outside Bethlehem. Every important event in Yeshuas life corresponds to a Festival or day commanded by the Eternal. WebJohn 2:14. When she died, he was heartbroken. Whether shepherds were tending the flocks in the field with their sheep in December is another issue, which I cant address. There is a teaching in the modern church that shepherds were outcasts, sinners, untrustworthy, banned from the Temple because they smelled and were unclean. The new-born Lamb of the Eternal was like-wise swaddled and put in a manger. 2) lying in a manger. Suffice it to say that it was in the springtime, during Passover]. Why Bethlehem - Christian Broadcasting Network This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In this case, I believe the road map supports my position that Jesus was actually born at a place called Migdal Edar (Heb. 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. According to the The priest passed the basin to his fellow priest, and he to his fellow, each receiving a full basin and giving back an empty one. The feast of unleavened bread was an agricultural festival that celebrated the beginning of the grain harvest when an offering of the first fruits was made and unleavened bread eaten. These types of towers were common and are mentioned in various Old Testament books (Judges 8:17; 9:46, 51; 2 Kings 9:17, 18:8; Nehemiah 3:1). If our tour guide were not with us we would not have noticed the importance of the design and the significance of the fixtures within the church. there were shepherds living out in the fields. On our farm, we generally kept the rams with the ewes all the time. Why did the shepherds bring the sheep to Jerusalem? The Bible teaches us that mankind has a sin problem. At that elevation there is usually a mild snow if any. These special lambs came from a unique flock that was designated for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem. (bibletruth.org) And the shepherds werent any old shepherds. A look at the evolution of the four questions. As a nation, Israel began its history by putting lambs blood on the doorposts and lintels of each house. In addition to the statement by John the Baptist referring toJesus asthe Lamb of God, these bits and pieces of Scripture come from diverse sources, from both the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. Ill let you research this subject out. The tower of the flock was built of stones, does not exist today and archaeology has not found its ruins as of yet. Dont know. Where did the shepherds get the Lambs for sacrifice? These sheep were apparently kept outdoors all year Press ESC to cancel. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. Jesus Birth Traditional vs Actual Site, Jesus Birth The Significance of Migdal Edar, Where Was Herods Temple? Both were used, depending on the sacrifice. This tower of the flock mentioned in Micah 4:8 is in Hebrew Migdal Edar and literally means watch tower of the flock. Consequently, the Old Testament tells us that the Messiah, Jesus, would be born at Migdal Edar, in Bethlehem. Sheep have wool and can easily withstand cold temperatures. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. There must have come a moment on that road when they realized they could not make their destination. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty, be fruitful and multiply: a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee will I give the land. New-born lambs were put in a manger after swaddling them to keep them from being trampled and to keep them calm. Jesus Birth The Case for Migdal Edar | Truth in Scripture Paganism spread throughout Israel and Judea and reduced the number of Jews who made the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Story of Bethlehem Sheep More than Legend Immersion Learning And Jacob set up a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. However, based on biblical record (Micah 4:8)and other evidence we must conclude that Yeshua was not born a dirty stable of an inn where donkeys and other animals were kept. Beyond this, and with regard to the other points you raise in your comment, youll have to provide specific references from the Mishnah and Gemara, so that I can look them up, or else Im just taking your word for it, like I did for that of Alfred Edersheim. Gender: Male. 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. Reference the Gemara. He resurrected on the Feast of First-fruits when Israel offered the first fruits of the land to the Eternal. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Only the Passover made an exception and allowed the unclean to keep the holiday (Numbers 9:10-13). 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. By his wounds, you have been healed For you had gone astray like sheep. Nothing is too difficult for God! And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother [Esau]. Posted March 25, 2010. When Habib was explaining the many intricate steps of the sheeps life I was astounded by the parallelism to Jesus Christ. Shepherds and swaddling clothes Understanding how Passover was celebrated in biblical times. They were not to break any of the bones of the lamb (Exodus 12:46).

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