Yeshua’s time of birth - not the 25th December!

There is evidence that Messiah was born at Sukkot (Boothes/Tabernacles) in 4 B.C.E..

The key to calculating the date of the birth of Messiah is Luke 1:5 where we learn that Zechariah the father of Yochanan was a priest of the course of Abijah.

The priests became too numerous to all serve at the Temple all the time, so they were divided into 24 courses (1Chron. 24). Each course served for two weeks each year, once in the former rain (first half of the year) and once in the latter rain (second half of the year). There were also three weeks in which all the priests were required to serve, these were the three pilgrimage festivals (Dt. 16:16). 24 times 2 is 48 plus three is 51. (51 weeks is 357 days fitting nicely within the 360 day lunar year).

The course of Abijah is the eighth course (1Chron. 24:10) which serves the tenth week during the former rain portion of the year (this is because during Passover and Shavuot (Pentecost) all of the priests serve together (Dt. 16:16). Zechariah had his vision while serving in the course of Abijah in the tenth week (It will become apparent that he was serving his first course not his second as the timing will show as we progress). Thus Zechariah's vision took place during the 10th week of the year (The religious year beginning at Nissan/Abib around 14 days before Passover). We must add two additional weeks before Yochanan (John) could be conceived, due to the purity laws (Lev. 12:5; 15:19, 25). So Yochanan was conceived in the 12th week of the year. He was born about 40 weeks later during the 52nd week of the year (12 + 40 = 52) which brings us to Passover. Thus Yochanon was born at Passover, the very time that Elijah was supposed to appear, according to Jewish tradition.

Yeshua was conceived 6 months (about 25 weeks) after Yochanon's conception. This means Yeshua was conceived around the 37th week, around Chanukah. This would mean the Light of the World was conceived during the Festival of Lights. So we have His conception during December and not His birth as so many have been falsely taught or have believed because of tradition.

Yeshua was born 40 weeks later (around week 77 that is week 25 of the following year) this brings us to the time of the Fall Feasts.

There are several clues that Yeshua was born at Succot:

1. Bethlehem was "booked solid" so there was no room as it is written. This would not have been due to the census which could have taken place over the period of a whole year. However, every Jew was required to come to Jerusalem for Succot (Dt. 16:16). This would have over-run Jerusalem as well as Bethlehem, just twelve miles away. The Romans would have however used the three Foot Festivals of the Hebrew nation given by Yahweh to conduct their census for tax purposes and to number the people as their were to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem at Passover (Pesach) in the Spring, Pentecost (Shavuot) in the Summer and at the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Tabernacles (Succot) in the Autumn.

2. Yeshua was born in a stable. The Hebrew word for "stable" is "succah" (as in Gen. 33:17) so it is likely that Yeshua was born in a Sucah Booth.

3. If Yeshua was born on the first day of Succot then he would have been circumcised on the "eighth great day" a festival following Succot. This day was the original "Simchat Torah" (Rejoicing in the Torah) which is now held the following day in Rabbinic Judaism. So Yeshua would have entered the covenant on the day of "rejoicing in the Torah." He was literally fulfilling the Law.

4. When the angels appeared to the shepherds they made a statement which closely echoes the ancient Succot liturgy "...behold, we have come to declare to you glad tidings of great joy." (Luke 2:10-11)

5. Succot then is symbolic of God dwelling in our "tabernacle" (the body) with us.

Now, in Matthew 2:7-8,16, Herod kills all the children aged two and under. The fact that he killed such a wide range indicates that he did not know quite how long ago Messiah had been born. Yeshua's parents fled to Egypt until they heard Herod was dead. They were back in Bethlehem in time to perform Miriam's (Mary's) purification and Yeshua's dedication on the 40th day after Yeshua's birth (as required by Torah) (Luke. 2:22-38). By this time Herod had to be dead or they could not have come to the Temple in Jerusalem. Herod had to have died during the 40 days between Yeshua's birth, and his dedication 40 days later. Herod is known to have died in September of 4 B.C.E. So Yeshua had to have been born in the fall (this rules out that Zechariah could have been serving during Abijah's second course of the year, since that would place Yeshua's birth in the Spring and not allow for Herod's death during the 40 days after his birth in the fall). This also tells us that the year of Yeshua's birth was 4 B.C.E.

6. So we can see that the scholarly truth always affirms the Truth.

We should also note that the shepherds bring their sheep done into the valleys and towns/villages to lower grazing pasture as it is generally too cold around December in Israel. (I have seen pictures taken of heavy snow falls in December and the city of Jerusalem covered in snow).

The 25th December is a Catholic religious holiday based on man and not God’s Word.

Our Hebraic heritage and understanding is far more important to us in many ways than most Christians would care to acknowledge, for many still boast against the natural branches as per the apostolic warning of Paul (Sha’ul) in Romans 11:18.  Others have just not been taught correctly but the Lord is drawing His Church back into an appreciation of its Hebraic heritage and also to stand with Israel as He saves her in these endtimes. Let us continue to to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem as instructed.

Shalom.