[Straight Vermonter]

I always found it interesting that Luke 2:8 gives us “Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.”

Sheep were typically penned up at night or driven into caves. In the spring, however, the shepherds kept them out in the fields because they were birthing lambs (don’t forget Jesus was the “lamb of God).

So unless it was springtime the shepherds would have been home in bed rather than watching over their sheep.

[NYer]

Wow ... interesting observation! I had never considered that.

[Not just another dumb blonde]

“I always found it interesting that Luke 2:8 gives us “Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.”

Sheep were typically penned up at night or driven into caves. In the spring, however, the shepherds kept them out in the fields because they were birthing lambs (don’t forget Jesus was the “lamb of God).

So unless it was springtime the shepherds would have been home in bed rather than watching over their sheep.”

I have a tendency to agree with you. It might just be that Christ was conceived on Dec 25, rather than born on that date. I wonder how many shepherds would be out watching their flocks in the winter time? It’s an interesting theory. I don’t know enough about all that went on at different times of the year to know for sure. But if Israel has the same seasons as we do in this hemisphere, then it would make sense that He was born at the end of summer.

Again, I don’t know enough to make a real educated guess, but it does make for an interesting debate. It’s one of those mysteries we’ll find out someday.

[Varda]

I’d guess lambing was timed to occur with the new grass and grass growth in arid climates is dependent on the rainy season. The rainy season around Jerusalem starts in November.

[stripes1776]

So unless it was springtime the shepherds would have been home in bed rather than watching over their sheep.

Not necessarily. The animals would have been kept in a cave at night during winter. A good shepherd would have had someone staying in the cave at night to keep guard over the sheep. Whoever guarded the cave would have let Mary and Joseph stay in the cave that night.