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| SHEPHERDS ENDNOTES OF SCHOLARLY SOURCES | |||||||||||||||||
| {Where document name is cited first, it is quoted} | |||||||||||||||||
| 1.� �Bethlehem is five miles from Jerusalem.� In earlier years it was also called Ephrath.� It was the childhood home of King David.� In the foothills around such towns as Bethlehem, the sheep were raised for use at the Temple in Jerusalem.� Modern Bethlehem apparently is a continuation of the ancient Bethlehem. | |||||||||||||||||
| 2.� HERODOTUS BOOK II, 47:164 - Herders of any kind in Egypt were regarded with such abhorrence that they were not allowed to enter any temple.� WILKINSON, "ANCIENT EGYPTIANS," VOL. 2, PG. 444, 1878: Egyptian artists represented them as either lame or deformed, dirty and unshaven.� JEWISH TALMUD said that shepherds were to remain in the court of the women in the temple in Jerusalem. | |||||||||||||||||
| 3.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 18:11-12 - "The Pharisee posed and prayed like this:� 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people -- robbers, crooks, adulterers....I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'" | |||||||||||||||||
| 4.� THE BIBLE, 1 SAMUEL 17:34 - David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep.� When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth." | |||||||||||||||||
| 5.� THE BIBLE, JEREMIAH 50:6a; ZECHARIAH 10:3a - My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray....My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord Almighty will care for his flock. | |||||||||||||||||
| 6.� THE BIBLE, MATTHEW 21:12-13 - Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling.� He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants.� He quoted this text:�"My house was designated a house of prayer; you have made it a hangout for thieves."� See also, AND WE THOUGHT WE KNEW YOU, VOL. II, DREAM MAKER, "Treasure of Doom." | |||||||||||||||||
| 7.� THE BIBLE, NEHEMIAH 12:39 - ...then we continued on to the Sheep Gate and stopped at the Prison Gate. | |||||||||||||||||
| 8.� THE BIBLE, EZEKIEL 34:2-4 - ....The Lord God says to you:� Woe to the shepherds who feed themselves instead of their flocks.� Shouldn't shepherds feed the sheep?� You eat the best food and wear the finest clothes, but you let your flock starve. �You haven't taken care of the weak nor tended the sick nor bound up the broken bones nor gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost.� Instead you have ruled them with force and cruelty. | |||||||||||||||||
| 9.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 4:18-19 - "God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, 'This is God's year to act!' " | |||||||||||||||||
| 10.� THE BIBLE, ISAIAH 40:9, 11 - You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain....lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid...."Here is your God!"� He tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. | |||||||||||||||||
| 11.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:8 - There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood.� They had set night watches over their sheep. | |||||||||||||||||
| 12.� THE BIBLE, MATTHEW 18:30 - The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, "Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back."� But he wouldn't do it.� He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. | |||||||||||||||||
| 13.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:9 - Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. �They were terrified. | |||||||||||||||||
| 14.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:10 - The angel said, "Don't be afraid.� I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide." | |||||||||||||||||
| 15.� The word "savior" in Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament of the Bible, is "yasha," (pronounced Joshua or Jesus) also sometimes translated "deliverer." | |||||||||||||||||
| 16.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:11 - "A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master." | |||||||||||||||||
| 17.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:12 ]NIV] - "This will be a sign to you:� You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." | |||||||||||||||||
| 18.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:13 - At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: | |||||||||||||||||
| 19.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2: 14 - "Glory to God in the heavenly heights, peace to all men and women on earth who please him." | |||||||||||||||||
| 20.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:15 - As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over.� "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." | |||||||||||||||||
| 21.� Caves are found all over Palestine.� David lived in caves all over Palestine while he and his soldiers fled from King Saul (1 Samuel 22:1; 23:13; 23:29; 24:3).� Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, was buried in a cave near Jerusalem (John 11:38). | |||||||||||||||||
| 22.� Note that the Bible here says there was only one inn in Bethlehem at this time. | |||||||||||||||||
| 23.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:16 - They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. | |||||||||||||||||
| 24.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:19 - Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. | |||||||||||||||||
| 25.� THE BIBLE, HEBREWS 2:14-15 - Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death.� By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. | |||||||||||||||||
| 26.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:17-18 - Seeing was believing.� They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.� All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. | |||||||||||||||||
| 27.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:20 - The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen.� It turned out exactly the way they'd been told! | |||||||||||||||||
| 28.� THE BIBLE, Micah 5:2 [Predicted about 700 years before Jesus] - But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.... John 7:42 - Don't the Scriptures tell us that the Messiah comes from David's line and from Bethlehem, David's village? | |||||||||||||||||
| 29.� THE BIBLE, LUKE 2:17-18 -� Seeing was believing.� They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.� All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. | |||||||||||||||||
| 30.� THE BIBLE, ROMANS 10:2-3 - I readily admit that the Jews are impressively energetic regarding God - but they are doing everything exactly backwards.� They don't seem to realize that this comprehensive setting-thing-right that is salvation is God's business, and a most flourishing business it is.� Right across the street they set up their own salvation shops and noisily hawk their wares.� After all these years of refusing to really deal with God on his terms, insisting instead on making their own deals, they have nothing to show for it. | |||||||||||||||||