Scripture… As We Live It #187
This is the 187th passage in “Scripture… As We Live It.”
And while they [Joseph and Mary] were there [Bethlehem] toward the end of December, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn and the rude innkeeper would not find a place for them but forced them to stay in the barn out back along with several animals, including at least one camel and donkey. (Luke 2:6-7 re-mix)
(Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.)
An interesting note concerning the “Inn”. It appears that the same word for inn is the same word used for the lower room of a house. Our tradition has Jesus being born in the stable away from the rest of the town. However, that may not be necessarily true.
In the Middle East, especially at that time, it was customary for people to use the lower parts of their home to house the animals at night. During the daytime, it was used for family events. At night, the animals occupied it.
Many scholars believe that when Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem, they were put in the lower part of the building because the elderly were given the higher rooms out of respect.
It would be very strange for Joseph to go to his hometown for the census…and not know a soul in the town. Chances are, he went to a home where many of his relatives were staying. But due to the lack of room in the upper room, he and Mary were put in the lower room with the animals..and possible other people. Sort of like having all the family members come for the holidays and putting some in the garage because there isn’t any room in the house. It’s a very common thing in many parts of the world.
Anyways…just a thought and possibility.
Marc S