Luke 2:1-20
RTNT 2021. I’m always fascinated by geography, and in the Bible I’m especially intrigued by the geography of Judea and Samaria. So today we read And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David… (v. 4). From early on I’ve taken notice of the simple word “up”, as in Joseph also went up… Our North American geography has us going “up” to the north and going “down” to the south (e.g., the common phrase “down south”). But Jerusalem and Bethlehem are some 80-120 miles south of Nazareth. Joseph and Mary were headed “up” south. The wording seems strange, but the Biblical writers were talking topography, not direction.
See the map below. Nazareth was located in the foothills of Galilee while Jerusalem and Bethlehem were located in the higher hills of Judea, specifically within the land of the tribe of Judah, about half-a-mile above sea level. Most Nazareth residents (Galilean Jews) would first go south from Nazareth, then east to the Jordan River valley to Jericho, avoiding the land of the Samaritans. They would then begin the climb into the hills of Jerusalem – with Joseph and Mary continuing their hill-country journey on to Bethlehem. So Joseph went “up”, speaking topographically.
Keep this map in mind for later when we see Jesus traveling through the heart of Samaria on His way to Jerusalem instead of following the Jordan River valley.
As usual, the link to my comments from 2019 is below. Please add your own comments!
Blessings!
See also the January 10, 2019 post.
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This time I was struck by the angels picking shepherds for the announcement. Certainly lowly, ordinary folks. Were they the ones who were listening and not all tied up with tradition, who would be willing to step out, check the message, then spread the word? Angels could have gone to the temple, or directly to the manger, etc., but no, God chose these shepherds. Amazing. My Bible study notes that they might be shepherds who raised lambs for temple sacrifice, responding to the lamb of God? That seems a stretch to me, but our God has such a way with unfolding His plans that anything is possible. Lord, help me remember that Your ways are not our ways, and You have so much more in store for us than we can imagine!
And so fitting that shepherds, who live with their flocks, tend to their needs, and lead them to safety, would be among the first to recognize another Shepherd who will do the same with mankind.
Debbie, It’s correct!
During one of the Monday women’s Bible studies we learned that the area around Bethlehem was, indeed, an area where lambs for temple sacrifice were raised.
But even more stunning (to me) is that the shepherds would wrap the lambs in cloths to keep them from getting blemished—truly a stunning comparison to Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothes.