OF THE NATIVITY WAS 8 B.C. 



201 



{g) The first Enrolment v:as at the Feast of Tahernacles on 

 account of the crowding of the inn at Bethlehem. 



Jerusalem was crowded three times a year at the great 

 Feasts of Passover, Harvest and Tabernacles, when all male 

 Israelites were ordered to appear before the Lord (Deut. xvi, 

 16). Bethlehem, only six miles distant, would also be 

 crowded at those times. Enrolment by itself would not of 

 necessity cause crowding, because many of the visitors would 

 be sure to lodge with relatives whom they would find in their 

 own village. But this crowding would be far more likely to 

 happen if the Enrolment took place at one of the Feasts. The 

 great Feast of Tabernacles is the only one of the triad which 

 falls in the latter part of the summer, when the census must 

 have been taken. The crowding at the inn, therefore, points 

 to the probability that the Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 



(Ji) The first Enrolment icas on the first day of the Feast of 

 \ Tahernacles, to suit the policif of He'rod. 



As all male Jews were obliged to come to the Feast of 

 Tabernacles, which is in the middle of the time of year most 

 suitable for the census, it is almost certain that Herod would 

 have ordered the enumeration to take place at that time, 

 because that would obviate the necessity of a fresh journey 

 being made on purpose, and of a fresh breaking into home 

 routine on the part of the people. The linking of the census 

 with a religious feast would render the new order palatable,* 

 perhaps almost popular, and the heginning of the Feast 

 (20th September in 8 B.C.) would be far the best time to choose, 

 because the Jews would then have no opportunity to assemble and 

 grumble before they comphed with the order ; and then, having 

 obeyed, their attention would be taken away from the census, as 

 they would be quickly absorbed with their religious exercises. 



{i) Enrolment at the Feast of Tahernacles 8 B.C. speciallg 

 suited the policy of Herod. 



It is almost certain from historical data that the year 

 autumn 10 B.C. to autumn 9 B.C. was a Sabbath year, when no 

 sowing of seed or pruning of vines or olives was allowed 

 (Lev. XXV, 3-5). Consequently, in the spring and autumn of 

 8 B.C. the people would give the greatest attention to agriculture, 



Tacitus A nn., VI, 41, states that the Eoman ceusus was enforced on 

 dependent princes. Livy, £pit.^ lib. 1.37, states that census taking often 

 led to disturbances. 



o 2 



