Yeshua's Birth.

 

 

Today among the messianic community (Christian Jews) and fellow gentile believers, there is a popular opinion that Jesus (Yeshua) was born during the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Succoth/Tabernacles). These festivals occur during September-October, depending on the cycle of the moon. This is arrived at by method 1 and 2. "The calculation of the time of Yeshua's birth begins with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. According to Luke 1:5 he was a priest of the order of Abijah. He was performing his duties, burning incense in the Temple, when an angel appeared and said his wife Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son, and he would be called Yochanan (John)."

"The order in which the priestly families performed their duties is given in 1 Chronicles 24:7-18. According to the Mishnah (also note I Chronicles 27:3), the cycle begins on the first Sabbat (Sabbath) of Nisan, and each family of priests would minister in turn for one week. Since there are 24 families, each family would minister about twice a year. The cycle would be delayed slightly because all priests, regardless of their families, were required to be at the Temple for the three festivals of Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost) and Succoth (Tabernacles)."

"The family of Abijah was eighth in line, so Zechariah would have had his first period of duty during Sivan (about June) and his second period during Kislev (about December) about six months later. There is no way of knowing for sure which period of duty is referred to in Luke's Gospel, but if we suppose it is the first period we get some very interesting results."

 

 

Zechariah finished his first period of duty about the middle of Sivan. Because of his unbelief, God struck him dumb, but his reproductive system was still working. He went home to his wife and she became pregnant. Count off 40 weeks, the usual period of gestation, and we get to the month of Nisan the following year. Beginning on the 14^th of Nisan, and lasting for eight days, we have the festival of Pesach (Passover), which roughly coincides, with Easter on the Christian calendar. This raises the distinct possibility that John the Baptist was born at Pesach, which coincides with the Jewish expectation that Elijah would come at Pesach. The Jews always put an extra cup of wine on the table at Pesach, in the hope that Elijah will come and drink it. If John the Baptist was born at Pesach, Yeshua (Jesus) must have been born during the High Holy Days or at Succoth (40 weeks later). In Luke 1:26 and 36 we are told that Yeshua was six months younger than John. "

"We are given a possible clue about the time of the birth by the angel who appeared to the shepherds. He said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10). There are actually two clues here. Succot is a festival of joy, and it is also known as the "Festival of the Nations". The angel was actually giving them a greeting for the Festival of Succoth. This is the only festival where the nations are positively encouraged to participate (Zechariah 14:16-19). "

"During Succoth, the Jews using wood and leaves, construct flimsy shelters called "Succah", in which they ate and sleep. This was done to remember how they were completely dependent on God as they wandered around for forty years in the desert. The Lord was with them in His Tabernacle."

 

"The birth of Yeshua at Succoth fulfils another prophecy: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which means, "God with us". (Matt. 1:23, a quotation from Isaiah 7:14)."

 

In his gospel, John mentions the idea of the Word coming to earth in a fleshly tabernacle. John 1:14

 

"If the day of his birth were the first day of Succoth, the day of his circumcision would be the eighth day of Succoth, which, like the first day, is a day of sacred assembly. (Leviticus 23:39). On this day, or traditionally the day after, the Jews complete their annual cycle of Torah readings and start again from Bereshit (Genesis). It is called Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law), and is considered to be a time of "fulfillment" of the Torah. The circumcision of Yeshua at this time indicates how he had come to fulfil the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17-18)."

 

"Starting from Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and his first period of duty in the Temple, and doing a few simple calculations, we arrive at a result that gives a new and profound meaning to many passages of Scripture." - Excerpts from article, "Birth of Yeshua, by Mike Gascoigne For the above reason Yeshua was born during Succoth.

 

This only stands to reason that Yeshua was born during September or October or during the Feast of Tabernacles simply because we know that the shepards were out in the fields with their flocks. If it was December or any other month during the winter the sheep would have been in a stable and not out in the fields were they would freeze to death. Not only that but the Romans would have use a Jewish High day or festival to demonstrate Rome?s superiority over Israel. That would be the reasoning behind ordering that everybody be taxed during the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

Referenced: http://www.wcnet.org/~dshomody/breakfast.html

 

Shalom and back