24/12/2024
THE BIRTH OF YESHUA!
John 1:14 relates Yeshua’s body as temporary dwelling like a tabernacle/booth: And the Word was made flesh, and “tabernacled” among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Yeshua literally came to Sukkot in a Sukkah with His birth!
The story of Yeshua’s birth is preceded in Luke’s Gospel by the account of Yochanan (John) the Immerser’s family and his miraculous birth. He also had a role to play, as Yochanan’s mission was to prepare the way for Yeshua. This helped us to determine the birth of Yeshua HaMashiach.
Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias (Zachar’yah), of the course of Abiyah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisheva (Elizabeth )”.
The order of AbiYah was a priestly division that served in the Temple during the eighth week of the priestly cycle. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was a member of the order of AbiYah.
The principal duties of the priest were those connected with the sacrificial service of the Temple in Jerusalem, as well as teaching the people the instructions of Torah. In the course of time, the number of priests increased to such an extent that it was necessary to divide them into twenty-four divisions (1 Chron 24:1-18) serving in the Temple in rotation, each for a week at a time.
According to the Mishnah, the cycle begins on the first Shabbat of the Hebrew month Abib (also called Nisan), and each division (mishmar) was subdivided into several families of priests who served one day a week. This gave every priest an opportunity to discharge his duties.
The personal anguish of the barren family of Zacharias and Elisheva (Elizabeth) and for the birth of a child would be used for a higher purpose in YHVH’s Divine plan to prepare the way for Yeshua. It can be seen in the light of a miracle upon a miracle.
During the three great annual festivals known as Pilgrimage Festivals (Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles), all twenty-four divisions are said to have officiated simultaneously.(Sukkot 5:7) Zacharias did his duty during the middle festival season known as Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost in Greek); this was the course of Abia.
The Torah required that whenever a sacrifice was offered in the Temple, the owner had to be present. The problem is that every day the priests offered the Daily Sacrifices which were offered on behalf of all the Jews; but, obviously, it is impossible for all the Jews to be constantly present in the Temple). The solution to this problem was “mamados” (shifts/duties). There were 24 shifts of mamados. Each mamad, which was comprised of devout Jews who were emissaries of Israel, would go to the Temple for one week shifts and would say special prayers, representing all of the Jews by the offering of the sacrifices.
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before YHVH in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of YHVH”.
This lot was used extensively during the Second Temple Period and particularly in the Temple itself in order to determine the allocation of duties among the priests. The First Lot was for the cleansing of the altar, the Second Lot was for slaughtering the lamb, sprinkling the blood, removing the ashes, and trimming the lamps of the menorah; (Hebrew for seven branched candelabra.) and the Third Lot was for the burning of incense at the Golden Altar right in front of the veil where the Holy of Holies were. Zacharias did the duties of the last lot.
And there appeared unto him an angel of YHVH standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him”. While serving as priest Zacharias saw an angel of YHVH standing on the right side of the Golden Incense Altar. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisheva shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”
The promise that Elisheva would bear a son required a supernatural act of YHVH. The baby was to be named Yochanan, which means “God is gracious”. Not only would YHVH be gracious about removing the stigma of childlessness from the elderly couple, but He would also set in motion His plan of redemption through the Messiah.
(And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished (the course Abia in the Temple were over), he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisheva conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus has YHVH dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Once again, there is critical information given to us:
“…as soon as the days of his duties were accomplished“, meaning after Zacharias has done his Temple duty of Abia (towards May/June)
“…his wife Elisheva conceived”
According to the Scriptures, in the Gospel of Luke, Elisheva, the mother of John the Baptist, conceived in (May/June), which would place her sixth month around the month of December based on the Jewish calendar, as the angel Gabriel appeared to Mirriam during this time, revealing to her that she will bear a son .
This signifying that Elisheva was already six months pregnant when Mirriam conceived Yeshua. The month of AbiYah is Mid May /June when Elisheva conceived. Counting 9 months which will be in the month of Tabernacles celebration September/October.
And in the sixth month (of Elisheva's pregnancy) the angel Gabriel was sent from YHVH unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Yoseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Miriam (Mary)”.
The time of John’s birth, now nine months later from the month Sivan brings us to the Hebrew month Adar (February/March). At Yochanan’s birth, Miriam is three months pregnant with Yeshua.
“And the angel answered and said unto her (Miriam), The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, your cousin Elisheva, she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her (Sivan, May/June), who was called barren … And Mary (Miriam) arose in those days (when she was conceived with Yeshua and Elisheva was 6 months pregnant – Keslev/December), and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Yuda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth (who was six month’s pregnant). And it came to pass, that, when Elisheva heard the salutation of Mirriam, the babe (Yochanan) leaped in her womb.”
And three months later was the time of Yochanans birth, and that would be approximately Pesach (Passover). This is very important as the religious Jews at that time (even today), expected that Elijah would appear during Passover (Malachi 4:5). Remember, Yochanan came in the spirit of EliYah (Mat 11:7-14) and not in the flesh.
Luke tells us clearly that Elisheva was six months pregnant when the angel Gabriel visited Miriam. The beginning of Elizabeth’s sixth month would have been the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, which is the first day of Chanukah. Chanukah is known as the “Feast of Lights” or the “Feast of the Dedication
Miriam conceived on Chanukah, the feast of the Dedication of Lights, then John 1:6-9 makes perfect sense: “There was a man sent from YHVH, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world"
Yeshua was conceived in late Kislev (November/December).
Yeshua was born 40 weeks later during Sukkot, which takes place in the Jewish month of Tishri (September/October). Yeshua was born during the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth), a joyful fall festival..
The Feast of Tabernacles is an agricultural celebration that commemorates God's provision, protection, and presence for Yisrael in the wilderness. It's also known as the Feast of Ingathering, when people offer praise and thanksgiving for the harvest.
If Miriam conceived on Kislev 25, then Yeshua would have been born on the first day of the Succoth (the Feast of Tabernacles), approximately 280 (max 285) days later. Note: 25 Kislev to 25 Tishri is 9 full Jewish months; a Jewish month is shorter than a Gregorian month. Deduct 10 days from the 25 of Tishri to the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which is exactly on the 15th of Tishri, Yeshua’s birthday! It is therefore no coincidence that YHVH ordained that 15 Tishri, the very first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, should be celebrated with unrestrained happiness!
Yeshua was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, which was a day of sacred assembly called Shemini Atzeret/Sinchat Torah.
Be blessed and stay blessed🌷
