Time between arrival in Bethlehem and birth of Jesus

  • Thread starter Thread starter MonteShaffer
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MonteShaffer

Guest
According to Jewish tradition, inducing labor was not God’s way.

Didn’t they forbid heavy burdens on a woman during the last month of the pregnancy?

If true, does that mean the arrived in a guest room, stayed about 30 days, and moved to the animal room when birth occurred?

After, for a boy, a woman must wait 14 days for purification. Is that still in animal quarters? Or could they be back in the guest room of the house? How does that tie in to 8 days for circumcision and presentation? Was the woman not present?

How does the pregnancy timeline play out? Joseph notified before conception? At one month, after Elizabeth visit?

If Mary traveled to visit Elizabeth, who accompanied her?
 
I think walking nearly 100 miles to Bethlehem would have prepared Mary for Jesus’ birth. There was no room when they arrived and they stayed in the cave with the manger until Jesus’ birth and the arrival of the shepherds then they hid, because the shepherds reported what the angel said and what they witnessed. Israel was expecting the Messiah and His location would become known and King Herod would have killed Him.
 
Yes, 80-100 miles.

Jewish tradition did not want to induce labor unnaturally. Did that mean they took the journey about 30 days before she was due, she walked and rode a donkey. And arrived in Bethlehem.

Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

I think in my legacy perception, they arrive, she gives birth within a day or two. This may run counter to Jewish law. So I am trying to have a better frame of the actual timeline. Below are the key aspects of a timeline (about one year)
  1. Annunciation
  2. Conception
  3. Notification to Joseph
  4. Visit to Elizabeth
  5. Leave Nazareth
  6. Arrive Bethlehem
  7. Give Birth
  8. Present at Temple (8 days circumcision)
  9. Female purity cleansing (14 days)
  10. In a house to receive the magi
 
  1. Annunciation and conception the same hour
    2 In haste so immediately journey 80 miles to Elizabeth spend about 3 months there
    3 Journey back to Nazareth and inform Joseph on pregnancy.
  2. Leave Nazareth and journey to Nazareth
  3. Arrive Bethlehem register for census and probably that night give birth Dec 25
  4. Before morning leave cave and move to hereditary property in Bethlehem, hide there.
  5. On 8th day Mary circumcises Jesus at home. Jan 1
  6. Joseph builds a house for them to live in if no house on ancestral property.
  7. Day 40 visit temple, present Jesus, Mary’s purification. Poor so can’t give normal offering. Feb 2
  8. Day 91 Mar 27 magi visit. Joseph in Jerusalem for Passover. At Midnight flee to Egypt.
  9. Return to Jerusalem learn Archaelaus reigns and decide Bethlehem is too dangerous.
  10. Return to Nazareth.
 
MonteShaffer said:
  • Present at Temple (8 days circumcision)
  • Female purity cleansing (14 days)
Click to expand...
The circumcision and naming would have taken place in Bethlehem; there was no requirement to travel to the Temple for that. Also, the Presentation of Jesus as first-born and the accompanying ritual cleansing of Mary was after 40 days, not 14.

D
 
MonteShaffer said:
According to Jewish tradition, inducing labor was not God’s way.

Didn’t they forbid heavy burdens on a woman during the last month of the pregnancy?

If true, does that mean the arrived in a guest room, stayed about 30 days, and moved to the animal room when birth occurred?

After, for a boy, a woman must wait 14 days for purification. Is that still in animal quarters? Or could they be back in the guest room of the house? How does that tie in to 8 days for circumcision and presentation? Was the woman not present?

How does the pregnancy timeline play out? Joseph notified before conception? At one month, after Elizabeth visit?

If Mary traveled to visit Elizabeth, who accompanied her?
Click to expand...
Since all’s well which ended well, Christians assume correctly that this line of questioning is of no meaningful accord. Faith and never microscoping is the proof that the pudding is real.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top