Many of Bethlehem's sheep were raised for sacrifice at the Temple. The lambing season in first-century Israel, due to the existing breed of sheep then, occurred from late March to mid-April. 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 Talmudic passage (dating from the period of the Second Temple [515 BCE 70 CE]) describes the Temple ritual on the 14th of Nisan. This parallel passage is part of an extensive section of Micah dealing with the first advent of the Lord. . Migdal Edal: Tower of the Flock]. 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. WebThese were the men who raised the lambs that were to be sacrificed in the Temple. But he did understand that God was all-powerful and that He was good, holy, and righteous. The Season Clue: Who is better than these shepherd-priests to welcome the Lamb of the Eternal. One year old lambs were also needed during Passover and other festivals. The daily Temple sacrifice required two unblemished sheep from Bethlehem. When Habib was explaining the many intricate steps of the sheeps life I was astounded by the parallelism to Jesus Christ. When his time had come Jesus was led to Jerusalem to be sacrificed. Both are component parts of the same festival, the festival of Passover. In the same way Yeshuas birth changes the calendar not only of Israel but of the whole world and now we measure time with before Yeshua and after Yeshua, The Magi Clue: 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). It was extremely important that he did not have any imperfections (blemishes). God is holy and He cannot have sin in His presence. I am currently researching the shepherds from Luke and shepherds/shepherding throughout the Bible. 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. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 1 Where were the sheep raised for Temple sacrifices? Copyright by Institute for Scripture Research. 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. The explanation for the uniqueness of the Passover sacrificial rite may be found in its commemorative aspects. Your email address will not be published. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? The Scriptures tell us that the shepherds were outside watching the sheep at night, The following are clues that will help us pinpoint when Yeshua was born. Furthermore, the lambs were slaughtered by the Israelites, privately by each family, and the priests poured the blood on the base of the altar. You never know, a seed that was planted in someones heart on December 25 may just yield fruit for the kingdom of Elohim! 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. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.[1]. Just try to leave out the pagan trappings! 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? 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). Both goats and sheep are acceptable for sacrifice, according to Jewish law. 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. Unlike humans, sheep have a season for giving birth. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Jesus is the perfect lamb sacrifice, which God provided to pay for the sin debt of mankind. . And yet Jewish tradition may here prove both illustrative and helpful. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The shekalim 7:7 of the Mishnah does not suggest that Migdal-Eder was used as a permanent location for sacrificial lambs. 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. The word of the lord. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel [Heb. The Rest of the Story: Shepherds Abiding in the Field. Although it is not known for certain, I can offer some thoughts which I believe have merit. Once the sheeps blood was completely spilled for all of the sins the priest would return to the people and proclaim, It is finished. What were the lambs born in Bethlehem used for? I give credit to Cooper P. Abrams, III and his article Where Was the Birth Place of the Lord Jesus? 170-235, [This date varies from year to year as the Hebrew months are based on the moon. On the ground floor, a room was designated for the delivery and protection of these special lambs. They were not to break any of the bones of the lamb (Exodus 12:46). 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. As a nation, Israel began its history by putting lambs blood on the doorposts and lintels of each house. The hills around Bethlehem were home to the hundreds of lambs used in ritual worship at the Temple. The new-born Lamb of the Eternal was like-wise swaddled and put in a manger. 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. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Interestingly, the smearing of blood on the doorposts did not become a part of the Passover pageantry. The cave provided protection from the natural predators ready to snatch the newborns away. It does not store any personal data. In this sheltered building/cave the priests would bring in the ewes which were about to lamb for protection. After being washed and salted, the infant was then wrapped with long strips of linen or cotton swaddling bands. New-born lambs were put in a manger after swaddling them to keep them from being trampled and to keep them calm. 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. WebLas Cruces | 37 views, 3 likes, 1 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Temple Beth-El Las Cruces: Recorded at Temple Beth-El Las Cruces The new community kept the festival of Matzot seven days with joy, for God had made them joyful (Ezra 6:22). 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. Ephrath means ash heap and place of fruitfulness, and seems to refer to Isaiah 61:3, which mentions beauty from ashes . They saw it at the time of Yeshuas birth and they journeyed from their country to look for him and honour him. Why Swaddling Clothes of Jesus are Mentioned Three Times in the Nativity Story. The word in Hebrew means repetition, which means that it was memorized material. They were Levitical shepherds (shepherd-priests). By his wounds, you have been healed For you had gone astray like sheep. It was important that the sheep that was to be sacrificed did not possess any blemishes (broken legs, or injuries). They were special too, trained by priests to inspect the newly born lambs who were destined for sacrifice. WebOfferings are mentioned in the Book of Genesis, but further outlined in the later four books of the Torah, including aspects of their origins and history.. It was important that the sheep that was to be sacrificed did not possess any blemishes (broken legs, or injuries). About 400 years after Samuel, during the religious revival in the reign of King Josiah (637-607 BCE), reference was made to a Passover celebration with this statement: The king commanded all the people saying, Keep the Passover unto the Lord your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant. For there was not kept such a Passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah; but in the eighteenth year of King Josiah was this Passover kept to the Lord in Jerusalem [II Kings 23:21-23]. We see from the New Testament Scripture that Jesus was, indeed, born in Bethlehem. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. 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. 2002-2023 My Jewish Learning. 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. And Jacob set up a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. The Lamb of God, as John the Baptist called Jesus, was born in the unique place where the other lambs used for sacrifice were born. All of this thanks to THE LAMB BORN IN BETHLEHEM! The construction of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalemlent new significance to the festival of Passover. This greatly confuses the issue. Suppose each family brought one or two animals (which, down through history, was the norm). The Tower of the Flock was perhaps the only structure available on the long road through the fields of sheep between the two cities. He sent the Set-Apart Spirit to his disciples on, In the writings of Hippolytus, early church father (ca. 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. These verses are a clear indication that the general function of the Passover pageantry was to serve as a constant reminder to the Israelites of their struggle against slavery and their wondrous deliverance from Egyptian bondage. You reference the Gemara, etc. When the ewes would come into heat, the rams would sense this, and mate. And found in the temple those that sold oxen, &c. Used for sacrifice. I believe that God intended that from the place of Jacobs greatest sorrow, where his beloved Rachel died, would later come the Messiah, who would bring eternal life and joy for all those who trust in Him. A baby was not unusual in first-century Israel. It should be noted that Ephrath (or Ephratah) was the ancient name for the area which later was called Bethlehem. Isa 53:6, 1011). 2 This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you. 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. Edersheims book was the result of a seven year effort. 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). The temple sheep, the ones raised for the purpose of these Passover sacrifices, would have been pastured and born in the fields outside Bethlehem. He is, indeed, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.. They saw it at the time of Yeshuas birth and they journeyed from their country to look for him and honour him. 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. 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. WebThe reason of their bringing oxen, and sheep, and doves into the temple, was to supply those that came afar off, and could not bring their sacrifices with them, with such sacrifices as [7] The ancient rabbis referenced this passage in the writings of the Mishnah and Targum. 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. Gestation period for a ewe is about 5 months. It is defined as a stall where animals are kept, and in Luke 13:15 it is translated that way. I think shepherds could have been out in December with their flocks as far as that aspect of the nativity story. When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem they went to Herod to inquire about this King that was to be born. The angel gives the shepherds a sign with two parts: 1) wrapped in swaddling cloths Pronounced: nee-SAHN, Origin: Hebrew, Jewish month, usually coinciding with March-April. A sacrificial lamb is a metaphorical reference to a person or animal sacrificed for the common good. The father of John the Baptist was Zacharias, a priest who served in the Temple in Jerusalem. He proclaimed, It is finished, and then passed away. The tower of the flock was built of stones, does not exist today and archaeology has not found its ruins as of yet. The rabbis did not ban shepherds. Ill take sheep smell any day over that of chickens, for example. Required fields are marked *. [4] When the ewes were ready to deliver, the shepherds moved them inside a manger. Swaddling helps prevent her from flailing her arms and legs, which can trigger her startle reflex and potentially cause her to wake up. 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. 132133). In this case, I believe the road map supports my position that Jesus was actually born at a place called Migdal Edar (Heb. 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. We know that these things occurred somewhere in the city of Bethlehem. I grew up on a farm and we raised sheep. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Thank you Habib. It all fits together, for thats the place where sacrificial lambs were born! Reflecting on these passages in Genesis regarding to the death of Rachel, it is easy to imagine Jacobs anguish. The shepherds of Bethlehem were in charge of raising sheep for the temple sacrifices. Noah broke open the Ark on Nisan 1, and new life came upon the earth. The Bible repeatedly emphasized this facet of Passover, And this day shall be for you a memorial (Exodus 12:14); And Moses said to the people: remember this day in which you come out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage (Exodus 13:3); You shall remember what Adonai your God did to Pharaoh (Deuteronomy 7:18); that you may remember the day when you come out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life (Deuteronomy 16:3). He died on Passover when the sacrificial lambs were sacrificed. I doubt lambs were born in Adar. Again, it is the day that everything becomes new and everything else becomes old. While this ritual was performed the Levites sang the Hallel [Talmud Pesachim 64a]. He is without a doubt the best tour guide within all of Israel and today he showed all of us why. The place these special Temple sheep used for delivery of their lambs was the tower of the flock, A passage in the Mishnah (Shekelim 7.4) leads to the conclusion that the flocks, which pastured there, were destined for Temple-sacrifices , and, accordingly, that the shepherds, who watched over them, were not ordinary shepherds.. The festival of the paschal lamb was ushered in on the evening of the 14th of Nisan. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told by the shepherds. 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. 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). These sheep were apparently kept outdoors all year round. But where in Bethlehem? 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. Some of you here know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah not Bethlehem (there were two). Such sheep were kept in the environs of Jerusalem including Bethlehem which lies just five miles south of that city. The name Beit Lechem means House of Bread and Ephrathah fruitful. a month in advance of Pesach (Nisan), sheep may have been left there by shepherds. An analysis of bones found in an ancient However, the other evidence provided here is strong; and I believe the case for confirming Migdal Edar as the birthplace of Jesus is compelling. Tower of the Flock) in Bethlehem. The angel announced that this newborn child was YHVH the Messiah (Isa 53:1; Christ the Lord)the Savior (Luke 2:8 cp. Your email address will not be published. There good grazing land, and the hillsides contained numerous caves that shepherds could use for shelter. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Mangers in 1st century Israel were made of stone as it was more abundant than wood. for bringing together many of the details in support of the case for Migdal Edar. Since all paschal lambs were slaughtered in Jerusalem once the Temple was built, the Israelites would have been too far from their homes to smear blood on their doorposts. December would have been too cold and probably too rainy for the shepherds to be out at night watching their flocks. After we were finished taking pictures of the incredible Franciscan church we made our way to a natural cave close by. 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. 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. 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. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? literally House of God], he and all the people that were with him. 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). We know that every word of Scripture has meaning(Deuteronomy 32:47), so there must be a reason. PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE OF YESHUA THE MESSIAH. 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. He sent the Set-Apart Spirit to his disciples on Shavout (Pentecost). Jesus Birth The Case for Migdal Edar | Truth in Scripture And the power of Messiahs presence is to make everything new. After the Scriptures, the Mishnah is regarded as the basic textbook of Jewish life and thought and is traditionally considered to be an integral part of the Torah, as revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.). The shepherds in charge of these special lambs were from the tribe of Levi. Yes, sheep are smelly, but so are every other animal. WebThe bawling of sheep rang across the fields of Bethlehem. So the December birth date is, at the very least, doubtful. Nearby suggests that the shepherds were in Bethlehems economic zone, the area that stretched mainly eastward into the Beit Sahour basin, a region dotted with grain One sacrificed in the morning and one in the evening as a continual sacrifice before the Eternal. This is the location that showed the entire group how fortunate that we have Habib as our tour guide. Kuehls Temple, Where Was Herods Temple? 2) lying in a manger. The clues to the possible season of Yeshuas birth are based on teachings by Jonathan Cahn. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". In the Bible we find several other names for Bethlehem, includingEphratah (Micah 5:2) andEphrath (Genesis 35:16, 19; 48:7). All Rights Reserved. When the [Second] Temple was destroyed [in 70 CE], all sacrifice eventually ceased, and only the Samaritans continued to bring the offering in their own community. And yes, no mention is made specifically of Bethlehem here, as Alfred Edershiem mentions in his book and which I quote. The beautiful small church is absolutely breath taking and was cleverly designed by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi. The Levitical shepherds would take the sheep to specific caves used for birthing the sacrificial lambs. But from Micah 4:8 we now know that He was actually born at the Tower of the Flock (Migdal Edar). 7:4 mentions none of the other facts that you suggest in your comment, so Im not sure where youre getting that from. Zevach Sh'lamim: Peace Offering. Sacrificial Procedures Maaseh ha-Korbanos a) Animal and Bird Sacrifices. Why are shepherds banned from the temple in the Bible? 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. Did Jacob fully understand all of these things? WHEN WAS YESHUA THE MESSIAH BORN? I concede that the evidence related to Rachel is not definitive in supporting the case for Migdal Edar. Ill let you research this subject out. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Here they kept a place that was ceremonially clean for the ewes to lamb. WebJohn 2:14. Location: Canada. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 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. 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. WebJohn's ministry was foretold by Malachi.trueJesus' baptism was unique.trueJesus' first recorded miracle occurred in Cana.trueOxen, sheep, and doves were used in the Temple sacrifices.trueNicodemus was a scholar and a ruler of the Jews.trueNicodemus readily accepted Jesus as the Messiah.falseJesus' work was to save only Jews.falseThe Where did the shepherds get the Lambs for sacrifice? And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. Once the other group left the cave Habib informed us that there is much more to the story of the shepherds. Dont know about the Middle East; I never bred and raised sheep there. Comprised of the Mishnah and the Gemara, it contains the opinions of thousands of rabbis from different periods in Jewish history. 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. 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). A swaddle helps your baby feel safe and secure as she adjusts to life outside the womb. Only cattle, sheep, goats, pigeons and doves can be offered as sacrifices. 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. 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. 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. pinpoints the exact place where the Messiah was born. Leviticus 22:27 is pretty clear: When an ox, sheep or goat is born, it must stay with its mother for seven days; from day eight and on, it will be accepted as a burned sacrifice to God. Because of the planets involved and their position in the sky they deduced that a Righteous King would be born in Judea. 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. An Israelite slaughtered his offering and the priests caught the blood. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 5 What was the tower of the flock in the Bible? Sheq 7:4, nor anything about priests. 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. 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! But how do you get a descendant of King David to be delivered among the Passover lambs of Bethlehem? The Bible teaches us that mankind has a sin problem. They were Levitical shepherds (shepherd-priests). What the Fall Feasts of the Lord are Telling the Church (which I co-authored with Donald Zoller and which is also presented on this website) provides an excellent description of Gods plan of redemption in Jesus, as foreshadowed in the Feasts of the Lord. 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.
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