Temple of Zerubbabel (2) – the Period

This topic is the continuation and conclusion to “Temple of Zerubbabel (1) – the Building”.

The Temple of Zerubbabél in Jerusalem is also known as the Second Temple or Ezra’s Temple.  Part 1 traced the building of this 2^nd Temple, starting circa (c) 538 BC.  The historical timeline seen in Part 1 is from the book of Ezra chapters 1–6.  Prophecy from Haggai & Zechariah was interjected into the flow.

After 20 years, 2^nd temple construction was completed in 516 BC.  Ezr.6:15 in the 6^th year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia.  Historians indicate he was Darius I the Great, 522–486 BC.

However, the timing of the Ezr.4:6-23 passage is debatable.  Bible commentators are divided in regards to dating it.  Discussion of that passage was postponed in Part 1; it is now addressed here in Part 2.

Ezr.4:1-5 during the reign of Cyrus II the Great of Persia, Samaritans living in the Holy Land wanted to join the Jews in building the (Second) Temple.  That was around 535–530 BC.  But the Jews rejected them.  As a result, Samaritans instead opposed the build.  The Jews feared to continue.  Construction was frustrated and halted.  It wouldn’t resume, Ezr.4:5 “until the reign of Darius king of Persia”.

There are basically two options of interpretation for the Ezr.4:6-23 passage.  Option #1 continues the chronological order.  Option #2 relates it to a later Samaritan opposition, after several decades passed.

Option #1: Ezr.4:6 Samaritans wrote a letter to King Ahásuerus, accusing the Jews.  Perhaps this king was Cámbyses II, 530–523 BC?  Ellicott Commentary Ezr.4:6 “This Ahasuerus, another name for Cambyses, reigned 7 years.”  Barnes Notes “Ahasuerus or Cambyses, son and successor of Cyrus [died 530 BC]. Persian kings had often two names.”  Cambyses II succeeded Cyrus II chronologically.

Ezr.4:7-22 Samaritan nobility also wrote to King Artaxérxes.  Gill Exposition Ezr.4:7 “Artaxerxes being a common name to the kings of Persia.”  cf. the titles Pharaoh & Caesar.  Was this Artaxerxes pseudo-Smérdis the magician posing as Cyrus’ younger son Bárdiya, 522 BC?  Ellicott Commentary Ezr.4:7 “Artaxerxes – This must be Gomates, the Mágian priest who personated Smerdis [Greek name], dead son of Cyrus, and reigned only 7 months.”  Pulpit Commentary “If Artaxerxes be the Pseudo-Smerdis…a usurper.”  The identity is uncertain.  Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 11:2:1 “To our Lord Cambyses [Ezr.4:11]…11:3:1 “The Mági, who, after the death of Cambyses, attained the government of the Persians for a year.”  The Magian pseudo-Smerdis briefly reigned after Cambyses II.

Persian support ceased.  Ezr.4:23-24 temple construction was stopped until the 2^nd year (520 BC) of Darius’ reign.  Ezr.6:15 building was then completed in Darius’ 6^th year (516 BC).

Eric Lyons Kingly Chronology in the Book of Ezra “Since Persian kings frequently had two or more names, it is not unfathomable to think that Cambyses and Smerdis also may have gone by the names of Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes.”  If that was the case, the king names in succession were: Cyrus II – Cambyses II/Ahasuerus – pseudo-Smerdis/Artaxerxes – Darius I.

Option #2: Ezr.4:6-23 isn’t in chronological order.  Rather, this passage is a parenthetical insert.  It flashes forward to times of opposition and work stoppage during the reigns of…Ahasuerus/Xérxes I 486–465 BC (Ezr.4:6), and Artaxerxes I/Longimánus 465-424 BC (Ezr.4:7-23).  In Ezr.4:7-23, the work at issue is the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its walls; work on a temple project isn’t mentioned.

JFB Commentary Ezr.4:6 “Ahasuerus… successor of Darius, the famous Xerxes.”  Gill Exposition Ezr.4:6 “According to Járchi, this was Ahasuerus the husband of Esther.”  Cambridge Bible Ezr.4:6 “Ahasuerus. The well-known Xerxes, the son of Darius [I], who reigned 20 years (485–465). He is generally identified with the Ahasuerus of Esther.”  Cambridge Bible Ezr.4:7 “Artaxerxes Longimanus succeeded his father Xerxes and reigned forty years (465–425). He is mentioned in Ezra 7:1, Neh.2:1.”

Lyons op. cit. “It is reasonable to conclude that…Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes (Ezr.4:6-7) are indeed the Ahasuerus (486–465) and Artaxerxes (465–424) of history (rather than the aforementioned Cambyses and Smerdis).”  John Oakes Evidence For Christianity “Ezra 4:6-23 is an interlude involving events which happened quite a bit later, during the reign of Artaxerxes and possibly Xerxes as well. If you don’t know the chronology of the kings, then Ezra 4:24 definitely could be confusing.”

The Persian or Achaeménid Empire lasted for 220 years (550–330 BC).  Following are its kings’ reigns: Cyrus II the Great (559–530 BC), Cambyses II (530–523 BC), pseudo-Smerdis/Bardiya (522 BC), Darius I the Great (522–486 BC), Ahasuerus/Xerxes I (486–465 BC), Artaxerxes I/Longimanus (465–424 BC), Xerxes II (424 BC), Darius II (423–404 BC), Artaxerxes II (403–359 BC), Artaxerxes III (359–338 BC), Árses (338–336 BC), Darius III (336–330 BC).  The Empire ends.

Most historians feel certain that Darius II and Artaxerxes II and their successors cannot be the kings in the book of Ezra…they lived too late.

Kings of Persia names in the KJV, Green’s Literal Translation, and the Jewish Tanakh: Ezr.4:5 Cyrus.  Ezr.4:6 Ahasuerus.  Ezr.4:7-23 Artaxerxes (as a common name for Persian kings?).  Ezr.4:24 Darius.  Ezr.7:1–8:1 Artaxerxes.  Ne.2:1 Artaxerxes.  Ne.5:14 Artaxerxes.  Est.1–10 Ahasuerus.

Kings of Persia names in the Greek Septúagint/LXX: Ezr.4:5 Cyrus.  Ezr.4:6 Assuérus.  Ezr.4:7-23 Árthasastha (as a common name for Persian kings?).  Ezr.4:24 Darius.  Ezr.7:1–8:1 Arthasastha.  Ne.2:1 Arthasastha.  Ne.5:14 Arthasastha.  Est.1–10 Artaxerxes.

Kings of Persia names in Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews 11:1–6: Ezr.4:5 Cyrus.  Ezr.4:6 the Magi?  Ezr.4:7-23 Cambyses.  Ezr.4:24 Darius.  Ezr.7:1–8:1 Xerxes.  Ne.2:1 Xerxes.  Ne.5:14 Xerxes.  Est.1–10 Artaxerxes.  (The ancient Greek historians Heródotus and Thúcydides also noted Persian kings.)

Wikipedia: Ezra “Josephus – He uses the name Xerxes for Artaxerxes I, reserving the name Artaxerxes for the later Artaxerxes II whom he identifies as the Ahasuerus of Esther, thus placing Ezra before the book of Esther. Josephus’ account of the deeds of Ezra derives entirely from 1Ésdras, which he cites as the ‘book of Ezra’. Contrariwise, Josephus does not appear to recognize Ezra–Nehemiah [then written as one scroll] as a biblical book, and relies on other traditions in his account of the deeds of Nehemiah.”

As we’ve seen, the Persian king names found in Bible versions and historical sources differ.

Option #1 and Option #2 for Ezr.4:6-23 both have their proponents.  I leave the choice to the reader.

The Temple of Zerubbabel, the 2^nd Temple, would stand for 500 years…until 20 BC!  Part 2 now continues to trace the period of its history.

Paul J. Bucknell Ezra Overview “There were at least three waves of returning [Jewish] exiles. Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah all led groups back. Ezra and Nehemiah then worked together. The book of Nehemiah focuses on the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.”

The group of Jews led by Zerubbabel the governor returned c 538 BC. (see Part 1.)  After the Temple was completed (Ezr.6:15), most Bible historians say there is a 58-year gap between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7.

Ezra was a Levitical priest and a scribe (Ezr.7:1-6).  As a royal commissioner of the Persian Empire, he was sent to Judea with authority to administer God’s Law/Toráh to Jewish returnees.  Ezr.7–10 is about Ezra himself and the group he led back from Babylon.  Ezr.7:7-8 “They went up to Jerusalem in the 7^th year of King Artaxerxes [465–424 BC?].”  The date most historians give for this return is 458/457 BC (although a few disagree with this date).  Ezra led reforms, and established the ‘Men of the Great Assembly’ legislative body.  The synagogue system was eventually set up to teach the people.

Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer at the palace in Súsa, Persia (Ne.1:1, 11b).  The generally accepted date for the return of Nehemiah’s group is 445/444 BC.  Ne.2:1, 11 “In the 20^th year of King Artaxerxes (465–424 BC)….I came to Jerusalem.”  He joined Ezra there (ref Ne.8).  Nehemiah became governor of Judea (Ne.5:14), under Persian control.  During his tenure the walls of Jerusalem were repaired & built (Ne.2:12– 6:15), in spite of Samaritan opposition.  Nehemiah also abolished usury (Ne.5:1-13).  The final verse of his book, Ne.13:31b reads, “Remember me, O my God, for good”.

Jewish Encyclopedia: Temple, The Second “From the time of Zerubbabel to the time of Antíochus Epíphanes [160s BC] the history of the Temple was comparatively uneventful.”

Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) conquered the Persian Empire in 330 BC.  This began the Grecian or Macedonian Empire.  Ancient Greece was called Héllas.  The Hellenistic Period of Greek ideas and Greek way of life was 323 – 31 BC.  Hellenism spread into Judea and Jerusalem.

Upon Alexander’s death, the territory of his Empire divided into four kingdoms ruled by his four generals: Cassánder (Greece), Lysímachus (Asia Minor), Ptólemy (Egypt/Africa), Seleúcus (Syria/Near East).  In Daniel 11, Ptolemy is the “King of the South” and Seleucus is “King of the North”.

Wikipedia: Temple in Jerusalem “The Ptolemies came to rule over Judea and the Temple. The Jews were given many civil liberties and lived content. However, when the Ptolemáic army was defeated at Panium [near Mt. Hermon] by Antiochus III of the Seleucids in 198 BCE, this policy changed. Antiochus wanted to Hellenize the Jews, attempting to introduce the Greek Pantheon into the temple.”

Wikipedia: Second Temple “Following the conquest of Judea by Alexander the Great, it became part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt until 200 BCE, when the Seleucid king Antiochus III of Syria defeated Pharaoh Ptolemy V. Judea became at that moment part of the Seleucid Empire. When the Second Temple in Jerusalem was looted and its religious services stopped, Judaism was effectively outlawed. In 167 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He also banned circumcision and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the Temple. Following the [Jewish] Maccabéan Revolt [167–160 BC] against the Seleucid Empire, the Second Temple was rededicated and became the religious pillar of the Jewish Hasmónean Kingdom, as well as culturally associated with the Jewish holiday of Hánukkah.”  (Hanukkah was the “Feast of Dedication”, ref Jn.10:22-23.)

Antiochus IV defiled the 2^nd Temple with an “abomination of desolation” (Da.11:31)…he set up an altar to a heathen god and offered swine’s flesh!  The Jewish priest Judas Maccabéus (called ‘the Hammer’) cleansed the sanctuary in 164 AD, and the custom of Hanukkah became celebrated (ref 1Mac.4:36-61).  At that time he rebuilt the city with high walls and towers around the temple, a citadel.

The Roman Republic and Roman Empire would become dominant.  In 63 BC, Roman general Pómpey conquered Jerusalem and desecrated the temple by entering the Most Holy Place (though the temple remained intact).

Kevin J. Conner The Temple of Solomon, p.212 “The Temple [the 2^nd, Zerubbabel’s] was taken by Pompey on the Day of Atonement after a 3-month siege, and then later on by Herod the Great [37 BC].”  Rome appointed the Edomite Herod ‘King of Judea’, ending 100 years of Jewish Hasmonean rule (from 140 BC).  Herod himself had been raised as a Jew.

The Temple of Zerubbabel existed for 500 years, until 20 BC…when Herod tore it down and removed its foundation.  He proceeded to build a splendid new temple on an expanded Temple Mount (cf. Jn.2:20).

Back around 520 BC when God’s “house” or 2^nd Temple was being built, Haggai had prophesied about the Lord’s temple.  Hag.2:9 “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former.”  The splendor of Herod’s Temple (the “latter”) was even greater than that of Solomon’s Temple (the “former”, built c 990s BC).  But not only because of its magnificence and outward physical beauty….

Easton’s Bible Dictionary “The temple, during the different periods of its existence, is regarded as but one house, the one only house of God. The glory here predicted is spiritual glory and not material splendor. Christ Himself, present bodily.”  Haggai’s prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus’ incarnation in the Holy Land.

Missing from Zerubbabel’s Temple was the Shekínah glory Presence and the Ark of the Testimony.  (see Part 1 and the topic “Ark of the Testimony – Journeys”.)  But c 425 BC the prophet Malachi foretold that the Lord would indeed come to His temple (Mal.3:1)!

Christ, the Lord Himself, was present at Herod’s Temple (“the latter”) complex!  e.g. Lk.2:46, 21:37.  Jesus said of Himself in Mt.12:6 KJV, “In this place is one greater than the temple”.  Jesus is greater than Moses’ Tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, Zerubbabel’s Temple, and Herod’s Temple!  The King is greater than His house.  And God is now rebuilding the…Tabernacle of David (Ac.15:16, Am.9:11.  see “Tent/Tabernacle of David”.)  To God, the Master Builder, be the glory!

Fire From Heaven!

God’s Holy Spirit power is symbolized and manifested by natural phenomena such as: wind, water or rain, oil, the dove…fire.  As I was doing devotionals on the morning of 05/23/2006, I began to receive revelation about God’s holy fire!  While at work that day I began writing it down, as able.  Then on the evening of the day of Pentecost 06/03/2006, my son Timothy mentioned Holy Spirit (HS) fire.  And on 06/24/06, my 3-year-old grandson Gabriel even said, “Holy Spirit is fire”!

Fire and light are interrelated.  1Ti.6:16 God dwells in unapproachable light which physical eyes cannot see!  Ex.33:20-23 the Lord told Moses no man can see the glorious brightness of God’s face and live.

Fire was sometimes present while God interacted with the ancients.  In Ge.15:7-10, 17-18, the Lord had a flaming torch pass among the sacrificial pieces as He ‘cut a covenant’ with Abrám.  Ex.3:1-6 the Messenger of YHVH appeared to Moses in a burning bush which didn’t burn up.  Ex.13:21-22 the HS led ancient Israel in pillars of cloud and fire.  De.4:10-15, 24 Christ had spoken the Decalogue from the midst of fire atop the mountain or volcano.  He is awesome…the genuine fire-God of Light!

Remarkably, the Lord commanded Moses/Israel that the fire on the altar (for burnt offerings, etc.) in His central sanctuary complex was to never quit burning!  Le.6:8-13 “Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.”

What made this fire so significant, that it should never be extinguished?  That very fire supernaturally came forth from God!  Le.9:23-24 “The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offerings. The people saw it and fell on their faces.”  Fire from the Lord fell upon His altar…amazing!

The priest was to put wood to burn on the altar every morning, so that fire wouldn’t go out (Le.6:12).  That continual fire, originating from God, was to be used for their communal sacrifices.  No substitute fire was authorized!

Le.10:1-2 Nadáb & Abihú (sons of Aaron the priest, and nephews of Moses) were even supernaturally put to death for not using God’s holy fire (the flames on the altar) with their offering!

Tradition says a glowing, burning coal from God’s holy fire (Le.9:24) was carried in a special vessel all during their wilderness wanderings.  So that fire wouldn’t completely go out.  It was then rekindled on the altar, when the tabernacle was set up at the next encampment.

On the annual Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year, the high priest must take incense with coals of that fire into the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary, lest he die!  Le.16:12-13 “He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar, and bring it inside the veil.”  (see “Day of Atonement”.)

God authorized His pilgrim feasts be kept only at the central sanctuary, where God’s fire burned on the altar.  This was where Christ the Lord ‘dwelt’ above the cherubim atop the ark! (ref De.12:11-12, 14:23, 16:11; 2Sm.6:2; 2Ch.6:38; Ps.80:1.)  Those feasts were to be kept at no other location or altar; only at the sole place where God’s Name and holy fire was.  (Eventually that place was Jerusalem.)

Jsh.22:10-34 although the Israelite tribes east of the Jordan River built a large monument of witness which resembled an altar, no national or festal sacrifices were done there.  It wasn’t rebellion or an alternative site.

Fire from God fell elsewhere in the Holy Land on occasion (but not for Day of Atonement or pilgrim feast purposes).  Individual common altars were allowed for the private worship of YHVH, if they weren’t made from cut stones (ref De.16:21 & Ex.20:25).  Jg.6:19-21 supernatural fire consumed Gideon’s offering in the presence of the Messenger of the Lord.  Jg.13:18-21 the messenger of YHVH ascended in the flame of Manóah’s offering.  God’s Messenger or Name was there for the above two offerings.  (Ge.4:4-5 possibly fire had fallen on Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s.)

1Ch.21:26 fire from heaven fell upon David’s burnt & peace offerings on Mt Moriáh (2Ch.3:1)!  In 1Ki.18:36-39, fire fell from heaven and consumed Elijah’s burnt offering at Mt Carmél!  (see the topic “Mountaintop Experiences With God”.)  In 2Ki.2:11-12, Elijah himself went up to heaven by fire.

But neither Gideon, nor Samson’s father Manoah, not even Elijah, nor anyone in the Old Testament or New Testament was authorized to keep pilgrim feasts away from the city of the national sanctuary altar!  see the topic “Feasts of the Lord and the Jews”.  Israelites brought their sin & guilt offerings to the sanctuary at pilgrim feast times.  All sin & guilt offerings…and most burnt, grain and peace offerings…must be sacrificed at that one altar of holy fire!  They were most holy (ref Ex.40:10; Le.2:10, 6:17, 14:13).  see “Sacrifices and Burnt Offerings”.

However, at some point prior to King Solomon, the sacred fire from heaven on the central sanctuary altar was no longer kept burning by the priests.

So…heavenly fire fell again on the altar at Solomon’s dedication of God’s Temple (circa 990 BC)!  2Ch.7:1-3 “When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.”  Fresh fire from God!  The glory of the Lord was so great on this occasion, the priests couldn’t stand to minister (2Ch.5:13-14)!

After Solomon’s reign, King Jeroboám of the northern kingdom of Israel disobeyed God by wrongly setting up a false feast in Bethél…apart from the altar of holy fire in Jerusalem.  As Jeroboam attempted to offer other fire, his hand withered and his Bethel altar was supernaturally split apart!  (ref 1Ki.12:32-33, 13:1-5.)  1Ki.13:4-5 “His hand dried up so he could not draw it back to himself. The altar was split apart and the ashes poured out.”  The Lord didn’t authorize His feasts at any location separate from His sanctuary holy fire!

But when the temple was destroyed in 586 BC by Nebuchadnézzar, the holy fire on the altar was again extinguished.  The Jews were sent into captivity to Babylon.

Many decades after the captivity, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem from Persia.  Miracle fire (from naphtha) once again burned sacrifices on the altar.  ref 2Mac.1:18-35.  A wood offering was mandated for Jews returning to Jerusalem, to keep that altar fire burning (cf. Ne.10:34 & Le.6:12).

The Orthodox Study Bible comments on 2Mac.1. “This is a letter from Jews in Jerusalem to Jews in Egypt concerning Hánukkah…which celebrates fire and light.”  Hanukkah is the annual 8-day feast in December which commemorates Judas Maccabéus’ rededication of the temple ca 165 BC.  Since it isn’t one of God’s pilgrim feasts, the man-ordained Hanukkah (also called the Feast of Lights) may be celebrated away from the city of the sanctuary altar (Jerusalem).  This December festival became a simulation of sorts or a substitute for the 8-day October pilgrim Feast of Booths/Feast of Tabernacles (FOT) for Jews living too far from Jerusalem…since keeping a FOT away from the central sanctuary/altar would violate God’s written word.  see “Feast of Booths”.

Le.23:39-42 native born Israelites in the Holy Land were required to dwell in booths at the FOT.  Some Jews in Egypt went up to Jerusalem for pilgrim feasts, e.g. Ac.2:10.  But many Jews in the diáspora never could afford the long journey.

Even Philo of Alexandria (in Egypt) went to Jerusalem only once in his entire life (ref On Providence 2.64, p.755)!  Jews aren’t allowed to keep a FOT in Alexandria or Cairo!  Zec.14:16-18 keeping an (October) FOT in Egypt would violate God’s written law…it must be kept in Jerusalem only.  The 2Mac.1 letter comforted & exhorted those Jews in Egypt to just rejoice in keeping Hanukkah, instead of bemoaning there’s no (authorized) FOT in Egypt!

{Sidelight: Interestingly, from 500–400 BC a Jewish temple for offerings stood at Elephántine in Egypt.  And from 170 BC a Jewish temple for offerings stood at Leontópolis/Heliópolis in Egypt, until the Romans destroyed it in 73 AD.  It is uncertain whether Is.19:19-20 pertains to one of these temples.  Perhaps both were the substitutionary works of religious men?}

Fire also purifies, and it symbolizes the HS.  Is.6:1-8 Isaiah’s lips were purified by a burning coal from the Lord’s heavenly altar.  Mal.3:1-3 prophesied the Lord (Jesus) would purify as the refiner’s fire.  In Jn.5:33-35, Jesus referred to John the Baptizer, a type of Elijah, as a “burning lamp”.  Mt.3:11-12 John the Baptizer said that Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  The fire relates to purifying, anointing, and destroying.

Ac.2:1-4 the Holy Spirit anointing was given in Jerusalem on Pentecost as tongues of fire.  v.14-18 Spirit-filled believers would have dreams & visions and will prophesy!

Fire from heaven was also sent upon the ungodly.  e.g. Ge.19:24 fire was sent on wicked Sodom & Gomorrah.  2Ki.1:9-15 fire was sent upon the soldiers who were deployed to capture Elijah.

Ezk.22:20-31 prophesied the fire of God’s wrath upon greedy prophets & priests who are unfaithful to the Lord’s commands and who speak falsely.  He.12:29 “Our God is a consuming fire.”

I’ve seen Christian author Tommy Tenney speak a few times.  In The Godchasers, 1998, p.1-16, he related his 10/20/1996 experience of witnessing the acrylic pulpit in a Houston church be split in half by a lightning bolt from God!  (www.evanwiggs.com/revival/history/penpulp.html)   After reading Tenney’s description of the amazing incident, it brought to mind Jeroboam’s altar that split apart in ancient Bethel/Israel (1Ki.13:5)!  The split altar of Jeroboam was a powerful sign of God’s disapproval.

Was the split pulpit in that Houston church a sign of God’s disapproval of some people present?  Was God’s presence there a sign of His approval of others present?  Both?  Tommy Tenney indicated that he himself wasn’t as affected physically as some others were.  It seems the Houston manifestation caused awe & reverence in the hearts of Tenney and ones close to God…but terrified those who desperately needed to repent.  The Lord wants His people to repent of all sin, and to seek His face!

My father told the story of a big tornado which hit eastern Illinois in 1917, shortly before he was born.  Some of the cattle were even picked up by the winds and set down in Indiana across the nearby Wabash River!  The local rural church was completely demolished by the tornado, all walls blown away.  Except…only the pulpit remained intact.  It was standing there with the Bible still open to the same page where the preacher had left it the previous Sunday!  The word of the Lord endures forever.

Returning to my initial remarks…After I’d arrived to work that morning of 05/23/2006, the annual fire drill was unexpectedly sounded throughout the building a few hours later!  It seemed fitting.

May the Lord purify our hearts, and empower us with burning zeal from the Holy Spirit!  And the day will come…when we will be able to see His face and His glory in eternity!

Christmas and Jesus’ Birth Month

Christmas is the USA’s most popular holiday, annually celebrated by more than 90% of the populace.  Yet some people who believe in Jesus as Savior don’t feel they should celebrate His birthday, or not at the generally accepted season.  Maybe they don’t think December 25 was really His human birth date.  Maybe they disapprove of the ungodly heathen or wrong trappings which became attached to the celebration.  Or they don’t see the celebration commanded by God in the Bible.  And ‘Christmas Break’ is now called ‘Winter Break’.  This topic examines these issues, and offers a reasonable conclusion.

Many myths and legends began with an element of real truth or fact…where there’s smoke there’s fire.  That’s the case with Christmas traditions.  That Jesus was born and lived as a human is truth/fact.  The historians Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny refer to Him, all writing prior to 120 AD.  But then…questionable or objectionable customs and embellishments were added over the centuries.  e.g. Santa Claus, holly & mistletoe, wass-ale-ing, party spirit, xmas ham, excess materialism or greed.

Before Christ, religious sects in Israel also attached ritual customs to the Lord’s holydays.  And religious activity such as prayer, immersion in water, waving tree/palm branches, e.g…were customs of pagans too!  Should Christians avoid these practices just because the heathen did them for their gods?  The observance of Jesus’ birth spread among countries & cultures which attached pagan elements to His birth.  But did these early Christians remain heathens at heart?

The Bible also reflects occasions which were added, not commanded by God.  ref Est.9:19 Purim; Jg.11:39-40; Zec.8:19.  Hánukkah was attended by Jesus (Jn.10:22-23).  It commemorated the defeat of Antíochus Epíphanes in the 160s BC, rededicating the altar and cleansing the temple.  1Mac.4:52-59 & 2Mac.10:5-9 the Jewish people (not God) ordained Hanukkah by common statute (2Mac.10:8).  This man-ordained occasion begins on Kíslev 25 (in our Nov-Dec)!  Perhaps Jesus was born or conceived during Hanukkah, the eight-day ‘Festival of Lights’.  Let’s closely examine His time of birth.

The supposed old Jewish tradition of ‘integral age’ said a great prophet was born or conceived and died on the same date.  Jesus died during Passover week, around Apr 1.

Historically, Jesus’ human birth was set at: May 20, Apr 17, Mar 28, and Jan 6 (‘12 days of Christmas’ after Dec 25?) in the early Eastern church, Armenian, Coptic, Russian Orthodox.

Some think Jesus was born near a Sep 25 Rosh Hashánah, His conception being the previous Dec 25 Hanukkah.  But Rosh Hashanah was still the time of grape and fig processing, and for regional dates and pomegranates.  Agriculture provided tax revenues to Rome!  It seems unlikely that Rome would purposely antagonize Jews by requiring an agricultural society to travel to their old ancestral locales for a census (Lk.2:1-6) at this busy season.  The slow period for plowing, sowing, reaping was Dec–Feb.

Following is a capsule review of Jesus’ Nativity, tying together the accounts of Luke and Matthew.  Lk.1:5-25 the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, who was serving in the temple.  He tells Zacharias that his elderly wife Elizabeth will bear a son named John.  Zacharias was of the priestly course of Abijáh.  1Ch.24:1, 5, 7, 10 Jehoiaríb’s was the 1^st weekly course, Abijáh’s the 8^th; each was sabbath-to-sabbath.  If Zacharias saw Gabriel in June, then that could place the birth of John the Baptizer near Passover (customarily set a plate for Elijah), with Jesus’ birth 6 months later near September 25.  But if he saw Gabriel October 1, then John was born 9 months later near July 1, and Jesus near January 1.

Lk.1:26-60 Gabriel’s Annunciation to Mary.  Mary becomes pregnant with Jesus and travels 75 miles south from Nazareth of Galilee to visit her elderly aunt Elizabeth, who is 6 months pregnant with John (near Bethlehem or Hebrón in Judea).  Mary stays with Elizabeth for 3 months and John is born.  Upon Mary’s return to Galilee, her fiancée Joseph now sees she is 3-4 months pregnant.  What?!  Mt.1:18-25 in a dream an angel tells Joseph of the forthcoming miraculous virgin birth, and Joseph will wed Mary.

Lk.2:1-8 just before Mary goes into labor, she and Joseph travel 4 days south to Bethlehem, which is 6 miles south of Jerusalem.  They must go to this rather distant town of Joseph’s ancestors to register for Augustus’ census.  v.3 “All were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city.”

{Sidelight: This most likely wasn’t Feast of Tabernacles (FOT) time.  At FOT time, Joseph, their male relatives (and the shepherds too, Lk.2:8) would’ve gone to Jerusalem as commanded by God…not to Bethlehem or other original Israelite tribal areas/towns for census purposes.  ref De.16:11, 16, 12:11, 14:23-25; Je.7:12; 1Ki.14:21; Lk.2:41.  From the days of Solomon, the only location where God authorized pilgrim feasts be kept is Jerusalem, where the central sanctuary was…and never at two or more locations simultaneously! (see “Feasts of the Lord and the Jews”.)  Ellicott Commentary Lk.2:7 “There was no room for them at the inn’. The town was crowded with persons who had come to be registered.”}

Lk.2:9-38 as Jesus is born, the shepherds witness His glorious Birth-day celebration in the heavens!  v.13-14 “Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men.”  Then while staying at a (relative’s?) house in Bethlehem, Jesus’ ‘parents’ bring Him to the temple for circumcision, and then for Mary’s purification 40 days after giving birth (Lk.2:21-24, ref Le.12:1-8).

Probably the wise men/mági haven’t arrived yet with their expensive gifts, since Mary could only afford to offer two turtledoves (Lk.2:24), not a more expensive lamb.  Anna and witnesses begin to make knowledge of Jesus public.  (Lk.2:39 Luke’s account skips the magi visit and the holy family’s soon-coming flight to Egypt before returning home to Galilee.)

Mt.2:1-11 perhaps very soon after the purification offering, wise men or magi arrive at the Bethlehem house, bringing expensive gifts.  They came from Arabia (ref Is.60:6 gold & frankincense), or Babylon (ref Da.5:11 the Jewish prophet Daniel had been appointed chief of the wise men in Babylon) or Persia.  Joseph likely was needing to return to his Nazareth business…supposedly he’s of modest means.

Opinions vary about what the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ was…a great comet, supernova, visible conjunction of heavenly bodies, an angel, the shekínah glory returning after 500 years to conceive Jesus, or something else supernatural?  ref Nu.24:17, Is.9:1-2, Ezk.11:23.  Maybe the wise men saw the “star” 10 months previously, or maybe only 41 days previously?  It is thought that a small camel caravan could travel 15–20 miles a day, each carrying 200–300 lbs.  At that rate, a 700-mile journey could take 35–45 days.

After giving gifts, the magi depart.  Mary will treasure in her heart (Lk.2:19) the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ miraculous birth…the shepherd’s vision (Lk.2:8-20), the magi visit and their account of seeing the star, etc.  Mary will pass it on to Jesus’ disciples and others.  (see “Jesus’ Virgin Birth”.)

Mt.2:12-18 upon the magi’s departure, the family will leave Bethlehem.  But in a dream an angel warns Joseph not to travel 75 miles north to Nazareth…but instead take a (200-mile?) detour WSW to Egypt, to avoid Herod the Great.  Very soon Herod will murder all Bethlehem infants who are in their second year or under…7 to 20 infants, based upon population estimates.  Having just received valuable gifts from the wise men, the family now has the wherewithal to afford the sojourn in Egypt (whereas they could only afford to sacrifice two turtledoves on the 40^th day of purification, Lk.2:22-24).

Mt.2:19-23 an angel in another dream tells Joseph of Herod’s death.  (Josephs had significant dreams, cf. Ge.37:5-ff!)  The family returns home to Nazareth…perhaps via the Way of the Sea, to avoid ethnarch Archeláus in Judea.

In what calendar month was Jesus born?  Early Christians ‘fathers’ wrote:

Justin Mártyr (100–165 AD) said Jesus was born at Bethlehem, “As you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing made under [Quirínius] your first procurator in Judea”. (First Apology, 34)

Tertullian (160–250 AD) “His [Joseph’s] enrollment in the census of Augustus, that most faithful witness of the Lord’s nativity, kept in the archives at Rome.” (Against Marcion 4:7:7)  The census of Lk.2:1-5 was documented.

Hippólytus (165–236 AD) “The first advent of our Lord in the flesh, born in Bethlehem eight days before the kalends [1^st] of January.” (Commentary on Daniel 4:23:3)  That was inclusively Dec 25.

Cyril of Jerusalem (348–386 AD) reportedly asked Julius, bishop of Rome, to assign the true date of Jesus’ birth “from census documents brought by Titus to Rome”.  Julius assigned Dec 25.  That would place Jesus’ conception near the previous Passover (which corresponds to ‘integral age’ tradition).

Wikipedia: Christmas “A traditional Jewish belief [was] that great men were born and died on the same day. Jesus was therefore considered to have been conceived on March 25, as He died on March 25 [Tertullian].  In 221 AD, Sextus Julius Africánus gave March 25 as the day of…the conception of Jesus in his universal history.  St Ephráim [306-373 AD] taught that the date of the conception of Jesus Christ fell on 10 Nisán of the Hebrew calendar, the day in which the passover lamb was selected according to Exodus 12. Some years 10 Nisan falls on March 25 [Apr 6 old Julian calendar].”

Chrýsostom (347–407 AD) said a Dec 25 date was verified by actual census/tax records of Joseph registering in Bethlehem.  Chrysostom taught that John the Baptizer’s father Zacharias was serving on the Day of Atonement (late Sep/early Oct) when Gabriel appeared to him.  Lk.1:10 a “multitude” at the temple indicates it was a sabbath or a feast day.  That would place the birth of John the Baptizer around July 1 (and Jesus’ birth six months later, around Jan 1).

In 70 AD Sunday Aug 5 (the 9^th of Av) the temple was destroyed.  The 1^st priestly course of Jehoiarib was serving then (ref Talmud Olam Rabbah and Alfred Edersheim).  If the priestly service order had remained unbroken for decades, 70 years earlier was Zacharias’ service course of Abijah in early Oct?

The Jewish Christian historian Alfred Edersheim wrote in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, p.131, There are temple flocks (at Bethlehem) that “remain in the open alike in the hottest days and the rainy season, i.e. all year round”.  Winter temperatures there are similar to those in Houston, TX.

Shepherds witnessed the heavenly Birth-day celebration!  Wise men gave gifts to the infant King Jesus (birthdays of kings were celebrated).  Christ’s spirit is within Christians via the Holy Spirit.  Col.1:27 “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  Many Christians celebrate Christmas by exchanging gifts.

However, an eternal Santa Claus (with hair white like wool, like snow, cf. Re.1:14) annually bringing gifts is a lie and counterfeits the glorified Jesus Christ.  Commercialism obscures and detracts from the proclaimed ‘reason for the season’.  Purchasers suffer too much credit card debt, sometimes the result of trying to outdo others in gift-giving.  And those old census records no longer survive.  Nevertheless….

If it wasn’t for Christ’s life…there would be no Christmas bearing His title!  Mal.4:2 the Sun/Son of Righteousness so far outshines former sun-gods, those pagan gods don’t even come to the minds of Christians who annually celebrate Christmas!  The origin of a custom doesn’t always determine its present meaning.  Celebrating Jesus’ birth is not only for the Roman Catholic Christ-mass (the mass began 1000 AD).  A Chicago suburban “Calvary Church” isn’t accused of worshiping a skull and the goddess Círce!  1Co.3:5 Apollos, in spite of his heathen god name, was the Lord’s servant.

Obsolete meanings don’t apply.  Our worshiping God/Christ on Saturday or Sunday or Monday doesn’t make us Saturn or Sun or Moon worshipers!  ref Ralph Woodrow’s Christmas Reconsidered (recommended reading).  He notes that it would be futile to spend our lives trying to eradicate pagan terms which permeate all of society!  e.g. the term “janitor” is from the god Jánus.  Ezk.8:14 Támmuz was anciently a pagan god.  Yet the month of Tammuz is Jun-Jul on the present Jewish calendar.  It’s from the Babylonian exile (cf. the month Nisan occurs Mar-Apr).

The designations BC/AD and BCE/CE, relating to our calendar, pivot around Christ’s birth!  Truth be told…He was born sometime, praise God…although we don’t know exactly when!

What about the Christmas tree custom?  Je.10:3-5 “They cut down a tree. The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. They beautify it with silver and gold. They fasten it, it does not stumble. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field (upright as a palm tree), they cannot speak, they cannot walk.”  This is about idol worship, not a Christmas tree!  A scarecrow is a man’s image, not a tree’s image.  A scarecrow scares away birds, whereas a tree attracts birds…the opposite!  Gill Exposition Je.10:3 “A tree cut down with an axe, planed with a plane and formed into the image of a man or some creature.”  Life Application Bible Note “Those who put their trust in a chunk of wood, even though it is carved well and clothed beautifully, are foolish.”  Scarecrows and metal-plated gods can’t talk or walk.

Compare the Epistle of Jeremiah 1:70 “Like a scarecrow in a cucumber garden, guarding nothing, so are their wooden gods, plated with silver and gold.”  v.7-10 “These gods of silver, gold and wood with clothing like humans, but they cannot preserve themselves.”  The book of Jeremiah and the epistle of Jeremiah both refer to the same idols.

Is.44:13 “Another shapes wood, works it with planes, and makes it like the form of a man.” (also Is.40:19-20)  Ps.115:4-7 “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands. They have mouths but they cannot speak; eyes but they cannot see; ears but they cannot hear, feet but they cannot walk.” (Je.10:5 is in the center margin xref!)  cf. De.4:28.  Such graven images were figurines or teraphím household gods (Ge.31:19, 34-35; 1Sm.19:13)…idols in human shape.  They weren’t Christmas trees.

Who today really worships a Christmas tree anyway?  Some few.  Yet it has symbolic meaning.

Re.22:1-2 “The tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit.”  An ever-green Christmas tree became symbolic of the tree of life, which was traditionally decorated with fruits & nuts.  (see the topic, “Tree Symbolism in Scripture”.)  The USA began the tree custom after 1830 AD.  Churches that put up a tree, with lights and a figurative Star of Bethlehem at the top…they and other organizations may also feed or give gifts to the needy then!  The magi gave gifts; and Hanukkah too is a time of gift-giving.

Many, if not most, customs aren’t evil.  Some secular radio stations play hymns only in December at Christmas time…and the Name of Jesus spreads!  Praise the Lord!  Many Christmas carols are inspiring.  Php.1:15-18 Paul rejoiced because Christ is preached, even when their motives were questionable!  The old Jimmy Stewart Christmas movie, It’s A Wonderful Life, is a heartwarming story.

The Bible account of Christ’s birth isn’t pagan.  Matthew was Jewish, possibly Luke too.  Jesus’ birth-date observance isn’t a salvation issue.  Family relatives may keep it in faith.  Romans 14 indicates we shouldn’t judge other Christians in regards to non-essentials (e.g. the market where meat came from), thereby avoiding needless strife & division.  By honoring Christmas, Christian sabbathkeepers too can distinguish themselves from disbelieving Jews who also may keep a weekly sabbath.

It seems there wasn’t much question about the general season of Jesus’ birth in the early Eastern church (though its calendar differed a little).  The date/season is being challenged in recent years.  And since the early Christians didn’t customarily celebrate birthdays, early documentation is rather scant.

Christian families can annually honor their Savior’s birth, praising the Lord with uplifting Christmas carols & hymns…without doing the heathen customs of Santa Claus, holly & mistletoe, wassailing, party spirit, xmas ham, or engaging in excessive materialism.  Just throw out the bath water, not the Baby!  Omit wrongs stemming from carnality & paganism which can be divisive.

This concludes my apology (and ‘semi-polemic’) for celebrating Jesus’ birth, Christmas.

We don’t know for sure the date of Jesus’ human birth.  Yet from scriptural accounts and early writings, the weight of evidence seems to indicate December or early January.  Perhaps Jesus, the “Light of the World” (Jn.8:12), did come into this world during the traditional ‘Festival of Lights’…Hanukkah, Kislev 25!  And in 2016, Hanukkah (Kislev 25) again begins on December 25 of our calendar.