> But no Shepherd is in the Fields there in December. It was probably
> Sept/Oct judging from Date John the Baptist's father was serving in Templ=
e.

I note the following as of historic interest. Not intended to be
slippery slope into religious discussion. Jewish observance of temple
duties was taken very seriously indeed. Who did what when was all very
strictly laid out and observed to the absolute letter. The sacking of
the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD after the city had been under
siege by the Romans for several years is recorded in great detail and
precise date is known. The priestly detail that was on duty at the
time is also known from the same records. From this and other records
which detail the groups involved, lengths of time on temple duty etc
it is possible to roll the time table backwards over 70 years or so
until the time at which John the Baptist was born. IF you take the
biblical account of JTB's father being on priestly duty at the time as
historical fact then you can date the time within a series of time
windows relating to his duties. This is what MW is alluding to. If you
don't consider the JTB's father's story to be history ten the rest is
irrelevant.

FWIW my father in law was in Bethlehem at Christmas time during WW2.
He took photos. Light dusting of snow as I recall (many years since I
saw the photos). Not the sort of conditions you'd like to be out on
the hills with sheep in. But not inconceivable either. Given that it
is generally believed that climate conditions were substantially
warmer at that stage (really - Roman "warm period")   then it's not
inconceivable that shepherds and flocks were out and about at around
that time. BUT afaik there is no primary biblical evidence to suggest
a December date for its nativity records - or any other date. Only
secondary adumbrations as Michael noted.

I anyone would like to read a short Science Fiction story of mine
(unpublished, 10+ years old) that suggests a very very very different
perspective on the events around that time ask OFFLIST and when I
locate it I'll send you a copy. Some would consider such an
alternative rendering sacrilegious - but it fits in essentially
perfectly with the biblical account and does no violence to the core
story - just twists the brain somewhat.


     Russell




>
> But if there was no mid winter feast we would need to invent one. I
> wonder what people south of Equator do end of June?
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