Thank you Habib. When the Second Temple was completed in 515 BCE, the entire biblical ritual of Passover was restored. What was the tower of the flock in the Bible? Learn how your comment data is processed. So the minimum age for any sacrifice is eight days. But the New Testament does not state the exact place in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Suppose each family brought one or two animals (which, down through history, was the norm). Where was that? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". And the power of Messiahs presence is to make everything new. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar[Heb. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". He died on Passover when the sacrificial lambs were sacrificed. Before we look at the famous statement by John the Baptist upon seeing Jesus, it is helpful to first review the problem of sin, which relates tothe statement of John and gives us a better understanding of the context. I am trying to find evidence in the Talmud and Mishah but it is long and difficult. 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. The Rest of the Story: Shepherds Abiding in the Field. He proclaimed, It is finished, and then passed away. However, based on biblical record (, Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks. Migdal Edal: Tower of the Flock]. Then came the Feast of Unleavened bread (leaven symbolises sin). All other offerings were generally slaughtered by the priests. One would think that the New Testament would tell us precisely where the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Itdoes not. Jesus Movements, Where Was Herods Temple? The shepherds of Bethlehem were in charge of raising sheep for the temple sacrifices. The Jewish historian Josephus writing in the first century records that at Passover up to 265,000 lambs would be sacrificed in the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. Did Jacob fully understand all of these things? 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. The Gospels of both Matthew and Luke place the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. It was important that the lambs that were to be sacrificed did not have any blemishes (broken legs, or injuries). This all said, again there are much better arguments to use in disproving the Dec 25 brith date of Yeshua. . 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). GOD CONTINUE TO HAVE FAVOR,GRACE AND PEACE UPON YOUR LIFE,AS YOU DO HIS WILL. 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. 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. Passover again assumed its prime function as a religious festival. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. The Eternal is an Elohim of order. No alien sojourner, hired servant, or uncircumcised person may eat the meat of the paschal lamb (Exodus 12:43-45). In the year 720 BCE, King Hezekiah set out to restore the ancient covenant. We know from Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. 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 Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture was taken from The Scriptures, In this case, I believe the road map supports my position that Jesus was actually born at a place called Migdal Edar (Heb. As a nation, Israel began its history by putting lambs blood on the doorposts and lintels of each house. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. These sheep were apparently kept outdoors all year round. He was born on the beginning of the Hebrew year. Every morning and evening a lamb was offered on the altar of sacrifice as a symbol of Migdal Eder, the Tower of the Flock, was the place where lambs destined for the Temple were born and raised. Many people including me have covered this topic over and over again for decades, so all the info is out there already. I am taking for granted that Edersheim, who was a rabbinic Jew and expert scholar turned Christian scholar, knew what he was talking about when I quoted him for my article. 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. 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. Zevach Sh'lamim: Peace Offering. Pig smell is the worst! 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. When Habib was explaining the many intricate steps of the sheeps life I was astounded by the parallelism to Jesus Christ. 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. 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. Yeshua, who was the fulfilment of the foreshadowing of the sacrificial lambs, was also sacrificed during the Passover so it follows that he would have been born around the same season in springtime. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Once again, we have Emperor Constantine and his mother, Helena, to thank for the erroneous selection of the site of Jesus birth. The tabernacle in the wilderness, was decicated on Nisan 1. 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. 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. At my church, I direct our Living Nativity. How old did sheep have to be to be used for sacrifices? I live where the altitude is just under 5,000 ft and we dont always have snow in December or else just for a few days. And yes, no mention is made specifically of Bethlehem here, as Alfred Edershiem mentions in his book and which I quote. 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 information learned from Habib will not be forgotten and has helped the biblical passages show new life. The account of the birth of Jesus in Luke includes the terms manger and swaddling clothes. What specifically are these referring to? Pilgrims from distant lands brought animals to sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem, fueling the city's economy, new research suggests. Note: The following Post is taken from the book by Joseph Lenard entitled Mysteries of Jesus Life RevealedHis Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascensions. When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem they went to Herod to inquire about this King that was to be born. Usually Iyar-Sivan (our April-June) are birthing months for ewes. According to the [7] The ancient rabbis referenced this passage in the writings of the Mishnah and Targum. [4] When the ewes were ready to deliver, the shepherds moved them inside a manger. 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. The word Nisan, means new beginning. Following the rededication of the Temple by King Hezekiah, the priests are described as tossing the blood of the paschal lamb upon the altar (II Chronicles 30:16). 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. Since these sheep needed to remain outside the shepherds were also outside, not using the cave during the awful winter (rainy season). The priest nearest to the altar tossed the blood against the base of the altar. Where were the sheep raised for Temple sacrifices? Both were used, depending on the sacrifice. 2002-2023 My Jewish Learning. 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. Unlike humans, the lambs, in Israel, are born at the same time, each and every year, and always between the end of March, and the first of April. It was a place fit for the Lamb of the Eternal to be born. Sources: Whether shepherds were tending the flocks in the field with their sheep in December is another issue, which I cant address. 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? HE KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS.JESUS BLESS YOU WITH MUCH FAVOUR,AND GRACE TO CONTINUE DOING HIS WILL. 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. It all fits together, for thats the place where sacrificial lambs were born! One sacrificed in the morning and one in the evening as a continual sacrifice before the Eternal. 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 An analysis of bones found in an ancient 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. The caves were specially cared for to keep them clean and prepared for the birthing process. 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). Of the deep symbolic significance of such a coincidence, it is needless to speak. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. 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). 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). But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 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). We know that these things occurred somewhere in the city of Bethlehem. The Lords incarnation brought God down to man. Sacrificial Procedures Maaseh ha-Korbanos a) Animal and Bird Sacrifices. was the second part of the sign and that made this baby unique because new-born babies were not normally put in a manger [feeding trough]. Howard Hewitt; France, The Gospel of Matthew, New International Commentary on the New Testament It seems it was a place for lost livestock (Mishnah Elucidated). What does it mean that baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes? The lambs sacrificed daily in the Temple ceremonies as well as the lamb sacrificed annually for the nations sins at Passover in the Temple were but a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice of God. 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. And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. Again, it is the day that everything becomes new and everything else becomes old. One year old lambs were also needed during Passover and other festivals. Isa 53:6, 1011). 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 3 What does it mean that baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes? The shekalim 7:7 of the Mishnah does not suggest that Migdal-Eder was used as a permanent location for sacrificial lambs. So an event as important as his birth would have to coincide with a Festival as well. The census required families to travel back to their fathers town of origin. It was also the place ewes were safely brought to give birth to the lambs. . The daily Temple sacrifice required two unblemished sheep from Bethlehem. One sacrificed in the morning and one in the evening as a continual sacrifice before the Eternal. One year old lambs were also needed during Passover and other festivals. The shepherds in charge of these special lambs were from the tribe of Levi. All of the information that follows is all from our tour guide, Habib. He sent the Set-Apart Spirit to his disciples on, In the writings of Hippolytus, early church father (ca. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In the writings of Hippolytus, early church father (ca. 7 Why are shepherds banned from the temple in the Bible? And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 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]. It does not store any personal data. He is without a doubt the best tour guide within all of Israel and today he showed all of us why. Scholars interpret Micah 4:8 as a prophecy indicating that the Messiah would be revealed from the tower of the flock (Migdal Eder) which is connected with the town of Bethlehem, southeast of Jerusalem. Gender: Male. 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. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. Sin is violation of Gods Word, a rebellion against God. He was born in the small city of Bethlehem. Perhaps most significant, sheep were used as part of the temple sacrifices. 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. Once the lambs were of age, the shepherds would take them to Jerusalem for the temple sacrifices. 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. And why are these items a sign, given to the shepherds by the angel as they tended their flocks in the field? 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. We know that every word of Scripture has meaning(Deuteronomy 32:47), so there must be a reason. Some of you here know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem-Ephrathah not Bethlehem (there were two). Why did they say ? The first element goes like this: the shepherds around Bethlehem were not overseeing ordinary flocks but were responsible for raising sheep for sacrifice at the 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. But why would Moses record that Jacob pitched his tent at Migdal Edar at Bethlehem? Joseph belonged to the family of David, which is why they were in Bethlehem that night. Pronounced: ah-doe-NYE, Origin: Hebrew, a name for God. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told by the shepherds. Here they kept a place that was ceremonially clean for the ewes to lamb. So that free from sin, we might live for righteousness. The new community kept the festival of Matzot seven days with joy, for God had made them joyful (Ezra 6:22). Their solution was to keep livestock in the wilderness, or Syria, etc. 170-235, [This date varies from year to year as the Hebrew months are based on the moon. During this time, Passover played little or no role in the national life of the people. That the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, was a settled conviction. Sin came into the world through Adam in the Garden of Eden, as presented in the early chapters of Genesis. Here they kept a place that was ceremonially clean for the ewes to lamb. I give credit to Cooper P. Abrams, III and his article Where Was the Birth Place of the Lord Jesus? We know nowthat the Tower of the Flock would be the birthplace of the Messiah, who would take away all death, heartache, and tears. These bands helped to provide comfort to the child, the tight bands replicating the feeling of the womb. Not true. Maybe he didnt. Sheep have wool and can easily withstand cold temperatures. It was extremely important that he did not have any imperfections (blemishes). 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. 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. Presumably they were carefully watched over to keep them safe from incurring any blemish that might render them unusable for the temple service. They were not to eat it rare or boiled in water (Exodus 12:9). 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). Why are shepherds banned from the temple in the Bible? Swaddling helps prevent her from flailing her arms and legs, which can trigger her startle reflex and potentially cause her to wake up. 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. The idea was to restore the livestock to its owner. 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. 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. A Talmudic passage (dating from the period of the Second Temple [515 BCE 70 CE]) describes the Temple ritual on the 14th of Nisan. The tower of the flock was built of stones, does not exist today and archaeology has not found its ruins as of yet. 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. and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. Your email address will not be published. (765) 361-6100, Civil Rights Road Trip: Selma and Tuskegee, Juthani 15 Seeing New Sides to Old Dispute, Morrison 14 Torn Between Beauty, Ugliness, Story of Bethlehem Sheep More than Legend. They were Levitical shepherds (shepherd-priests). The Eternal. The daily Temple sacrifice required two unblemished sheep from Bethlehem. 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 (. Understanding how Passover was celebrated in biblical times. Our plans were to (first) travel to the actual location where Jesus Christ was born and view the manger, but surprisingly the Prime Minister of Great Britain (David Cameron) also had the same idea so we had to make a quick change. Migdal Eder was a tower used from ancient times by the Levitical shepherds to protect their sheep and lambs from enemies and from wild beasts. A 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. The shepherds in charge of these special lambs were from the tribe of Levi.
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