Notes to download: When was Jesus (Yeshua) born?
When was Messiah Born?
While much of the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ on 25 December, can the actual day of Jesus’ birth be determined from scripture? This question will be explored in some detail, and scripture will be our guide.
The first passage we will consider begins with the father of John the Baptist, Zacharias:
Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
Luke 1:23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. Luke 1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived..
The clue given to us here is that Zacharias was of the “course” of Abia.
Abia or Abijah tells us the exact week of the year he was in the temple.
King David on God’s instructions (1 Chr 28:11-13) had divided the sons of Aaron into 24 groups (1 Chr 24:1-4), to setup a schedule by which the Temple of the Lord could be staffed with priests all year round in an orderly manner. After the 24 groups of priests were established, lots were drawn to determine the sequence in which each group would serve in the Temple. (1 Chr 24: 7-19). That sequence is as follows:
The 24 Courses of the Temple Priesthood.
| 1 Chr 24:7 | 1. Jehoiarib | 2. Jedaiah |
| 1 Chr 24:8 | 3. Harim | 4. Seorim |
| 1 Chr 24:9 | 5. Malchijah | 6. Mijamin |
| 1 Chr 24:10 | 7. Hakkoz | 8. Abijah |
| 1 Chr 24:11 | 9. Jeshuah | 10. Shecaniah |
| 1 Chr 24:12 | 11. Eliashib | 12. Jakim |
| 1 Chr 24:13 | 13. Huppah | 14. Jeshebeab |
| 1 Chr 24:14 | 15. Bilgah | 16. Immer |
| 1 Chr 24:15 | 17. Hezir | 18. Aphses |
| 1 Chr 24:16 | 19. Pethahiah | 20. Jehezekel |
| 1 Chr 24:17 | 21. Jachim | 22. Gamul |
| 1 Chr 24:18 | 23. Delaiah | 24. Maazi |
1 Chr. 24:19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.
Now each one of the 24 “courses” of priests would begin and end their service in the Temple on the Sabbath, a tour of duty being for one week (2 Chr 23:8, 1 Chr 9:25).
On three occasions during the year, all the men of Israel were required to travel to Jerusalem for festivals of the Lord, so on those occasions all the priests would be needed in the Temple to accommodate the crowds. Those three festivals were Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deut. 16:16).
