Luke 2:1-7
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THEM IN THE INN.”
(No room at the Inn.)
Taxes. Nobody likes taxes. Yet, amazingly, God used them to orchestrate events so that His Beloved Son, Jesus, would be born in Bethlehem.
Herod was king back then though he was not the true King. He wasn't even Jewish. He was an Edomite, a usurper and a very evil King at that, though he was a great builder.
On the other hand, Joseph and Mary BOTH were direct descendants of King David. They were actually the rightful heirs of the throne, a bonafide royal couple. Through their lineage, Jesus had a double claim to the throne of his father, David.
Genealogy.
Matthew chapter 1 records Joseph's lineage to David, who's ancestor was Solomon. Mary's is recorded in Luke 3. Her ancestor was Nathan, another of David's sons, for he had many. Interesting that his name means, "Gift!"
Did it ever seem strange to you that the lineage in Matthew only goes as far back as David, the son of Abraham? Why? Because Matthew is all about Jesus as the King of Israel. Luke's gospel, on the other hand, portrays Jesus as "the perfect Man." That is why which the genealogy recorded there traces all the way back to Adam, proving Jesus was fully man. He did not take over some human body, like invasion of the body snatchers.
(For more on that topic, follow this link and also discover why we have four gospels:
Joseph And Mary's Itinerary.
There were two possible routes they could have taken. {See map} One was more direct; the other turned East, ran along the Jordan River toward Jericho and then turned West, back again toward Jerusalem. Both were approximately 70-75 miles in distance, give or take, and would have taken about four or five days if one were to walk about 20 miles a day.
In the opening passage, it says that "the days were accomplished that she should be delivered." By that phrase, you can tell she must have been VERY PREGNANT, not too far from her due date. How'd you like to make a trip like that, ladies, at nine months pregnant? Wow!
The Jordan route would have been the most likely for two reasons. First, it would have been flatter terrain and thus easier traveling. Being the lower in elevation, it would also have been more moderate in temperature. The other reason was that most Jewish people did not like to go through Samaria. They did all they could to skirt around that region lest they be soiled by contact with those ignorant Gentiles.
Why Did Mary Accompny Joseph?
Either way, in those days, it was a long and difficult journey from Nazareth and Mary, being great with child, would have found it particularly difficult.
Under normal circumstances, she would never have accompanied Joseph on this journey because, back then, only men were taxed. But because she was so far along in her pregnancy, which no one could adequately explain, she would have been in grave danger had she remained in Nazareth. She wasn't legally married to Joseph yet, simply betrothed, so they assumed she had broken the Law of Moses. They might have stoned her to death.
The Inn.
Now what about this Inn, and who in the world is Chimham (pronounced "Kím-ham)?"
There is a very long history and interesting story to tell. Located in greater Bethlehem, it was a well-known place for travelers to stop along their journey. There were many lodging places all throughout the Middle East along the Silk Road. Such places, called "Caravanserai," offered travel-weary folk lodging for the night as well as food and water for their transportation, kinda like our Modern-day hotels. The oldest of these is in present-day Turkey. Still standing, it is more than 600 years old!
Mary and Joseph's ancestor, David, was a Bethlehem boy from way back. He lived there until he became king and moved into the palace, which at that time was located in Hebron. The home in Bethlehem, where he grew up, was passed down to him by his father, Jesse. He inherited it from his father, Obed, whose Mom and Dad were Boaz and Ruth, the Moabitess.
Boaz, you recall, was the wealthiest and most eligible bachelor in all of Bethlehem who had fallen madly in love with Ruth, the widow of Naomi's son. You can imagine his home was not too shabby, more like an estate.
His parents were Salmon and Rahab. Remember her? She was the reformed prostitute from Jericho that helped the two Hebrew spies. Salmon's father was Nahshon who had been captain of the tribe of Judah. He lead the Israelites through the Red Sea.
What an long, amazing and illustrious lineage of the Bible's "Who's Who!
Barzillai The Gileadite.
Back when David was King, his son, Absolom, who was extremely handsome and charismatic, wanted the throne for himself. He stole the hearts of the people away from his father. But instead of fighting his son, David chose to walk away. He didn't want to kill him.
As he was wandering here and there with his mighty men, several people helped him. Let's follow the story in lI Samuel 17:27-29.
“Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.””
Barzillai was very old, somewhere around 80 years old. Two chapters later when Absolom was killed, David prepared to cross back over the Jordan and return home. Gilead, where he had sought refuge, is in present day Jordan. He wanted to reward Barzillai for his many kindnesses but he declined as we'll read below:
“Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.” And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place. Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel.”
II Samuel 19:37-40
The Sons Of Barzillai.
Later on, David, on his deathbed, didn't have much of anything good to say about anyone: "Kill this person, get rid of that guy," and so on; except for the "sons of Barzillai.
““But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.”
I Kings 2:7 NKJV
We don't even know Barzillai's real name, only that he was the son, "bar," of "Zillai;" but his sons were accorded forever the privilege of eating at David's table in his own house, you know, the beautiful home of Boaz in greater Bethlehem. Later on, this house came to belong to Chimham and his descendants as you see in the scripture below.
“Then Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah after he had murdered Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—the mighty men of war and the women and the children and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon. And they departed and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is near Bethlehem, as they went on their way to Egypt,”
Jeremiah 41:16-17
This great home which had belonged to David became the Inn which formerly belonged to the royal family of the house and lineage of David. By the time Jesus came along, however, it had changed hands and had turned into a purely money-making operation. I mean, come on; a VERY PREGNANT lady comes along and the innkeeper can't even ask anyone to give up their room for her? The guy was obviously all about money.
But did Joseph kick up a fuss and pull rank on him and say, "Don't you know who I am? I'm the rightful king of Israel. I'm a DIRECT DESCENDANT of King David himself!" No. None of that. He left it in God's hands to work all things out for good. And so He did. God was about to show to His people a sign; a sign to the shepherds.
So where did Mary have her baby? IN THE "CAR PORT; the stable," where the animals were kept.
Baby Jesus was placed in a very particular manger, most likely the one at the foot of the Tower of Eder, Eder Migdol, or the Tower of the Flock. It was here that they kept sheep used for temple sacrifices.
They were all good quality sheep fit for use a sacrifices because, as soon as they were born, they were "wrapped in swaddling" clothes to lie in mangers so that, while they were very young and rambunctious, they wouldn't jump around and injure themselves. That would render them unfit to be used. So, when the Angel told the shepherds that they would find the babe wrapped in "swaddling clothes, lying in a manger," there was no doubt in their minds what manger it was!
The Original Owner Of The House.
You learned that grand home once belonged to Boaz, whose great, great grandfather was Nahshon, the captain of Judah. But there was someone long before Nahshon who built that house years before and who lived there first: Jacob.
When his favorite wife, Rachel, died, he buried her just outside Bethlehem and erected a monument there when exists to this day.
“So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.” Genesis 35:19-21
Rachel's tomb is still there.
Spiritual Truth.
Notice the name change from Jacob to Israel? That means there is a spiritual truth hidden here. Jacob was his given name but the name, Israel, was given to him by the Lord. He "pitched his tent just beyond the Tower of Eder," where the flocks of the temple sacrifices were kept. Being his most beloved wife, he wanted to be close to her so he built his house nearby the monument he erected.
Years later when the young shepherd boy, David, came along, he most likely was a shepherd to those very sheep who would be used in temple sacrifices. He would even fight against wild beasts for these sheep who were basically born to die.
Centuries later, the original family owners, THE ROYAL COUPLE, the parents of David's great, great, great, great......grandson, THE KING OF ALL KINGS, came looking for lodging and safe haven so that His mother, Mary, could have her baby. How incredibly ironic that there was no room for Him in the house that He rightfully owned! And do you know why they were rejected, even though she was VERY PREGNANT? They probably didn't have enough money to bribe the money-grubbing owner. So, they were relegated to a cold stable for animals where there was only a stone manger filled with hay in which to place lay baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
And that, Church, is the amazing history of the Inn where no room was found for the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords known as Chimham's Inn.
No comments:
Post a Comment