Fifth Day of Christmas Reflection December 29

I already mentioned that Luke makes no mention of an innkeeper (or innkeeper’s wife). I’ll still get to the question of the inn, but as you read Matthew and Luke today, recognize that neither of them say anything about a stable. The idea that a manger would be in a stable did not come from the Gospel text, but from European farm villages. Jews in first century Palestine would not have had stables out behind the house, as is often pictured. People of wealth and royalty had large barns for storage and stables for horses (King Solomon’s horse stables/stalls were famous - 1 Kings 4.26). Rather, a lower level than the first floor of the house would have protected the family animals from the elements and thieves. An open space at the end of the kitchen area on the first level would have had a manger so kitchen scraps could be fed to the animals. I don’t want to get into too much detail here. If you are interested, you may want to read Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey (IVP Academic, 2008). His insights about the inn will come another day.

What I want you to do is read Matthew and Luke carefully for what they actually wrote. Neither of them use a word for stable and Matthew specified that the Magi came to the house where the child Jesus was. As you read, noticing the absence of a word for stable, how is your mental picture of Jesus’ birthplace modified?