Born in a Manger, so in a stable, right?

Maybe not. Read on for more.

As those who have The Truth living in us, Christians ought to seek Truth in all things. Join me as we look at some of our traditions and assess how they line up with Truth.

One of my favorite parts of writing historical fiction is researching in order to build an accurate picture of the characters' lives. In this series, I share some of the insights I've gathered. Check out the book links below to hear your favorite Bible characters share details from their lives.

For six years in the early 2000s, I spent every summer in Ghana, West Africa. Along with the amazing friends and adopted family there, I gained an appreciation for the culture. One thing that struck me was the parallels between Ghanaian and ancient Israelite cultures.

One aspect I noticed, in particular, was their care for the outsider. As a bruni (white person) in Ghana, I could show up in any village and have a place to stay and food to eat. They would give me their last grains of rice and sleep outside in the rain before turning me away.

Though on another continent, Middle Eastern cultures have the same hospitality requirements. It was true in Abraham’s time and still holds true today. As I thought about this parallel, I could not mesh this picture with the common, Western portrayal of the first Christmas. I didn’t know how to verify the accuracy so, I prayed for wisdom.

Days later, I ran across an article titled “Born in a Manger but not in a Stable.” The author presented cultural and linguistic details that gave me a stepping stone to begin my studies. Come along as we explore what that event probably looked like.

First, let's set out some travel guidelines.

1. The Bible is our ultimate guide to Truth. We can trust what is found on its pages.
2. As we read the Bible, we must interpret it within the culture in which it was written. In 2000 years, many traditions have crept in to color our understanding of the Bible. We must be willing to separate those traditions from Truth and to set them aside if a more accurate picture is required by the text or context.

With these guidelines established, let's go.

What does the Bible tell us about the birth of Christ?

Reading Luke 2, we know:

• Jesus was born of a virgin.
• Mary and Joseph were both righteous.
• Cesar Augustus issued a decree that the whole world should be registered for taxation.
• Joseph was of the house and lineage of David, so he went to Bethlehem to be registered.
• Mary went with him.
• While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for the baby to be born.
• They wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.
• There was no room

What the Bible does not say:

• The Bible does not tell us where Joseph was born nor where he lived.
• The Bible does not tell us that they skidded into town with Mary transitioning into second-stage labor, crying as Joseph knocked on the door of multiple inns trying to find a place to deliver the baby. It makes for a good story, but it does not fit with “while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered,” nor with the hospitality-focused culture.
• And, please stay with me, the Bible does not say Mary and Joseph were cast off in a dirty stable to navigate the birthing process alone as first-time parents.

But, what about no room in the inn and being laid in a manger?

To answer that question, let’s first take a look at a standard Jewish home.

Archaeologists have identified what they call the four-room Israelite house. It first shows up in the material culture about the time the Hebrews moved into Canaan, and it became the classic home in the area until the time of the exile. Many archeologists will classify a site as Israelite based on the presence of such homes. After the Jews returned from exile in Babylon, the layout changed slightly, but the basic components remained the same.

A model of a typical Israelite house, the so-called four-room house.

Nick Laarakkers at nl.wikipedia - Own work. CC BY-SA 3.0

The home is structured in a U shape, consisting of four rooms: The main courtyard in the center of the U, long rooms along the left and right walls, and one long, wide room along the back. Any of these rooms may or may not be divided into additional rooms either by pillars, sheets, or actual walls. One or both of the side rooms were dedicated to housing the cows, donkeys, and other valuable or sick livestock. Farm equipment, grains, oils, and other food stores were kept in the back room. The courtyard was used for daily activities such as cooking, eating, grinding grain, pressing oil, spinning, and weaving.

Often, a second story was built above the backroom creating a single, large upstairs room. Whether single- or two-story, stairs led to the roof with a banister around the edge. The family often slept on the roof on warm summer nights.

The Jewish housing complex did not contain a separate stable. Animals were kept in the room off the courtyard where they could be protected from thieves.

Now let’s take a look at the Roman tax system.

The Romans levied heavy taxes to pay for the army and many building programs. When the Senate called for a tax, individuals (tax farmers) could bid for the job of collecting said taxes. Whoever promised to collect the highest amount won the bid, and then would conduct a census, requiring everyone to register their property in order to assess their tax liability. The tax farmers would up-charge the citizens to line their own pockets.  Ceasar Agustus (the first Roman Emperor, r. 27BC-14AD) began the slow process of reforming the tax system to relieve the corruption. It was under this system that Joseph had to return to Bethlehem to register his family’s land.

Now that we understand the historical and cultural context a little better, let’s go back to the story.

Most English translations tell us that Mary laid Jesus in a manger because there was no room in the inn.

Let’s take a look at this crowded location.

There are two Greek words that might be translated “inn”. The first one, pandocheion, clearly means a public inn for travelers. Luke uses this word when he tells the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

The other word that might be translated “inn” is kataluma. It was used for any type of accommodation – an open-air khan, a public guest house, or the upstairs room of the four-room house. Luke uses this word when he tells us where Jesus and the disciples had the Last Supper (Luke 22:7-38). This is also the term he uses to describe the place that was full when Jesus was born (Luke 2:7).

Bethlehem was a small town when Jesus was born. Archaeologists place the population between 300 and 1000 people. It was on a major highway so it probably had a single, open-air, khan-style inn run by a shopkeeper who could provide food and other necessities for a fee.

So, let’s piece this all together.

• The Jews of Jesus' day did not know of a separate stable. Their animals were kept in the house just off the courtyard. That is where we would expect to find the manger.
• Middle Eastern hospitality would require someone to take in travelers, especially a young couple expecting a baby.
• Luke used both terms for inn in his Gospel, but he used kataluma to describe the place that was full at Jesus’s birth and the room where Jesus ate the Last Supper.

I propose, based on the work of a growing number of Bible-believing scholars, that our Western understanding of the nativity is culturally improbable.

Mary and Joseph weren’t turned away from multiple inns, or even one. They likely arrived weeks, or even months before Jesus was born. Then, with so many family members returning to Bethlehem to register their property for taxation, the guest room was full. The quietest place for Mary to deliver the baby would have been the stable room, right off the courtyard. Rather than being cast aside to navigate the birth by herself, Mary gave birth in the home, surrounded by family and supported with love.

Does our understanding of this cultural tidbit make a difference to our salvation?

Not at all. The Gospel is clear: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). And “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). None of the salvation verses require belief in any particular account of Christ’s birth.

But, when we toss Jesus aside in the stable, His birth becomes strange and unrelatable. We also introduce improbabilities that cast doubt on the reliability of Scripture – questions that disappear when we have an accurate understanding.

Let’s bring Him out of the stable, into a loving home, surrounded by friends and family. Let’s make the Christmas story make sense.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover image by Vickie McCarty from Pixabay

This blog post is based on research for Our Stories: Hope's Arrival.

The Christmas Story as you’ve never heard it before.

Join characters from the Christmas story as they share how one encounter with Hope changed their lives.

From Zechariah meeting the angel in the temple to Joseph struggling as he contemplates his role in raising the Son of God, these thirteen interwoven short stories will captivate and inspire readers. Travel through the Biblical account with perspectives from a priest, shepherds, Wise Men, and even a soldier in this unique and powerful retelling of The Christmas Story.

These aren’t just any stories - these are Our Stories.

Based on scripture and reliable, historical context, then infused with a touch of sanctified imagination, Our Stories share relatable truths that will stay with you long after you close the book.

Whether you're reading alone, with your family, or in a small group, Our Stories are perfect for anyone looking for a fresh account of His story.

Available in paperback, eBook, audiobook, and a limited edition autographed hardback. Get your copy today at HopesArrival.com.