Comments on: When Was Jesus Born? Zechariah's Priestly Service http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-zechariahs-priestly-service/ Darrell Pursiful's blog Mon, 14 May 2012 13:24:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kent Jacob http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-zechariahs-priestly-service/comment-page-1/#comment-6843 Kent Jacob Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:18:23 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=180#comment-6843 Let me first of all state that I am in full agreement that Jesus was not born in December. All Scriptural and traditional evidence suggests otherwise. Your article has indeed done well in identifiying this. This is not the only site that has postulated the Feast of Tabanacles as the period for Birth of the Massiah. I have been exploring this concept and having been looking for the Biblical evidence that supports this claim. While this site have sited several credible inferences, to attest to this, I am still having some difficulty in accepting this. Unfortuntely, I am unable to propose an opposing view on the actual time of Christ's birth, but I can share some of my concerns with the position adopted. In fact it is just one major concern. The arguments expressed in this blog are basically identical to all others, that I have read, which hold this view of Christ birth being during the Feast of Tabnarcles. What is for sure, it seems that we all read the same Bible and recognise that there was no clear, unambiguous evidence to point to in this regard. And it is here that my concerns with the arguments exressed originate. The Feast of Tabanacles was a MAJOR feast within the the Jewish culture. It was one of the most important and one which was celebrated for 7 full days (this was highlighted in the text) with lots of pomp and splendor. I think it very strange that neither of the 2 Biblical narratives that expressly deals with the topic of the Birth of the "King of the Jews", the Massiah (HaMashiach), thought it fit to mention that there was a major Feast in progress at the time. No mention was made either of Mary and Joseph, who were Jewish, recognising the Feast of Tabanacles or making preparations in any way for this. There is Biblical precidence in acknowledging Feasts even in the New Testament and the Gospel writings. With reference to Jesus, Luke's conclusion of the Nativity story goes to Jesus at age twelve in the temple. At this time the Feast of Passover was celebrated and Luke did tell us this (Luke 2:41). Further, John recognizes the said Feast of Tabernacles in a seamingly insignificant way (Jn. 7:2), as well as the Feast of Dedication in John 10:22. The later also stated that it was winter and Jesus gives illustrations that expresses the sheep and the fold motif that the current in the thinking for that season. So the absence of any reference to this Feast, dispite the obvious logical inferences made by the calculations expressed herein, makes it difficult to accept that a national event of this nature was in progress. The only national events made mention of in the Scriptures, that occured during this period ,were the Census and the death of Herod (which preceeded the return of the family from Egypt). In conclusion let me borrow from the above text, "As tantalizing as this line of speculation is, without some firmer answers about how the courses were scheduled we are left with no strong conclusions. " AMEN Let me first of all state that I am in full agreement that Jesus was not born in December. All Scriptural and traditional evidence suggests otherwise. Your article has indeed done well in identifiying this. This is not the only site that has postulated the Feast of Tabanacles as the period for Birth of the Massiah. I have been exploring this concept and having been looking for the Biblical evidence that supports this claim. While this site have sited several credible inferences, to attest to this, I am still having some difficulty in accepting this. Unfortuntely, I am unable to propose an opposing view on the actual time of Christ’s birth, but I can share some of my concerns with the position adopted. In fact it is just one major concern. The arguments expressed in this blog are basically identical to all others, that I have read, which hold this view of Christ birth being during the Feast of Tabnarcles. What is for sure, it seems that we all read the same Bible and recognise that there was no clear, unambiguous evidence to point to in this regard. And it is here that my concerns with the arguments exressed originate.
The Feast of Tabanacles was a MAJOR feast within the the Jewish culture. It was one of the most important and one which was celebrated for 7 full days (this was highlighted in the text) with lots of pomp and splendor. I think it very strange that neither of the 2 Biblical narratives that expressly deals with the topic of the Birth of the “King of the Jews”, the Massiah (HaMashiach), thought it fit to mention that there was a major Feast in progress at the time. No mention was made either of Mary and Joseph, who were Jewish, recognising the Feast of Tabanacles or making preparations in any way for this. There is Biblical precidence in acknowledging Feasts even in the New Testament and the Gospel writings. With reference to Jesus, Luke’s conclusion of the Nativity story goes to Jesus at age twelve in the temple. At this time the Feast of Passover was celebrated and Luke did tell us this (Luke 2:41). Further, John recognizes the said Feast of Tabernacles in a seamingly insignificant way (Jn. 7:2), as well as the Feast of Dedication in John 10:22. The later also stated that it was winter and Jesus gives illustrations that expresses the sheep and the fold motif that the current in the thinking for that season. So the absence of any reference to this Feast, dispite the obvious logical inferences made by the calculations expressed herein, makes it difficult to accept that a national event of this nature was in progress. The only national events made mention of in the Scriptures, that occured during this period ,were the Census and the death of Herod (which preceeded the return of the family from Egypt).
In conclusion let me borrow from the above text, “As tantalizing as this line of speculation is, without some firmer answers about how the courses were scheduled we are left with no strong conclusions. ” AMEN

]]> By: William Burnam http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-zechariahs-priestly-service/comment-page-1/#comment-242 William Burnam Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:10:05 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=180#comment-242 P.S. It is also interresting to note that if this is indeed the actual birth time for Jesus, then perhaps his conception is during Channukha (the dedication of the Temple celebration, a.k.a. the feast of lights) Coincidently in John Chapter 10 we see Jesus celebrating this event and also announcing that "I and my Father are one." AND it would also be interresting to note that John the immerser could have possibly been born during Passover, the other eight day feast. All of these "coinsidences" are possible if Zecharia is serving in the Temple during Pentacost. Thanks again, William P.S.

It is also interresting to note that if this is indeed the actual birth time for Jesus, then perhaps his conception is during Channukha (the dedication of the Temple celebration, a.k.a. the feast of lights) Coincidently in John Chapter 10 we see Jesus celebrating this event and also announcing that “I and my Father are one.”

AND it would also be interresting to note that John the immerser could have possibly been born during Passover, the other eight day feast. All of these “coinsidences” are possible if Zecharia is serving in the Temple during Pentacost.

Thanks again,
William

]]> By: William Burnam http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-zechariahs-priestly-service/comment-page-1/#comment-241 William Burnam Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:53:34 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=180#comment-241 Many claim Jesus was placed in a manger, therefore he must have been born in a stable. True, a manger is for food storage but any observant Jew keen on his history may also point out that mangers as food storage were commonly seen inside most sukkas that were erected during the feast of Sukkot. Many agree that Rome often would take a census during many of the Jewish feast weeks that brought many of the faithful Jews to travel to the town of their origin. The gospel of Luke even states this census was taken in this mannor for the first time at this perticular instance. I suppose you already see where I am going with this. Could Jesus have been born in a sukkah, which would have been very humbling for a young Jewish girl to give birth to her very first child in such a public setting with no privacy. I'm sure a room at the inn would've been preferred but being given one of the many sukkahs that were prepared for the feast week would be appreciated as the best that could've been done. Each Sukkah was supplied generously by the community with eight days of food for travelers coming for the feast. The manger used to store this food would have been the only furniture style item in the sukka to keep a child safely off the ground. Perhaps it makes sense as well that God would come to his people and "tabernacle" with them in community during the tabernacle feast week. I would like to speculate how fitting it would be that his birth happens to perhaps fall on one of only two eight day feasts which might be a real big deal to some who would find it fitting that He (the Lord of the Sabbath) would be born on the first day of the feast (considdered a Shabbat) and circumcised on the last day of the feast (also considdered a Shabbat). A male Jew is not considdered a full live birth until his bris (circumcision). Perhaps this may be considdered as more evidence to support his birth in the chronology conjuction of Zecharia's service being during the Feast of Weeks (Pentacost) as you suggested as your second possibility. Thank you, William Many claim Jesus was placed in a manger, therefore he must have been born in a stable. True, a manger is for food storage but any observant Jew keen on his history may also point out that mangers as food storage were commonly seen inside most sukkas that were erected during the feast of Sukkot.

Many agree that Rome often would take a census during many of the Jewish feast weeks that brought many of the faithful Jews to travel to the town of their origin. The gospel of Luke even states this census was taken in this mannor for the first time at this perticular instance.

I suppose you already see where I am going with this. Could Jesus have been born in a sukkah, which would have been very humbling for a young Jewish girl to give birth to her very first child in such a public setting with no privacy. I’m sure a room at the inn would’ve been preferred but being given one of the many sukkahs that were prepared for the feast week would be appreciated as the best that could’ve been done. Each Sukkah was supplied generously by the community with eight days of food for travelers coming for the feast. The manger used to store this food would have been the only furniture style item in the sukka to keep a child safely off the ground.

Perhaps it makes sense as well that God would come to his people and “tabernacle” with them in community during the tabernacle feast week. I would like to speculate how fitting it would be that his birth happens to perhaps fall on one of only two eight day feasts which might be a real big deal to some who would find it fitting that He (the Lord of the Sabbath) would be born on the first day of the feast (considdered a Shabbat) and circumcised on the last day of the feast (also considdered a Shabbat). A male Jew is not considdered a full live birth until his bris (circumcision).

Perhaps this may be considdered as more evidence to support his birth in the chronology conjuction of Zecharia’s service being during the Feast of Weeks (Pentacost) as you suggested as your second possibility.

Thank you,
William

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