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WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?: M. M. NINAN<br />
burning incense in the Temple, when an angel told him that his wife<br />
Elizabeth will conceive a child who should be called John. Considering<br />
this as 0, Elizabeth conceived John after the termination of Zechariah’s<br />
duty anytime during the next seven days. Here we have an error of +/-<br />
7 days. Mary <strong>was</strong> told that she would conceive <strong>Jesus</strong> on the sixth<br />
month. This is usually taken to mean that “sixth month after Elizabeth<br />
conceived John. Though the text itself could mean as the sixth month of<br />
the year, Greek grammar permit this interpretation<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thus if we can identify the end of the service of Zechariah’s<br />
temple service we could identify<br />
Annunciation of Mary took place after 150 days<br />
John’s Birth took place after 280 days<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong>’ birth took place after 430 days<br />
Thus the birth of <strong>Jesus</strong> would be soon after (430-360/365) = 70/65<br />
days of the final day of Succoth, Hoshana Raba (Rosh Hoshana) – the<br />
next year. We should also allow a week or two for Zechariah to travel<br />
back to his village home and for Elizabeth to conceive. The uncertain<br />
number of days in the Hebrew year should also be taken into account.<br />
1. Zechariah belonged to the levitical division of Abijah.<br />
Luke 1:5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there <strong>was</strong> a priest<br />
named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;<br />
his wife Elizabeth <strong>was</strong> also a descendant of Aaron<br />
2. We can try to locate the time when Zechariah served as High Priest<br />
in the temple from this.<br />
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