According to the Animal Sacrifice Powered Ancient Jerusalem's Economy Every firstborn male lamb from the area around Bethlehem was considered holy, set aside for sacrifice in Jerusalem. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. Once the lambs were of age, the shepherds would take them to Jerusalem for the temple sacrifices. In the year 932 BCE, Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, reintroduced idolatry. Zevach Sh'lamim: Peace Offering. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother [Esau]. There is a theological explanation for why Passover occurs in the spring. The need for a substitutionary sacrifice and shedding of innocent blood to atone for sin is well established in Scripture, beginning in Genesis 3:21, where God made use of animal skins to cover the nakedness and shame of Adam and Eve following their disobedience. Once the sheep were of age the shepherds would bring them to the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed for the Sabbath (Friday). It seems to me they have picked thru the oral law to fit their narrative of how fitting it was that God gave the message to the lowest of the low. Why Bethlehem - Christian Broadcasting Network The priest nearest to the altar tossed the blood against the base of the altar. A little-known fact about Bethlehem is that since it was a relatively close, two-hour walk away from the Temple, it was a location where sheep were raised for the This is not a good argument to use to try to disprove the Dec. 25 brith of Yeshua. Cooper P. Abrams III states in his article regarding Migdal Edar in Jerusalem: This watch tower from ancient times was used by the shepherds for protection from their enemies and wild beasts. The Magi, who were astronomers from the east saw a special star in the sky. Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. Why did they say