What does it mean that baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes? I am trying to find evidence in the Talmud and Mishah but it is long and difficult. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel [Heb. This phenomenon took place during the springtime, around the time of the Passover. He changes the calendar of our lives. 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. There is a theological explanation for why Passover occurs in the spring. 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. The tower of the flock was built of stones, does not exist today and archaeology has not found its ruins as of yet. The beautiful small church is absolutely breath taking and was cleverly designed by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi. We know that every word of Scripture has meaning(Deuteronomy 32:47), so there must be a reason. But Deborah, Rebekahs nurse, died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. These strips ensured that the child was warm and that his limbs would grow straight. Reference the Gemara. Sheep Camp History - Klondike Gold Rush - National Park Service At my church, I direct our Living Nativity. Daily Sacrifices In The Temple of WebSacrifices were stopped after the Temple's destruction because the Torah specifically commands Jews not to offer sacrifices just anywhere; An olah could be made from cattle, sheep, goats, or even birds, depending on the offerer's means. Unlike humans, sheep have a season for giving birth. This unique ritual included the slaughtering of the lamb on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan (Leviticus 23:5). According to theMishnah(a rabbinic Jewish legal-historical document from the end of the second century AD), these were no ordinary sheep or shepherds, but were shepherds who watched over sheep that were destined to become burnt offerings, peace offerings and the Passover offering for the temple service in Jerusalem (Mishnah Sheq7:4;The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim, pp. From the description of the swaddling clothes and the manger, the shepherds knew right where to go to find the babe. PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE OF YESHUA THE MESSIAH. I personally was not knowledgeable to the depth of the parallels between the sacrificial lamb from Bethlehem and Jesus Christ. This was an exception to the general rule that all festival offerings are to be sacrificed on the day of the festival. This sacrifice was meant to be sufficient to atone for the sin-debt of all mankind. He was the Eternals First-fruit, the First of many to be resurrected. It is defined as a stall where animals are kept, and in Luke 13:15 it is translated that way. They were Levitical shepherds (shepherd-priests). We headed to the Shepherds Fields within Bethlehem that was specifically dedicated to the shepherds depicted within the nativity story. Jesus is the perfect lamb sacrifice, which God provided to pay for the sin debt of mankind. Suppose each family brought one or two animals (which, down through history, was the norm). Mangers in 1st century Israel were made of stone as it was more abundant than wood. On the other hand it mentions that many were considered thieves and also that they had the potential to cause strife with their neighbor because of grazing on their field; also citing an instance (if I remember correctly) in Galilee were they had to go thru private land to get to the open fields and therefore causing strife. Where were the sheep raised for Temple sacrifices? Pilgrims came from hundreds of miles away to sacrifice animals at an ancient temple in Jerusalem, new research suggests. In fact the shepherds may have been on the same land that Boaz redeemed for Naomi and passed on to his son Jesse, Davids father. After the lamb was born it was wrapped in swaddling cloths (strips of cloth were taken from priests old clothes) to keep it protected without spot or blemish (the Scripture requirement for a perfect lamb), and then this lamb would be laid in a manger until it had calmed down and to protect it from being trampled. It was extremely important that he did not have any imperfections (blemishes). Reflecting on these passages in Genesis regarding to the death of Rachel, it is easy to imagine Jacobs anguish. The Levitical shepherds would take the sheep to specific caves used for birthing the sacrificial lambs. Why Bethlehem - Christian Broadcasting Network One year old lambs were also needed during Passover and other festivals. These bands helped to provide comfort to the child, the tight bands replicating the feeling of the womb. People finding free livestock would want to offer something they did not have to pay for. As we have seen many times,bits and pieces from Scripture, taken together, often provide a road map. Because of the planets involved and their position in the sky they deduced that a Righteous King would be born in Judea. The Rest of the Story: Shepherds Abiding in the Field One sacrificed in the morning and one in the evening as a continual sacrifice before the Eternal. A LAMB BORN IN BETHLEHEM NAZARENE NOTES On that night, the Israelites were ordered to eat the paschal lamb, and several restrictive rules were added to this feast. Where was that? It should be noted that Ephrath (or Ephratah) was the ancient name for the area which later was called Bethlehem. 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 seems it was a place for lost livestock (Mishnah Elucidated). And found in the temple those that sold oxen, &c. Used for sacrifice. Once they would know to purchase the libation and meal offering, this would be out of pocket expense, they would then abandon the animal. Thank you Habib. Why is it important that he would be born at this time? With the destruction of the Temple, the offering of the paschal came to an end. 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. 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. This part of the sign was not enough on its own because any new-born baby would be wrapped in swaddling cloths. Because of the planets involved and their position in the sky they deduced that a Righteous King would be born in Judea. A tekiah, teruah, and again a tekiah were then blown on the shofar. 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. At the same time, Mish. The tabernacle in the wilderness, was decicated on Nisan 1. The Season Clue: And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. [5] They were on the road traveling south between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, trying desperately to get to their relatives house before Marys time came. The Mishnah states it is because livestock eats crops. We dont tell people that Christ was born on THIS actual day, but rather that, we celebrate the fact that He WAS born. Once the sheeps blood was completely spilled for all of the sins the priest would return to the people and proclaim, It is finished. Where did the sacrificial lamb come from? Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus Life RevealedHis Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Every important event in Yeshuas life corresponds to a Festival or day commanded by the Eternal. Kuehls Temple, Where Was Herods Temple? 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 . We know nowthat the Tower of the Flock would be the birthplace of the Messiah, who would take away all death, heartache, and tears. The Eternal is an Elohim of order. Dont know about the Middle East; I never bred and raised sheep there. The angel gives the shepherds a sign with two parts: 1) wrapped in swaddling cloths The angel announced that this newborn child was YHVH the Messiah (Isa 53:1; Christ the Lord)the Savior (Luke 2:8 cp. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. Surprisingly, the Old Testament gives us the answer. They saw it at the time of Yeshuas birth and they journeyed from their country to look for him and honour him. Required fields are marked *. 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. But the New Testament does not state the exact place in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. They were not to eat it rare or boiled in water (Exodus 12:9). Of the deep symbolic significance of such a coincidence, it is needless to speak. There tour guide was explained to them how shepherds used caves to live in because when it is warm outside it is cool within in the cave and vice-versa with cold weather. Nothing suggests there were full time special shepherds enlisted to keep watch over sheep. Pronounced: nee-SAHN, Origin: Hebrew, Jewish month, usually coinciding with March-April. Yeshua also pronounced these same words once His blood was spilled. Shepherds and swaddling clothes Yeshua was sacrificed on Passover so he was born on or around Passover When the ewes were ready to deliver, the shepherds moved them inside a manger. 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 Hebrew, the name of the tower is Migdal Eder. Every Lets see where key statements in the Old and New Testaments lead us in our search to confirm the actual birthplace of Jesus. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin. They were not there when Yeshua was born but around two years later they found him and his parents living in a house. He was also the first to baptize converts, and he might have even started the first church as the disciples of Jesus were initially following John before they were instructed to follow Jesus (John 1:3537; Acts 1:1526). Noah broke open the Ark on Nisan 1, and new life came upon the earth. Where were the sheep raised for Temple sacrifices? But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. [11] His decree moved Mary and Joseph, at a time close to her delivery date, from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem since Joseph was of the house and lineage of David.[12], [2] The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Book II, Chapter 6 (This 1883 book by Alfred Edersheim is available online, but that makes referencing a page number difficult.). The idea was to restore the livestock to its owner. Their solution was to keep livestock in the wilderness, or Syria, etc. Equally so was the belief, that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, the tower of the flock. A baby was not unusual in first-century Israel. Instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. The name of the Messiah is Yeshua, short for Yehoshua (), www.LumoProject.com (FotoSketcher filter), Who were the shepherds of Bethlehem that greeted, Bethlehem was a small Jewish town 6 miles or 9.6 kilometres from Jerusalem. The account of the birth of Jesus in Luke includes the terms manger and swaddling clothes. What specifically are these referring to? Learn how your comment data is processed. The Magi, who were astronomers from the east saw a special star in the sky. When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem they went to Herod to inquire about this King that was to be born. Dont know. Blessings. According to the laws of the time the sheep that were used for the offerings had to be a one-year-old male sheep that had been outside for 365 days (one-year). The Jerusalem Post [2] Temple sacrifices used only perfect lambs, without spot or blemish and the sacrificial system needed lots of lambs: two lambs a day for the daily sacrifices, and many thousands more for holidays, individual sacrifices, etc. All Rights Reserved. They saw it at the time of Yeshuas birth and they journeyed from their country to look for him and honour him. They were not to break any of the bones of the lamb (Exodus 12:46). How did they know about Yeshua? The church was led astray in the 4th Century AD and has since steadfastly supported the traditional site of the cave under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. This background of the problem of sin and Gods remedy through the sacrifice of His one and only son, Jesus, offers us a better understanding of John the Baptists statement upon seeing Jesus approaching, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). 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. 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. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? According to the The Eternal. Why is it important that he would be born at this time? Every firstborn male lamb from the area around Bethlehem was considered holy, set aside for sacrifice in Jerusalem. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. Once the lambs were of age, the shepherds would take them to Jerusalem for the temple sacrifices. I believe all of the following will ultimately be shown to point to Migdal Edar as the birthplace of Jesus: The shepherds who while watching their flocks by night became aware of exactly where to find the newborn Messiah in Bethlehem, The special lambs born and raised in the fields of Bethlehem, to be used specifically as Temple sacrifices, The account of the death of Jacobs wife Rachel, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. He died on Passover when the sacrificial lambs were sacrificed. Saturday Morning Service - April 8, 2023 - Facebook This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. . There was no need for the angel to give the shepherds directions to the place of Jesus birth they already knew exactly where to find him! Maybe he didnt. Such sheep were kept in the environs of Jerusalem including Bethlehem which lies just five miles south of that city. Ill let you research this subject out. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. You never know, a seed that was planted in someones heart on December 25 may just yield fruit for the kingdom of Elohim! Sacrificial Procedures Torah.org And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. 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 The Talmud (Pesachim 64b) similarly records: King Agrippa once wished to take a census of the hosts of Israel. We see from the New Testament Scripture that Jesus was, indeed, born in Bethlehem. The rabbis did not ban shepherds. These sheep were apparently kept outdoors all year God commands that burnt offerings (animal sacrifices) must be a permanent statute for the Jewish people to perform in order to receive forgiveness of sins (iniquity). 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. The lambing season in first-century Israel, due to the existing breed of sheep then, occurred from late March to mid-April. Only the Passover made an exception and allowed the unclean to keep the holiday (Numbers 9:10-13). Ewes were brought there to give birth to the lambs. [8] The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Book II, Chapter 6 (This 1883 book by Alfred Edersheim is available online, but that makes referencing a page number difficult.). Sources: Every important event in Yeshuas life corresponds to a Festival or day commanded by the Eternal. He was born in the very birthplace where tens of thousands of lambs, which had been sacrificed to prefigure Him, the Lamb of the Eternal. Passover sacrifice 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. According to the Mishnah Baba Kama, they banned livestock. 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. At that elevation there is usually a mild snow if any. * They were led into the city at the time of the Passover Festival to shed their blood like the ancient lambs before them. After being washed and salted, the infant was then wrapped with long strips of linen or cotton swaddling bands. How did Solomon manage to sacrifice 144000 animals? And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Abrahams hand was stayed, and God provided a substitute sacrifice, just as He would provide in His Son, Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem, at the birthing place of the sacrificial lambs that were offered in the Temple in Jerusalem which Micah 4:8 calls the tower of the flock., In his classic book, The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah (1883; Latest Edition, 1993), Alfred Edersheim (1825 1889), a Messianic Jew, had great insights regarding the birth of Jesus from a Hebrew-Christian perspective. WebJohn 2:14. Personally, that date is probably the one day I would not choose to do this due to its pagan roots, but better that his name be lifted up than not, even on December 25. He was born on the beginning of the Hebrew year. Lastly, Gods ultimate plan of redemption is reflected in the Feasts of the Lord, which God established as yearly rehearsals by the people of Israel, beginningwith the Feast of Passover and the shedding of the blood of an innocent lamb (Leviticus 23). Every firstborn male lamb from the area around Bethlehem was considered holy, set aside for sacrifice in Jerusalem. So the December birth date is, at the very least, doubtful. It is a Holy Day but there is no command for the males to be in Jerusalem on this day therefore, Yoseph (Joseph) could be in Bethlehem. Yes, sheep are smelly, but so are every other animal. These sheep were apparently kept outdoors all year round. What they saw was not a star but a rare phenomenon that happens every 6000 years and it pointed them to Israel and to Yeshua. In the writings of Hippolytus, early church father (ca. Sheep herding was a hereditary occupation, and generations of shepherds were trained to care for these special lambs. The Temple of God is the only place where the Jewish people are allowed to offer animal sacrifices to God. The Levites and priests are also described as having praised God day by day [Hallel], singing with loud instruments to God (11 Chronicles 30:21). Shepherds would typically only watch flocks in the open at night during the lambing season. The Rabbis Forgot, Where Was Herods Temple? . They were not there when Yeshua was born but around two years later they found him and his parents living in a house. What were the lambs born in Bethlehem used for? I grew up on a farm and we raised sheep. Whether shepherds were tending the flocks in the field with their sheep in December is another issue, which I cant address. On Sabbath Jesus Christ was crucified and gave up his life. They attended other tasks not related to the incense or sacrificial service. Animal Sacrifice Powered Ancient Jerusalem's Economy 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. and give no references, so I cant look it up to verify anything, and I like to verify everything either directly from original sources or from experts who have a good reputation in their field of study for being accurate historically, like Edersheim. But why would Moses record that Jacob pitched his tent at Migdal Edar at Bethlehem? Sacrificial Procedures Maaseh ha-Korbanos a) Animal and Bird Sacrifices. The shepherds of Bethlehem were in charge of raising sheep for the temple sacrifices. This Migdal Edar was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem, but lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem. WebEvery firstborn male lamb from the area around Bethlehem was considered holy, set aside for sacrifice in Jerusalem. It involves a veiled prophecy in Genesis, and it has to do with the first mention in Scripture of the term Migdal Edar, at the time of Rachels death. For about three centuries after the death of Joshua, anarchical conditions loomed as a result of lack of leadership and constant harassment by hostile neighbors. Used by permission. On our farm, we generally kept the rams with the ewes all the time. Of the deep symbolic significance of such a coincidence, it is needless to speak. Sacrifices Location: Canada. The caves were specially cared for to keep them clean and prepared for the birthing process. He was the Eternals First-fruit, the First of many to be resurrected. In this case, I believe the road map supports my position that Jesus was actually born at a place called Migdal Edar (Heb. The principal feature of the feast of unleavened bread is stated in the Bible: Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. The unleavened bread commemorated the speed with which the Jews had to leave Egypt and thus became symbolic of Israelite redemption. Many people including me have covered this topic over and over again for decades, so all the info is out there already. Then came the Feast of Unleavened bread (leaven symbolises sin). Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses. The hills around Bethlehem were home to the hundreds of lambs used in ritual worship at the Temple. 45. Who is better than these shepherd-priests to welcome the Lamb of the Eternal. [Alfred Edersheim The Life and Times of Jesus Messiah (1899)]. The festival served as a repudiation of idolatry. Their function was to serve in the Temple, even those with certain challenges. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Why is it that most of us have never heard of Migdal Edar, let alone in referenceto the birth of Jesus? The symbolism of the eating of the paschal lamb with the matzah and bitter herbs was a reminder to the Israelites of an enslaved past. Once the sheep were of age the shepherds would bring them to the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed for the Sabbath (Friday). This all said, again there are much better arguments to use in disproving the Dec 25 brith date of Yeshua. Edersheims book was the result of a seven year effort. The heat cycle averages about 17 days and she is fertile or receptive to the ram during that period for only 24 to 36 hours. 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. This means that shed be giving birth to the lambs in February to March. The Gospel of Luke states that Mary gave birth to Jesus and placed him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. Sheep have wool and can easily withstand cold temperatures. This includes the sacrificial lambs, born in Bethlehem. He sent the Set-Apart Spirit to his disciples on Shavout (Pentecost). And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachels grave unto this day. The same Mishnaic passage also leads us to infer, that these flocks lay out all the year-round since they are spoken of as in the fields thirty days before Passoverthat is, in the month of February, when in Palestine [Israel] the average rainfall is nearly greatest. In his work, Edersheim referenced the Jewish Mishnah (The Mishnah was the first recording of the oral law and Rabbinic Judaism. Both were used, depending on the sacrifice. I am currently researching the shepherds from Luke and shepherds/shepherding throughout the Bible. It was important that the sheep that was to be sacrificed did not possess any blemishes (broken legs, or injuries). The Jewish religious authorities gave their answer from an Old Testament passage from Micah: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he [Messiah; Jesus] come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2, KJV). The Bible teaches us that mankind has a sin problem. The shepherds did not have to search every stable in Bethlehem. Sin came into the world through Adam in the Garden of Eden, as presented in the early chapters of Genesis. Edersheim says the sheep watched were for sacrifice. The clues to the possible season of Yeshuas birth are based on teachings by Jonathan Cahn.