7 Why are shepherds banned from the temple in the Bible? The historian Josephus records contemporary Passover celebrations in which he estimates that the participants who gathered in Jerusalem to perform the sacrifice in the year 65 CE were not less than three million (Josephus, Wars, 2:280). This unique ritual included the slaughtering of the lamb on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan (Leviticus 23:5). 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. The Rabbis Forgot, Where Was Herods Temple? Rather odd since there must be livestock for the altar: daily sacrifices and unintentional sin offerings. [Alfred Edersheim The Life and Times of Jesus Messiah (1899)]. Joseph belonged to the family of David, which is why they were in Bethlehem that night. I want to thank Habib for helping this entire experience come to life for this group from Wabash College. 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 (. 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. 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). WebIt is likely that the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem were raising lambs in the very fields that King David, as a boy watched over his sheep and composed Psalms to honor his God. John the Baptist was the only son of Zacharias, and he was also of the priestly line. These bands helped to provide comfort to the child, the tight bands replicating the feeling of the womb. Once they would know to purchase the libation and meal offering, this would be out of pocket expense, they would then abandon the animal. Reflecting on these passages in Genesis regarding to the death of Rachel, it is easy to imagine Jacobs anguish. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. And Jacob set up a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. On the ground floor, a room was designated for the delivery and protection of these special lambs. 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. Typically, Migdal Eder, at Bethlehem is the perfect place for Yeshua the Messiah to be born. Every important event in Yeshuas life corresponds to a Festival or day commanded by the Eternal. He changes the calendar of our lives. . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We know that every word of Scripture has meaning(Deuteronomy 32:47), so there must be a reason. We dont tell people that Christ was born on THIS actual day, but rather that, we celebrate the fact that He WAS born. 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. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross. Ewe sheep come into estrus or heat cycle beginning in the fall season (in North America in Oct/Nov) when the days begin to shorten. I rejoice anytime the name and Truth of Yeshua is lifted up and proclaimed, even if it is on December 25. A sacrificial lamb is a metaphorical reference to a person or animal sacrificed for the common good. People finding free livestock would want to offer something they did not have to pay for. He is without a doubt the best tour guide within all of Israel and today he showed all of us why. He changes the calendar of our lives. 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. When she died, he was heartbroken. Some of you here know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah not Bethlehem (there were two). They knew where they had to go, the place where the temple lambs were born, the place where Scripture said the Messiah would be born, The Scriptures tell us that the shepherds were outside. 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. In biblical times, the region around Bethlehem was ideal for raising sheep. They were born on or around Passover. All other offerings were generally slaughtered by the priests. This was an exception to the general rule that all festival offerings are to be sacrificed on the day of the festival. [3] From all accounts it appears that Bethlehem was a special place for raising sheep, unlike other areas where they were raised in the wilderness. there were shepherds living out in the fields. There is a teaching in the modern church that shepherds were outcasts, sinners, untrustworthy, banned from the Temple because they smelled and were unclean. In addition to the more commonly known prophecy of the Messiahs birth in Bethlehem cited above from Micah 5:2, there is a more specific reference to Migdal Eder, also in Micah. In his work, Edersheim referenced the Jewish Mishnah (The Mishnah was the first recording of the oral law and Rabbinic Judaism. Once again, we have Emperor Constantine and his mother, Helena, to thank for the erroneous selection of the site of Jesus birth. The name Beit Lechem means House of Bread and Ephrathah fruitful. 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. It decided it would be another good day to rain and be cold, all of our wet feet did not agree. Cody Buresh 15 Looking back over the experiences of this trip I am extremely grateful and amazed that this group of Wabash men have had the opportunities to go on many adventures such as: staying on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, visiting the city of Jericho, having the privilege to tour the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and many other mind-baffling occurrences. WebWhen the ewes were ready to deliver, the shepherds moved them inside a manger. One one hand it says that shepherding of small cattle was a decent profession to earn a living. Edersheim also referenced the Targum (The Targum is an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible (Tanak), which was written during Israels seventy-year captivity in Babylon. Once the sheep were of age the shepherds would bring them to the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed for the Sabbath (Friday). Jesus was not born behind an inn, in a smelly stable where the donkeys and other animals of travelers were kept. 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). Every important event in Yeshuas life corresponds to a Festival or day commanded by the Eternal. All of the information that follows is all from our tour guide, Habib. Throughout the day we gained a plethora of information about Bethlehem during biblical times and also the current situation from our visit at Bethlehem University. Tower of the Flock) in Bethlehem. 170-235, [This date varies from year to year as the Hebrew months are based on the moon. 6 How old did sheep have to be to be used for sacrifices? When Caesar Augustus issued his decree to register all the world of the Roman Empire, we can be sure he thought this was his idea, not knowing that God works even through pagans. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture was taken from The Scriptures, Pilgrims from distant lands brought animals to sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem, fueling the city's economy, new research suggests. 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. [5] They were on the road traveling south between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, trying desperately to get to their relatives house before Marys time came. 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. Once the lambs blood was completely spilled for all of the sins, the priest would turn to the people and proclaim, It is finished or it is accomplished. Isa 53:6, 1011). This means that shed be giving birth to the lambs in February to March. Posted March 25, 2010. It seems only fitting that Fathers Lamb that is to be sacrificed for the sins of the world be born with the other sacrificial lambs! With the destruction of the Temple, the offering of the paschal came to an end. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. These special lambs came from a unique flock that was designated for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem., Typically, Migdal Edar, (the tower of the flock) at Bethlehem is the perfect place for Christ to be born. In the book of Exodus, we read that the Israelite shepherds were outcasts and detestable to the Egyptians, but I doubt this could have been the case in Israel, since raising sheep and other livestock was one of the main economic activities there. However, based on biblical record (, Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks. What does Rachel, the wife of Jacob, have to do with the birthplace of Jesus? 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. (Genesis 35:521), And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem. (Genesis 48:7, KJV). Jesus Birth Traditional vs Actual Site, Jesus Birth The Significance of Migdal Edar, Where Was Herods Temple? And why are these items a sign, given to the shepherds by the angel as they tended their flocks in the field? 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. 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. [5] Perhaps there was no room due to the impending holiday, which many traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate. 1 Where were the sheep raised for Temple sacrifices? [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. Pig smell is the worst! Only cattle, sheep, goats, pigeons and doves can be offered as sacrifices. What were the lambs born in Bethlehem used for? Why Swaddling Clothes of Jesus are Mentioned Three Times in the Nativity Story. 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. God is holy and He cannot have sin in His presence. 2 This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you. But where in Bethlehem? 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. Sheep can handle cold and wet weather just fine. Where was that? On our farm, we generally kept the rams with the ewes all the time. . 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). Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. [6] In fact, the angelic message did not say, You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in A manger as the story is told in our English Bibles, but rather, lying in THE manger. This is like the difference between telling someone that you are visiting a white house rather than visiting the White House. To these shepherds, the manger meant a specific place. And the power of Messiahs presence is to make everything new. They were Levitical shepherds (shepherd-priests). The first appearance of the Messiah was to be at the tower of the flock. The hill of the daughter of Zion, the daughter of Jerusalem was this a reference to Mary, that long awaited daughter of Eve, whose seed was promised in Genesis 3:15 after the fall of mankind? I believe that Jesus was born in this same Tower of the Flock, and these shepherds went to see Jesus and His mother and father in that structure. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The shepherds in charge of these special lambs were from the tribe of Levi. I grew up on a farm and we raised sheep. Although it is not known for certain, I can offer some thoughts which I believe have merit. Because of the planets involved and their position in the sky they deduced that a Righteous King would be born in Judea. Sources: The birth of Yeshua was foretold to take place in Bethlehem by the prophet Micah, Bethlehem was a small Jewish town 6 miles or 9.6 kilometres from Jerusalem. They were special too, trained by priests to inspect the newly born lambs who were destined for sacrifice. 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. The shepherds of Bethlehem were in charge of raising sheep for the temple sacrifices. He died on Passover when the sacrificial lambs were sacrificed. A Talmudic passage (dating from the period of the Second Temple [515 BCE 70 CE]) describes the Temple ritual on the 14th of Nisan. And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. When Habib was explaining the many intricate steps of the sheeps life I was astounded by the parallelism to Jesus Christ. 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. 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]). and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. 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. Interestingly, the smearing of blood on the doorposts did not become a part of the Passover pageantry. This is due to the tradition that there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn, so Jesus was born in the stable behind the inn, where the animals were kept. 2002-2023 My Jewish Learning. The Bible teaches us that mankind has a sin problem. The Romans would not have called for a census during winter as it would have been very hard for the people to travel long distances in the cold and rain. 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. It was a place fit for the Lamb of the Eternal to be born. Pilgrims came from hundreds of miles away to sacrifice animals at an ancient temple in Jerusalem, new research suggests. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. However, the other evidence provided here is strong; and I believe the case for confirming Migdal Edar as the birthplace of Jesus is compelling. Paganism spread throughout Israel and Judea and reduced the number of Jews who made the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There is a theological explanation for why Passover occurs in the spring. 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). As a nation, Israel began its history by putting lambs blood on the doorposts and lintels of each house. A tekiah, teruah, and again a tekiah were then blown on the shofar. God promised it, pictured it, and performed it at Migdal Edar. Habib simply amazes all of us with the amount of knowledge that he possesses about all of the scared places within Israel. The father of John the Baptist was Zacharias, a priest who served in the Temple in Jerusalem. One sacrificed in the morning and one in the evening as a continual sacrifice before the Eternal. 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. A baby was not unusual in first-century Israel. December would have been too cold and probably too rainy for the shepherds to be out at night watching their flocks. In the area of the camp, a sign proclaimed that "George II is Chief of the Chilkoots and a friends [sic] Suffice it to say that it was in the springtime, during Passover]. [10] Micah 4:8 composite translation, also uses definitions from Strongs Exhaustive Concordance. In summary, we can state with some certainty that the flocks which were pastured around Migdal Edar were sheep destined for Temple sacrifices, and the shepherds who tended them were special shepherds, trained to take care of these sheep from birth until the time they were delivered to the Temple. Pilgrims came from hundreds of miles away to sacrifice animals at an ancient temple in Jerusalem, new research suggests. 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. Copyright by Institute for Scripture Research. The Mishnah states it is because livestock eats crops. Yes, sheep are smelly, but so are every other animal. 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 name , I am the living bread which came down out of the heaven, (Painting by Simon Dewey with Fotosketcher Filter), Bethlehem most probably had a population of fewer than a thousand people, perhaps only a few hundred in Yeshuas day. Such sheep were kept in the environs of Jerusalem including Bethlehem which lies just five miles south of that city. The idea was to restore the livestock to its owner. 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. The daily Temple sacrifice required two unblemished sheep from Bethlehem. Here they kept a place that was ceremonially clean for the ewes to lamb. Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus Life RevealedHis Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? Press ESC to cancel. King Solomons sacrifice was enormous 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. 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. 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. How so? It all fits together, for thats the place where sacrificial lambs were born! PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE OF YESHUA THE MESSIAH. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The temple sheep, the ones raised for the purpose of these Passover sacrifices, would have been pastured and born in the fields outside Bethlehem. Howard Hewitt; France, The Gospel of Matthew, New International Commentary on the New Testament 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. I am trying to find evidence in the Talmud and Mishah but it is long and difficult. Equally so was the belief, that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, the tower of the flock. After we were finished taking pictures of the incredible Franciscan church we made our way to a natural cave close by. The appearance of Samuel in the 11th century BCE at the end of the period of the Judges brought about a religious revival. 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. It is defined as a stall where animals are kept, and in Luke 13:15 it is translated that way. This part of the sign was not enough on its own because any new-born baby would be wrapped in swaddling cloths. Where did the shepherds get the Lambs for sacrifice? What does it mean that baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes? The festival served as a repudiation of idolatry. It seems (?) The shepherds in charge of these special lambs were from the tribe of Levi. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it (Exodus12:8). 170-235 after Yeshua), we find that he mentions the date of the birth of Yeshua as the 25th of December. 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. 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. HE KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS.JESUS BLESS YOU WITH MUCH FAVOUR,AND GRACE TO CONTINUE DOING HIS WILL. Understanding how Passover was celebrated in biblical times. [7] The ancient rabbis referenced this passage in the writings of the Mishnah and Targum. There good grazing land, and the hillsides contained numerous caves that shepherds could use for shelter. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Here it is said that the Israelites, led by Joshua, successor to Moses, kept the feast at Gilgal. Pronounced: ah-doe-NYE, Origin: Hebrew, a name for God. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. I was raised on a sheep farm and tended sheep for 15 years. 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. 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. 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. My position is that they went to where the newborn lambs were typically wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger in the Tower of the Flock (Migdal Edar), not far from where they were tending the sheep which birthed the lambs used for sacrifice in the Temple. Although prophecy called for the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem, understanding of the connection to these lambs came much later, when the disciples realized that Jesus came to end His earthly life like one of the lambs the only difference being that He was the perfect, final sacrifice. When the Second Temple was completed in 515 BCE, the entire biblical ritual of Passover was restored. He was the Eternals First-fruit, the First of many to be resurrected. 301 W. Wabash Avenue 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. On this day the calendar changes, the old calendar is gone and a new one begins. Who were the shepherds of Bethlehem that greeted Yeshua at the time of his birth? An Israelite slaughtered his offering and the priests caught the blood. Again, it is the day that everything becomes new and everything else becomes old. Abrahams hand was stayed, and God provided a substitute sacrifice, just as He would provide in His Son, Jesus. The account of the birth of Jesus in Luke includes the terms manger and swaddling clothes. What specifically are these referring to? [7] The Micah prophesy starts in Micah 4:6 and continues through 5:5; see explanations and structure in the Companion Bible. Every firstborn male lamb from the area around Bethlehem was considered holy, set aside for sacrifice in Jerusalem. It was important that the sheep that was to be sacrificed did not possess any blemishes (broken legs, or injuries). But why would Moses record that Jacob pitched his tent at Migdal Edar at Bethlehem? Pronounced: TALL-mud, Origin: Hebrew, the set of teachings and commentaries on the Torah that form the basis for Jewish law. The latter were under the ban of Rabbinism, on account of their necessary isolation from religious ordinances, and their manner of life, which rendered strict legal observance unlikely, if not absolutely impossible. Yeshua the Living Bread was born in the House of Bread. There is a teaching in the modern church that shepherds were outcasts, sinners, untrustworthy, banned from the Temple because they smelled and were unclean. Once the lambs were of age, the shepherds would take them to Jerusalem for the temple sacrifices. Furthermore, the lambs were slaughtered by the Israelites, privately by each family, and the priests poured the blood on the base of the altar. WebThe bawling of sheep rang across the fields of Bethlehem. What makes Bethlehem so unique, aside from being Yeshuas birthplace, is the fact that the lambs born and raised in Bethlehem were used for the temple sacrifices, according to rabbinic writings. We know from Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. New-born lambs were put in a manger after swaddling them to keep them from being trampled and to keep them calm. On this day everything begins. 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. They saw it at the time of Yeshuas birth and they journeyed from their country to look for him and honour him. 4 We were therefore buried with Him through immersion into death, that as Messiah was raised from the dead by the esteem of the Father, so also we should walk in newness of life.
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