Bethlehem 1847
Christmas
Today, the Shepherd's field of the first Christmas is still there.
The number of acres is known, then and today.
Psalm 37:3
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Suppose, we want to know more about the Shepherds
- all we have to do is look to the facts.
1. Today in Bethlehem, Israel we know the grazing was 30,000 Hectare Acres.
2. If we want to know more about the Shepherds - all we have to do is look to facts. Today in Bethlehem, Israel we know the grazing was 30,000 Hectare Acres. And some of this land is available and set aside, today, as the Shepherd's Field.
3. Then we find the number of sheep will be entirely up to the amount of rainfall. Isaiah 7 tells us times are good for crops. So, in a normal year, the number of sheep per acre is 1.5 sheep.
So 20,000 sheep.
Do we know in the Bible this is an acceptable, relevant number of sheep?
4. The 1596 A.D. Ottoman Tax Record and Census indicates Bethlehem's population of 1,435 - the 13th largest village. Populations didn't change much until this last century in most of Israel. Vintage Photography of Israel is very interesting. When vintage photography of Israel is discussed, people remark the population of the villages don't change a lot in 2 millenniums until this computer, modern age we live in.
All we need now is to figure out how many shepherds there were.
Jacob was described as an exceedingly rich man because he:
In the case of the rich man, Nabal we find statistics:
Animals were cared for and were: milk, meat, and fabrics (Isaiah 7:21-22; Proverbs 27:27; Deuteronomy 14:4; Leviticus 13:47; Exodus 25:4). The sheep provided wool for garments to keep out chilly nights and windy days. The goat skins provided bottles in which to store liquids. The uncut hide of either animal, might have been the wineskins of Jesus’ parable (Mark 2:22 = Matthew 9:17 = Luke 5:37-38).
The Number of Shepherds
Do we know in the Bible this is an acceptable, relevant number of sheep?
Job 42:12
12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys.
All we need now is to figure out how many shepherds there were.
Jacob was described as an exceedingly rich man because he:
Genesis 30:43
Jacob possessed large flocks,
maidservants and menservants, and camels and asses
1 Samuel 25:2
He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats
Animals were cared for and were: milk, meat, and fabrics (Isaiah 7:21-22; Proverbs 27:27; Deuteronomy 14:4; Leviticus 13:47; Exodus 25:4). The sheep provided wool for garments to keep out chilly nights and windy days. The goat skins provided bottles in which to store liquids. The uncut hide of either animal, might have been the wineskins of Jesus’ parable (Mark 2:22 = Matthew 9:17 = Luke 5:37-38).
The Number of Shepherds
5. How many shepherds were there for 20,000 Sheep? We know how many acres there are and how many sheep based on rainfall... what about Shepherds?
6. Now, we find out about the Shepherds. We don't know the number of the Shepherds. This explains the social status of the Shepherds.
Shepherding - It depends on this: how profitable has ranching been? Rain again. The New Testament records about 100 to 1. But we can see Bethlehem might fall in the category of 1 to 1000 sheep because Bethlehem doesn't have many sheep hiding places. Both David and Samson provide lonely, animal wildlife threatens lone shepherds in the day. Lions.
We know some families have small flocks and the children shepherd. While other Biblical families only Shepherd.
7. 1400 people. Women do Shepherd like Rachael and Leah. Moses's Wife. Good to know.
1400 people. Aged people. Children. Farmers. An easy terrain.
About 4 to 9 human births a month. Herod would find 40 innocents.
8. Labor force would be about 500. Sufficient small farming. And Household chores for gathering, cooking and cleaning.
1400 people. Aged people. Children. Farmers. An easy terrain.
About 4 to 9 human births a month. Herod would find 40 innocents.
8. Labor force would be about 500. Sufficient small farming. And Household chores for gathering, cooking and cleaning.
And then you'd have farmers, lots of Farming in Israel on the terraces of hills.
9. So suppose... 250 shepherd. And possibly even 25,000 sheep.
Then you'd have day Shepherds, and then more Night Time Safety from Predators Shepherds.
10. Further, supposing would be 150 nighttime Shepherds looking over a large, easy field. Spread out in military precision with some usual campfires. A field is easy to view.
Bethlehem in winter
Bethlehem
What were the shepherds doing?
The Glory of the Lord has decided to tell us about the Shepherds, what was going on in their lives, thoughts, Christmas night, the first Christmas.
And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. We don't read the Shepherds were jolted and amazed, calling out to one another by name and asking questions. We don't see them summoning each other. When Samson's parents saw an angel of the Lord, they wanted to find the spouse. When Peter saw an angel of the Lord, he was by himself and thought he was having a vision. Probably why Samson's parents immediately thought, summon the spouse.
Isaiah 7:10-25 tells us the time of the Messiah's birth wouldn't be all honey and vineyard wine of the good year.
We know what the Shepherds were thinking. Traveling was happening. The inn was full. The Shepherds probably had people they were looking for. Cousins, old friends, perhaps even to catch a glimpse of the large family, sons of David returning to Bethlehem. The Talmud records tell us, bar son, bar son, families of Israel and Judea knew their flocks.
On the Shepherd's mind, was the movement in their area in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city
The Shepherds probably wondered how many times the old city of Bethlehem was going to be counted. We know from Jesus' disciples, men changed jobs. Peter and Andrew were not born in a fishing town. Shepherds were wondering about travel, old friends and change. Upheaval of Pilate. He was suddenly violent to the pilgrims on Holy Days.
Psalm 37:3
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Jesus called fisherman to have great catches of fish. So many the nets were breaking. When Isaac was finally born, the livestock of Abraham and Sarah was wealthy indeed. Now the Shepherds have spent time discussing and thinking of the news of their area. Changes. Land to buy and sell. Rain. Government. Seeing travel brought about across the sea, from the Roman Empire and Emperor.
The Roman Empire had created a thug culture, in taxes, in trade, in power, even inside the Temple Priests chosen by Herod. Herod's education and the lifestyle the Herods lived. The end of local wine and demand for foreign trade known even to the days of King Hezekiah. It was a time of great change, taxes, rough to violent ways. The Shepherds had plenty to be concerned about.
And like the Disciples of Jesus, they would leave their sheep, the safety of home, like the fisherman has fish and nets, And follow Jesus. This very night, the Shepherds would leave the sheep and follow the amazing Star the magi had followed a long time. Because The Good News of God and all of Heaven was at hand.
The faithful live by faith in Jesus Christ - Today. Micah during the time of Isaiah would do what David and the Psalms tell us. And today the message of Christmas, the Good News is this:
Psalm 37:3
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
The faithful live by faith in Jesus Christ - Today.
From all our concerns, our daily schedule, the news from far away or near and worrisome.
The basic needs of people who have lived a great fright. We still rely on Jesus.
And like the Disciples, we will have concerns
but we will Trust in the LORD and do good.
We will dwell in the land.
We will enjoy safe pasture.
Smithsonian, 8 years ago
Abba, Father,
Jesus has taught our hearts
to Pray with Hope.
To know the Scriptures, to know the Power of God.
The Steadfast Love of God.
We thank You in Jesus Christ for our blessings of Strength and fire in the Holy Spirit.
Fire millenniums ago, Moses found to be a sustaining fire of infinite beauty.
Blessed are You, Lord God.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit fire within us.
Bless the Nations, Light of the Nations, to have Your Mercy.
Jesus Christ Light of the world.
Jesus Christ Light of mankind.
Dwell in us.
Dwell in those we Love.
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.
Life forevermore!
In Jesus. Amen.
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