Other Evidences of Yeshua's Birth During
Sukkot
As we have stated earlier in this chapter, the Feast of Sukkot
(Tabernacles) is called "the season of our joy" and "the feast of
the nations." With this in mind, in Luke 2:10 it is written, "And
the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings [basar in Hebrew; otherwise known as the gospel] of great
joy [Sukkot is called the 'season of our joy'], which shall be to
all people [Sukkot is called 'the feast of the nations']." So, we
can see from this that the terminology the angel used to announce
the birth of Yeshua were themes and messages associated with the
Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).
In Luke 2:12, the babe (Yeshua) was wrapped in swaddling cloths and
lying in a manger. The swaddling cloths were also used as wicks to
light the 16 vats of oil within the court of the women during the
festival of Sukkot. So, swaddling cloths are associated with the
festival of Sukkot.
Notice also in Luke 2:12 that the baby Yeshua was laid in a manger.
The word manger is the Greek word phatn'e. It is the same word
translated as "stall" in Luke 13:15. By seeing how the word is used
in Luke 13:15, we can see that the Greek word phatn'e means a place
for hitching cattle. The Hebrew word for stall is marbek, which can
be found in Amos 6:4 and Malachi 4:2. In Genesis (Bereishit) 33:17
it is written that Jacob journeyed to Sukkoth and made booths (the
word booth in this passage is the Hebrew word sukkah; the plural is
sukkot) for his cattle. So we can see from these passages how the
word booth (sukkah or sukkot) was used by Jacob (Ya'akov) for his
cattle in Genesis 33:17, and how the Greek word for manger or
"stall," phatn'e, was also used to refer to hitching cattle in Luke
13:15. Phatn'e is the same word translated as "manger" in Luke
2:12, where Yeshua was laid at the time of His birth.
During the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles), G-d required that all
male Jews come to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) (Deuteronomy [Devarim]
16:16). For this reason, the city would be overcrowded with people
and would explain why Mary (Miryam) and Joseph (Yosef) could not
find lodging in and around Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) (Luke 2:7).
Bethlehem, the place where Yeshua was born, is only about four
miles from Jerusalem.
The last evidence I will give for the birth of Yeshua during Sukkot
according to the Scriptures is in Matthew (Mattityahu) 2:1. There
we see that wise men come from the East to visit Yeshua. The land
of the East is Babylon, where the largest Jewish population was at
the time of the birth of Yeshua. These Jews were descendants from
the captivity when King Nebuchadnezzar defeated Israel and took the
Jews to Babylon to serve him. Babylon is referred to as the land of
the East in Genesis (Bereishit) 29:1 and Judges (Shoftim) 6:3. The
wise men in Matthew (Mattityahu) 2:1 were rabbis. The rabbis, also
called sages, are known in Hebrew as chakamim, which means wise
men. The word in Matthew (Mattityahu) 2:1 in Greek is magos, which
is translated into English as "Magi." Magos in Greek is the Hebrew
word ravmag. Ravmag comes from the Hebrew word rav, which means
"rabbi." It should also be noted that the Greek word magos can also
mean scientist, counselor, scholar, or teacher. The rabbis were
scholars or teachers of the Jewish law. Yeshua was referred to as
"Rabbi," or "Teacher" in John (Yochanan) 1:38,47,49; 3:2. So, we
can see that the wise men were Jewish rabbis coming from Babylon to
witness the birth of Yeshua.
A question we can ask ourselves is, "What made the rabbis make the
journey from Babylon to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Yeshua?"
The answer is given in Matthew (Mattityahu) 2:2, as it is written,
"...we have seen His star in the east...."
One of the requirements during the time of Sukkot was to build an
outside temporary shelter and live in it during this festival
season. This shelter is called a booth, or sukkah. The sukkah had
to be built with an opening in the roof so the people could see the
stars in heaven. This is another reason for why the rabbis would be
looking for, and thus seeing, the star in the sky when it appeared.
In addition, there was a prophecy in Numbers (Bamidbar), as it is
written, "...a star shall come forth from Jacob..." (Numbers
[Bamidbar] 24:17 NAS). King Herod inquired about where the Messiah
would be born in Matthew (Mattityahu) 2:4. He was told in Bethlehem
(Matthew [Mattityahu] 2:5-6), based upon the prophecy in Micah 5:2.
In Matthew 2:10 it is written, "When they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy." Once again, remember that
Sukkot is called "the season of our joy." In Matthew 2:2, the
rabbis saw the star from the East. Salvation was seen by the Jewish
people as coming from the East. Yeshua descended from the tribe of
Judah (Revelation 5:5). The tribe of Judah was positioned on the
east side of the tabernacle of Moses (Moshe) in the wilderness.
Finally, in Luke 2:32, Yeshua is called a light to the Gentiles.
Once again, Sukkot is called "the festival of lights" and "the
festival of all nations."
Therefore, by studying and understanding the festival of Sukkot and
the themes and messages that G-d desired to be conveyed during this
festival, enables us to read the Bible in a new light; it enables
us to understand that Yeshua was born during the season of Sukkot
and that He is the Star we are all called to see with our
(spiritual) eyes!
continued...