The Life of Jesus in Harmony
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F irst Visitors - Shepherds


Luke 2:8-20 Historical Notes

 

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

 

10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

 

11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

 

12 "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

 

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

 

14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

 

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."

 

16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

 

17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

 

18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 

19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

 

20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

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Historical Notes

- Jesus birth was unrevealed to kings and religious leaders but revealed to the humble Judean shepherds.

- These were the fields where Jacob had kept his flocks, also where Boaz and Ruth had been wedded, and where David had spent his youth.

- The eastern plains of Bethlehem contained the watchtower of Migdal Eder where the Messiah was supposed to be revealed. According to the Mishna, flocks that were pastured there were destined for the temple sacrifices and the shepherds that tended them were the only ones not unclean.

- "with haste" in verse 16 is the same Greek word found in 2 Tim 2:15 for "study."

- Shepherds were banned from the temple and synagogue.

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