The Birth of John the Baptist

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 1:39) And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste to a city of Judah.

At the end of the last post, Mary had just been given the message from the Lord that she would conceive and bear the Son of God.  At that time she made an earnest journey into the hill country to a city of Judah.  Early commentators said this was probably Hebron, a city of priests, in the hill country of Judea and belonging to the house of Aaron.  If that is true, it was a hundred mile journey for Mary!  Even though the scripture only mentioned Mary, surely some family member or perhaps Joseph arranged to have Mary join a caravan traveling to Hebron.

(40) And entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.

Mary went to the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth.  It is understandable that she would go to the one person with whom she could freely talk about her pregnancy, as being a pregnant virgin would not have been well accepted in her village, and no one would have believed her story about how it came to be.

(41) And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

This is one of my favorite verses in all the Bible.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's entrance and greeting, the baby in her womb leaped!  The baby, not a fetus, actually reacted to the voice of Mary.  The baby, not Elizabeth's baby and property to do with what she wished.  This was a separate human being inside Elizabeth's womb reacting of his own accord.  Is there any clearer message that the baby growing inside a woman is indeed a life separate from her?  The baby can react and feel pain if he is killed even inside the womb.  There is just no way to dispute the fact that abortion is murder of an innocent child!  When the baby leaped inside of her, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

(42) And she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

Elizabeth, being filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized what her baby had just recognized and to what he had reacted, and declared in a loud voice that Mary was blessed among women, using the words the angel had spoken to Mary, and that the child within her womb was blessed which, of course, was the reason why Mary was blessed.

(43) "And why this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

Elizabeth continued, citing the Holy Spirit revelation that Mary was the mother of her Lord, and she asked why it was that Mary should come to her, obviously a question in humility that she should be honored with a visit from Mary, and her Lord, especially.

(44) "For lo, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy."

Elizabeth continued, telling Mary how the baby in her womb leapt for joy when he heard Mary's salutation.

(45) "And blessed is she who believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Still obviously speaking the words of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth concluded that Mary was blessed because she had believed the prophecy of the angel, and confirmed that those things that had been told to her by the angel of the Lord would indeed come to pass.

(46) And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,"

Mary began what is called the Magnificat, said to be a hymn of Mary, surely by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  She said her soul magnified the Lord, meaning not that she herself could magnify or make Him greater, but that her soul realized and declared His greatness.

(47) "And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."

Mary declared her spirit rejoiced in God her Savior, the Holy Spirit within her declaring that she was saved by God through the redemption that would be in Christ Jesus, the baby in her womb.

(48) "For He has regarded the lowly state of His handmaiden, for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."

The Lord God had highly favored Mary in her lowly and humble state, meaning there was not any particular excellence in her, except that she was a willing handmaiden of the Lord, but it was from God's excellent love and mercy that she would from then on through all generations be called blessed.

(49) "For He who is mighty has done to me great things, and holy is His name."

Mary declared that the mighty God had done great things for her and specifically to her with regard to her immaculate conception of a child who would become the Savior of the world.  She declared God's name as holy, and indeed this miracle within her was brought about with no impurity and only by the Holy Spirit.

(50) "And His mercy is on them who fear Him from generation to generation."

Mary proclaimed God's mercy was on the people who feared Him, meaning a reverential respect for just who He was, from that generation to the next and to the next forever.

(51) "He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts."

God had shown strength with His arm referring to what He had done with His almighty power.  He had dispelled the proud and haughty who were high and mighty in their own imaginations and brought them to nothing.  He made foolish the wisdom of the world:  "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Corinthians 1:19-20)

(52) "He has put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree."

Mary declared, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that God had taken down the mighty from their thrones, as when Saul was removed as king to establish David's kingdom.  However, it is also a prophetic statement about Satan being removed from his throne as the prince of the world by Jesus Christ who conquered death and saved His people from Satan.  God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); He exalts people of low esteem as He exalted the young shepherd boy David and He was exalting Mary in her lowly state (v. 48 above).

(53) "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty."

God has filled the hungry and poor with the good things they need and has blessed them with things greater than the riches of the world.  He has sent the rich away empty, not necessarily a proactive move on God's part but because they don't rely on Him for their needs.  If they prayed at all, their prayers would likely be those to enrich themselves even more and to make them less likely to depend on God.  God might indeed deny or take away riches in order to bring one closer to Him, their only true source of salvation and joy.

(54) "He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy."

God has continued to support Israel, mercifully remembering His covenant with Abraham, "I will make you a great nation, I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you, and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:2-3)  The original word translated as "helped" is a very long word meaning so much more than helped.  It means to lay hold of and participate in the support of something, in this case Israel.  God was always an ever-present support for His people, Israel, and in bringing forth Jesus from Mary's womb, all families of the earth would now be blessed.

(55) "As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever."

Mary concluded her hymn by adding that God had spoken to and reminded their fathers from Abraham down through the generations through David to Jesus about His promise.  From Jesus forward in time the covenant would be with His spiritual seed, as of course, Jesus would have no natural descendants.

(56) And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth and Zacharias about three months, which would have been about the time that Elizabeth was to deliver her child, and then she returned to her home.

(57) Now Elizabeth's full time came that she should deliver, and she brought forth a son.

Indeed, it was Elizabeth's time to give birth and she brought forth a son.

(58) And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had shown great mercy on her and they rejoiced with her.

When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had blessed Elizabeth with a son in her old and barren age, they rejoiced with her.  Indeed, this was a fulfillment of the prophecy the angel had given Zacharias in Luke 1:14, that many would rejoice at his birth.

(59) And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him Zacharias after the name of his father.

When the baby was eight days old, some of those same neighbors and relatives came to circumcise the baby as was Jewish law.  It was the time at which the baby was normally given his name.  Those who were in attendance for the circumcision called the baby Zacharias after his father.

(60) And his mother answered and said, "No, he shall be called John."

Elizabeth objected and said that her baby's name was to be John as the angel had said it was to be.

(61) And they said to her, "There is none of your kindred who is called by this name."

However, the people answered back that there was no one in her family who was called by John, as it must have been a usual custom to name babies after others in their family.  The name John literally meant "Jehovah is a gracious giver," as He certainly had been in giving Elizabeth this child.  This was especially true when you consider who it was that John was sent to proclaim and prepare the way for; the gracious God gave the world Jesus to save them.

(62) And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

The people used sign language to ask Zacharias what he wanted the baby called.

(63) And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, "His name is John." And they all marveled.

Zacharias motioned for a writing tablet and wrote that the baby's name was to be John.  The people were amazed at this, probably because he didn't want the baby named after him, and because he and Elizabeth were in agreement when he had been deaf and dumb this whole time.

(64) And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke and praised God.

As soon as Zacharias had named the child John, all things being accomplished that the angel had foretold, all impediments to his speech, and to his hearing if there was any, were removed and He was able to speak and praised God.

(65) And fear came on all who dwelt around them, and all these sayings were talked about abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.

At that, the people marveled even more and were in awe and even fear.  They told about the things that had happened and word spread throughout the hill country of Judea.

(66) And all those who heard laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What manner of child will this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Those who heard about the circumstances surrounding John's birth and naming stored those things in their hearts, wondering what sort of child he would grow to be, as it was obvious to them that the extraordinary circumstances of his birth meant the hand of God was on him.  The King James Version of this verse made the statement declarative and exclamatory, rather than a question:  "What manner of child will this be!"  That suggests the same thing that he must be something special.  Indeed, the hand of the Lord was on John.

(67) And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied, saying, (68) "Blessed the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people."

Zacharias was then filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy, first by praising His Lord God of all Israel who was with them and was redeeming His people.  Zacharias may not have known just how He was doing that, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he spoke it as if it were done.

(69) "And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David."

Obviously still speaking the words of the Holy Spirit, Zacharias went on to say that God had raised up a horn of salvation, the horn signifying strength, glory, and power, for His people from the line of His servant David, who was of course, Jesus Christ.  "The horn of my salvation" was quoted by David in Psalms 18:2.

(70) "As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets who have been since the world began, (71) That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;"

This horn of salvation in the form of Jesus Christ had been spoken of by prophets of God since the beginning of time, from Genesis to Moses to the prophets.  This salvation would save them from their enemies and all who hated them in that their sins and Satan and his wicked followers could no longer destroy them.  Their mortal earthly bodies might be destroyed, but through the redemption in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, they could live forever with God in heaven.

(72) "To perform the mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, (73) The oath which He swore to our father Abraham."

In saving His people, God was performing the mercy He promised to their patriarchs and remembering His covenant made with Abraham that He would bless Abraham and make his descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and that his descendants would possess the gates of his enemies, as with Solomon and David and other kings, and ultimately with Jesus Christ who triumphed over death itself, and in his descendants all nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 22:17-18).

(74) "That He would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, (75) In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life."

That promised merciful salvation that the Lord granted to His people even at the time Zacharias was speaking, since His people were being delivered from the hands of their enemies, should allow them to serve Him without fear in true holiness and righteousness, not in mere outward rituals and legal ceremonies.  Through the redemption that would be in Jesus Christ, His people would be considered holy and righteous before the Lord and could serve Him all the days of their lives.

(76) "And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways."

Zacharias, turning his prophetic speech to his son, said that this child would be called the prophet of the Highest, the Highest obviously being God, but he could also be called the prophet of the highest calling, as he was the one who went before the Lord Jesus to prepare the way for Him.

(77) "To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, (78) Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us, (79) To give light to them who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Zacharias's son John would prophesy and prepare the way of the Lord by giving the knowledge of salvation through the remission of their sins to His people.  That salvation would come to be because of the tender mercy of our Father God from whom that morning Light of the World from on high would come down to earth to give light to His people who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide them into the way of spiritual peace and joy.

(80) And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.

Zacharias's prophecy now ended, scripture returned to the child of Zacharias and Elizabeth, John, who would become known as John the Baptist.  He grew and became strong in spirit and was in the deserts until he entered public ministry.  Either he grew up and then went to the desert region until ready to start his ministry, or perhaps the meaning is that while he grew, he spent his time in the deserts near his home, indicating he did not attend the schools of the Jews or apprentice with rabbis.  In solitude he was taught by God and he became strong in spirit.  He began his ministry at about the age of 30, as Jesus did, as was the law as gleaned from Numbers 4:3. 

The Births of John the Baptist and Jesus Foretold

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 1:1) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Luke was a physician and a friend and contemporary of the apostle Paul.  He is said to have written both the books of Luke and Acts.  He was also the only non-Jew to write in the New Testament, at least the only one clearly identifiable as non-Jew.  Luke began his gospel account by acknowledging that many others had undertaken the task of writing about Jesus.

(2) Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word; (3) It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, (4) That you might know the certainty of those things in which you have been instructed.

Luke further acknowledged that those others who had written about Jesus and had handed down their accounts were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.  As Luke had a perfect understanding of all things about Jesus from the very first, surely inspired by the Holy Spirit, he felt he should write his own gospel account in chronological order.  He wrote his account to Theophilus, and also his book of Acts was addressed to him.  The Bible never specifies exactly who Theophilus was, but he apparently was a student of Christianity and Luke wanted him to know the full story of Jesus and the early church to confirm the things he had been taught.

(5) There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias of the course of Abijah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Luke began his account telling about the priest Zacharias who ministered during the reign of Herod.  When the priests became so numerous they could not all minister at the altar at once, they were divided into 24 courses, each one of which officiated for a week.  Zacharias was of the course of Abijah.  His wife was Elizabeth, a daughter of Aaron.

(6) And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Both Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous people following God's commandments and laws, and were said to be blameless, that is, no visible external fault was found in them.

(7) And they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

Zacharias and Elizabeth had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and at this time they both were well advanced in age.

(8) And it came to pass that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, (9) According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

The course of Abijah was the eighth course in order called to perform its priestly duties, and when it came Zacharias's course's turn to minister in the temple, the priests apparently cast or drew lots to determine which priest would do what, and Zacharias's lot was to burn incense.

(10) And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.

A multitude of people had gathered outside the temple at the time of incense to pray.

(11) And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

There appeared to Zacharias an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense in the holy place of the temple.

(12) And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

No explanation being needed, Zacharias was afraid when he saw the angel.

(13) But the angel said to him, "Fear not, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son and you shall call his name John."

The angel told Zacharias not to be afraid, for he was just bringing him a message.  He told Zacharias his prayer had been answered, although it was certainly not a prayer he presently prayed being in advanced age, but it was always an intense desire of Jews to have children so that their name would not die out.  The angel told him his wife Elizabeth would bear a son and he was to call his name John.

(14) "And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth." 

Zacharias and Elizabeth would be joyful at the birth of a son, and many of their friends and relatives would rejoice with them.  However, it likely meant much more than that, that their son would grow to be a joyful honor to his family and many people would rejoice that he had been born as he would surely become a blessing to all mankind.

(15) "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb."

The angel continued to detail how Zacharias's son would be great before the Lord and regarded by God as such.  He would be a man who never drank wine or any strong intoxicating drink but would be "high" on the Holy Ghost only.  The angel said he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth, but even before while in his mother's womb, as we will later see in scripture.

(16) "And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God."

The angel told Zacharias that his son John would be the reason many people turned back to their Lord God in repentance.

(17) "And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

The angel continued; John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah.  From the prophecy in Malachi 4:5, the people expected the prophet Elijah to come before the Messiah, and Jesus would later tell His disciples that Elijah had indeed come before Him in the form of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:12-13).  John would come to reconcile those who were in quarrels with and grudges against others close to them, and to turn the hearts of obstinate sinners to the true wisdom of the just who were righteous before the Lord.  He would prepare them the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3).

(18) And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years."

Zacharias asked the angel how he would know what the angel said was true because it did not seem possible since he and his wife were both old in age.

(19) And the angel answering said to him, "I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God and is sent to speak to you and to show you these glad tidings."

The angel answered Zacharias and identified himself as the angel Gabriel who was sent to him with a message from God containing glad tidings of which Zacharias should have been joyful and thankful.

(20) "And you will be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed because you did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their season."

The angel Gabriel declared that Zacharias would be made "dumb" and unable to speak until what he had foretold would come to pass as he said.  Every other translation of the Bible I read translated dumb as mute but that makes it redundant as mute and unable to speak are the same thing.  It's not as if redundancy is not often the case in the Bible, but I truly believe this is meant to be "deaf" and dumb, unable to speak, as in later scripture Zacharias's friends had to make signs for him so that he would understand (Luke 1:62).

I have often wondered why Zacharias's questioning how he and his wife could have a child at their advanced age was any different than Mary questioning how it could be that she was pregnant when she had not been with a man.  I just decided that God knows the hearts and did not question it, but now seems a good time to examine both occasions.  Mary merely asked how it would be since she was a virgin and the angel told her how and she answered that she was God's handmaiden and would do as the Lord wished.  In Zacharias's case he didn't ask how this could be since he and his wife were both so old to which he might have received an answer that was said at the end of Mary's explanation, "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).  However, Zacharias asked how he would know that this supposed angel of God was telling him the truth and he indeed received an answer that would serve to prove to him that this was indeed an angel of the Lord bringing him a prophecy.  And again, the Lord does know the heart, and in Mary's case, she was a very willing servant as soon as she understood, but in Zacharias's case, not only was he a priest who should have been more in tune to the Spirit of God, God may have known he would persevere in doubt and express it verbally, so he was struck deaf and dumb and unable to do that.

(21) And the people waited for Zacharias and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.

The people who had been praying outside the temple waited for Zacharias and wondered why he had been in the temple for so long.

(22) And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

When Zacharias did exit the temple, he was most likely supposed to deliver a prayer but he was unable to speak.  The people perceived that he had seen a vision for he used sign language to express what had happened.

(23) And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

When Zacharias's course or shift of administering in the temple was complete, he left the temple and went to his house.

(24) And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months, saying, (25) "Thus has the Lord dealt with me to take away my reproach among men."

Elizabeth did indeed conceive as the angel Gabriel had said, and she hid herself for five months.  She delighted in the blessing of the Lord to take away her reproach among men, because barrenness was seen as a reproach among the Jews.  Because she so delighted, I don't believe she was necessarily trying to conceal her pregnancy, but rather was retiring from public to rest and privately enjoy her blessing from the Lord.  Perhaps because it was a marvelous thing to happen to her in her advanced age, she wanted to protect her baby in her womb and just take it easy.

(26) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

At the time of Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, the same angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth.

(27) To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Continuing to describe Gabriel's newest mission, he was sent specifically to a young virgin named Mary who was betrothed to Joseph from the lineage of David.

(28) And the angel came to her and said, "Hail, highly favored, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women."

The angel came to Mary addressing her as highly favored by the Lord and blessed among women.

(29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and deliberated in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

It seems that fear wasn't Mary's first response but rather she was bewildered and wondered what the angel's greeting to her could mean.

(30) And the angel said to her, "Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

The angel told Mary not to be afraid of his presence and of how he had greeted her, but reassured her that she had found favor with God.

(31) "And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call His name JESUS."

The angel then gave Mary the prophetic message from the Lord that she would conceive and bear a child, a son, and would call His name Jesus.  This would be fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 which said, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel."  The name Immanuel literally meant "God is with us."  Jesus would certainly be called that.  The literal meaning of the name Jesus was "Jehovah saved."  Certainly Jesus is Savior.  He is also called Lamb of God and Son of Man.  Another mention of the prophecy of the birth of Jesus by Isaiah is found in Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."  Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be called by many names, so I don't believe he was prophesying Jesus's given name.  The angel Gabriel told Mary she would give her baby the name of Jesus.

(32) "He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David."

The angel went on to tell Mary that her Son would be great and would be called the Son of the Highest, or the Son of the Most High, as God was called, and of the Highest, more than any man or angel could ever be.  God would give her Son the throne of David, called His father because He descended directly from him.  We were told in verse 27 that Joseph descended from David, but Mary did also.  David's throne was in God's kingdom and was a symbolic type of God's spiritual kingdom of which Jesus came to fulfill on earth.

(33) "And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Mary's Son would reign on that throne of David over the house of Jacob, meaning all the descendants of Jacob from all of the twelve tribes, and His kingdom would never end.  He would reign in the hearts of His people until the end of the world and for all eternity in heaven.

(34) Then Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be seeing I know not a man?"

Mary asked the angel how it could possibly be that she would bear a child when she had never intimately been with a man.

(35) And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon you and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore also that holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God."

The angel explained to Mary that the Holy Spirit of God would come upon her and make her conceive.  Therefore her Son would also be known as the Son of God.

(36) "And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren."

Elizabeth was from the tribe of Levi and Mary from the tribe of Judah, so they must have been kin through their mothers' sides.  Perhaps as encouragement and also as confirmation that what the angel had said was true, he told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy with her son, even as impossible as that might seem in her old age.

(37) "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

The angel concluded that nothing was impossible with God.  Just as barren Elizabeth could bear a son in her old age, so could the virgin Mary bear a Son, the Son of God.

(38) And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Mary declared herself to be the handmaid of the Lord, completely submissive and obedient to His will as spoken by the angel, and the angel then left her.

This is a very long chapter, so I think this is a good stopping place for now.  The rest of the first chapter of Luke will be studied in the next post.

The Fascinating Line of Judah That Produced the Lion of Judah

I am going to take an ever-so-slight detour from the chronologically ordered Bible study I have been doing by Skip Andrews.  Mr. Andrews placed the first six verses in Genesis 39 here, and then continued the rest of Genesis 39 after what is written here.  It may have been Mr. Andrews's purpose to show that at the same time Joseph began captivity in Egypt, these events with Judah's sons were happening, but I see no real reason to separate the story of Joseph, so I will study Judah's sons here and will then return to Joseph.

(Genesis 38:6) And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

Previously in this chronological reading, it was reported that Judah had taken a Canaanite wife, and she had borne him three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah.  Now Judah's son Er had grown and it appears that Judah chose the wife for Er.

(7) And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD killed him.

Judah's son Er was a wicked man.  We are not told exactly what he did, but it was bad enough that the Lord took him out.  Judah started his family on the wrong foot.  He left his brothers' companionship and made friends among the Canaanites and married a Canaanite woman.  He continued friendships with the Canaanites as shown in the next few verses.  At the very least, his children were not brought up in a God-fearing home.

(8) And Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up seed to your brother."

After Er died, Judah told his second son to marry Er's widow, as was apparently the custom, so that the firstborn son would have descendants.  Indeed it became a law in Deuteronomy 25:5.  Biblical historians point out that the word used for "marry" here is not the one most commonly used; the verb "yabam" is the same word as the noun that means "brother-in-law", although it may be pronounced a little differently than the noun "yabam".

(9) And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. (10) And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.

From what I read, only the firstborn would have been considered his brother's child; after that, all the other children would have been considered Onan's.  However, it appears that Onan wouldn't even give his brother that.  Onan defied custom that would have honored his brother, and although his brother may not have deserved honor, he apparently did it for selfish reasons.  The act was a sin against the divine institution of marriage and the object of that marriage, the bringing forth of children.  That act greatly displeased the Lord and Onan also was killed by Him.

(11) Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow at your father's house till my son Shelah is grown." For he said, "Lest he also die like his brothers." And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

Judah told Tamar to go live at her father's house until his youngest son, Shelah, was grown and able to marry her.  That is what he said, but that is not what he intended, for he reasoned within his heart that it was so that his youngest son would not also die like his brothers.  Tamar did as she was asked and went to live at her father's house.

(12) And in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah's wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

After some time Judah's wife died.  The original words transcribed as "in the process of time" give a sense of a multiplied time, even a multitude of years.  It was probably several years after Judah sent Tamar back to her father's house with the pretense that she was only waiting for Shelah to mature, and it was obvious the youngest son was never going to marry her.  Judah was comforted, indicating he had gone through his period of mourning, and now went to Timnah where his sheep shearers were.  He took along his Canaanite friend, Hirah, and they were evidently going for enjoyment after his time of mourning.

(13) And it was told Tamar, saying, "Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep." (14) And she took off her widow's garments, and covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah, for she saw that Shelah was grown and she was not given to him as a wife.

It may have been told to Tamar in passing that her father-in-law would be passing through, but it is apparent that Tamar is deliberate in her actions because she was never given to Shelah as wife as was the custom.  She took off her widow's clothes, and whether she meant to look like a harlot or just meant to hide her identity, or both, she wrapped and veiled herself and sat in an open visible place on the road to Timnah.

(15) When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot, because she had covered her face.

Judah did indeed mistake Tamar for a harlot.  I don't believe it was because a veil meant she was a harlot, but because she sat in an open place and since she did have the veil, he didn't recognize her, and assumed she was a harlot.

(16) And he turned to her by the way, and said, "Come now, please, let me come in to you," (for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law). And she said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"

While it was true that Judah did not know this was his daughter-in-law, he was still guilty of fornication with a woman who was not his wife.  Tamar asked what Judah would give her.  This may have been so that she behaved like a harlot requiring payment for her hire or so that she would have something of Judah's to be used later, or again, maybe a little of both.  While I have already found Judah guilty, I am reserving judgment on Tamar.  I haven't decided if she is sinfully deceitful or just sly like a fox.  While she was deceiving Judah, I don't see that she has lied.  She did what was asked of her when she went back to her father's house after her husbands died, and she did not marry anyone else when Shelah did not marry her.  She now put herself visibly in the path of Judah, but had he not been willing to take a harlot, this thing would not have gone any further.

(17) And he said, "I will send a kid from the flock." And she said, "Will you give me a pledge till you send it?"

Judah offered to pay her a kid from his flock, but she wanted something of Judah's as a pledge until he sent it; I believe a possession of Judah's is something she wanted all along.

(18) And he said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your signet and your bracelets, and your staff that is in your hand." And he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. (19) And she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

Tamar was the one who determined what personal possessions Judah gave as a pledge and he agreed to it.  He gave her what she asked for and went in to her.  It is said that she conceived as a result of it.  Afterward, Tamar went away, took off her veils, and put back on her widow's clothing.

(20) And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand, but he did not find her. (21) Then he asked the men of that place, saying, "Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?" And they said, "There was no harlot in this place." (22) And he returned to Judah and said, "I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place." (23) And Judah said, "Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; behold, I sent this kid and you have not found her."

Judah sent the kid he had promised in payment by his friend, the Adullamite, probably Hirah, but he could not find the her.  He was, of course, looking for a harlot who sat openly by the roadside, but he didn't find one.  When he asked where she was, the men of the place said they knew of no such harlot.  He went back and reported all this to Judah, who decided they should leave well enough alone and let her keep the pledge things so that they not be embarrassed.  Judah realized his act was a shameful one, or maybe not.  Maybe he would just be embarrassed when other men realized he let a harlot trick him out of his signet, bracelets, and staff.  I'm not sure why both of them would be shamed; maybe because his friend helped him.  Perhaps it feels better to include his friend in his shame.  Judah appears to justify himself by stating that they did indeed try to pay the woman, but could not find her.

(24) And it came to pass, about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, "Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, "Bring her forth, and let her be burned."

After about three months, it became obvious that Tamar was with child.  Since she was not married to Shelah, who should have been her only rightful husband at the time, it may have been assumed she must have "played the harlot".  Judah certainly seems to have taken it to be adultery and an affront to his family to want her to be burned for her act.

(25) When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man to whom these belong, I am with child," and she said, "Please determine whose these are, the signet, the bracelets, and staff." (26) And Judah acknowledged them and said, "She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son." And he never knew her again.

As she had planned all along, when she was found out and brought to her father-in-law, she produced Judah's personal belongings, and of course, Judah recognized them.  He declared Tamar to be more righteous than he was because he did not give her to his son Shelah as he promised.  I agree with Judah, but it was interesting to read some of the earlier commentaries that made Tamar out to be the guiltier one, but there were just as many or maybe more who saw Judah as the guilty one, and excused Tamar.  Dr. John Gill wrote that Tamar was "the greatest criminal" because she sat in the way and purposely deceived him, knowing who he was and yet purposely had an incestual relationship with him, whereas Judah knew nothing but "simple fornication".  Wow!  That certainly was a sexist opinion if there ever was one!  I realize that in Biblical times, a woman's father-in-law became her father, and that would be seen as incestual.  However, in reality, it would seem no more incestual than a brother, which the custom encouraged.  I believe that in Judah's purposely withholding Shelah from Tamar, he would have kept her unnecessarily in widowhood for the rest of her life.  She could have played the harlot with any man, but she didn't.  She purposely sought the same bloodline of her late husband.  She probably wanted a child; I'm sure she didn't want to remain a childless widow all her life.  I believe she was more righteous than Judah in that she didn't play the harlot with just anyone.  And she never lied.  Yes, it could be said she deceived, and perhaps she was guilty of incest, but so was Judah, and he wouldn't have been if he had not himself jumped in bed with whom he thought to be a prostitute.  Therefore, weighing the two "crimes" as equal, Tamar's motives appeared purer, and Judah agreed she was more righteous than he was.  Scripture says that he never had relations with her again after this.

(27) And it came to pass, in the time of her giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. (28) And it came to pass, when she was giving birth, that one put out his hand; and the midwife took and bound on his hand a scarlet thread, saying, "This one came out first." (29) And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out; and she said, "How have you broken forth? This breach be upon you." Therefore his name was called Pharez.

Tamar gave birth to twins.  As she was giving birth, when one baby pushed forth his hand, the midwife tied a scarlet thread on it so they would know which was the firstborn.  So greatly desired were the privileges of the firstborn that it was important to know which baby that was.  However, when that first baby's hand withdrew, out came his brother.  It seems this was astonishing to the midwife.  I'm not sure what "this breach be upon you" really means, other than "you will be remembered for that breach or bursting forth".  In that case, it might make sense that this was Tamar speaking.  Sometimes there were confusing pronouns in the Bible when there were more than one person.  Perhaps Tamar was saying the name of that memory would be upon him, as she called him Phares, which literally meant "breach" or "breaking forth".

Pharez was a direct ancestor of the Messiah.  I am recalling how an earlier ancestor, Jacob, Pharez's grandfather, also scrambled to try to get out of the womb first.  Isn't it interesting that these events are even recorded?  It's as if the spirits of these babies knew what was at stake and they wanted to be the firstborn in this important lineage.  I am reminded of another marvelous passage in the first chapter of Luke where Mary was pregnant with Jesus and came to see her cousin, Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist.  Luke 1:41-44 says that when Elizabeth first heard Mary, the baby inside of her leaped for joy and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and knew Mary was carrying her Lord.  Why did God go to such great lengths to tell us what babies in the womb did?  Was it to remind us that even in the womb they are precious human beings created by God, endowed by the Creator with the unalienable right to life?  An unalienable right, one given by God that cannot be taken away, and yet that is what we do everyday, by abortion.  How dare we take the life of another human being created by God and obviously endowed with His spirit?  We know it's wrong to take a life outside of the womb.  Isn't it interesting that Kermit Gosnell was recently found guilty of murder when he killed babies right after they were born outside of the womb because he failed to kill them "legally" inside the womb, where he would not have been found guilty of murder?  While the testimony in this trial was horrifying, I couldn't help but understand Gosnell when he was bewildered as to why what he did would be considered murder.  After all, he had been paid to kill an unwanted baby.  When he failed to do it inside the womb, wasn't it still an unwanted baby that needed to be disposed of?  Was it only outside of the womb that it became a living, breathing, feeling creation of God who deserved life that it was not only a minute before?  How absurd!  As chilling as the Gosnell testimonies were, it's the practice of abortion itself that is the most chilling.  The fact that Gosnell did not value the life of the babies he murdered had already been demonstrated by the fact he was a late-term abortion "doctor".  In Jeremiah 1:5, God told Jeremiah that He knew him BEFORE He even formed him in his mother's belly and that before he came out of the womb He had sanctified him and ordained him a prophet.  God knew that baby in the womb and even before; He must grieve terribly for the babies who never get a chance to fellowship with Him and do His will on earth.

One more thought on the genealogy of Jesus:  Tamar was also a direct ancestor of the Messiah!  She could have very easily had no descendants at all, if Judah had his way, but she is privileged to have a place in history in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3).  The line of Judah could have been stopped here, but for the actions of Tamar.  I don't know at this point in my study if Shelah had other children.  What interesting people we have in the ancestry of Christ!  Jacob, Judah, and Tamar, a few very interesting ones so far.  This is one of those times when I think of skeptics of the Bible who try to negate the Bible because of the killing and lying and cheating and whores, but those are the kinds of things, and these are the kinds of people, who make it very real!  If people were going to make up a fiction and call it the Word of God, I believe they would have used more righteous-appearing folks to be ancestors of the Messiah!

(30) And afterward his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and his name was called Zarah.

Then the son with the scarlet thread, who would have been the firstborn, came out, and he is forevermore in scripture named second behind his brother in genealogies.  He was called Zarah which literally meant "dawning, shining, rising".  He did dawn first, but Pharez broke forth first and was forever listed first whenever the names of Judah's and/or Tamar's sons were listed.

(1 Chronicles 2:4) And Tamar, his daughter-in-law, bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.