What month did the angel appear to Zechariah in the temple about the birth of john b?

Answer 1

Answer:

Luke writes that John the Baptist's father was Zacharias, who was a priest "...of the course of Abia (Abijah)..." (Luke 1:5).

In I Chronicles 24:10, we are informed that the "course" of Abijah was "number eight."

"...these were the orderings of them in their service to come into the House of the Lord (the Temple), according to their manner..." (I Chronicles 24:19).

Each of these priest's duty was to "keep the incense burning" for the duration of their "course," or, one week. The weeks began with the beginning of each year.

God's year begins in the "spring" when life begins anew, as opposed to man's reckoning of a year, which begins at the "witching hour," midnight, in the dead of winter.

It was established when the Israelites "came out of Egypt, in the spring:

"...Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night..." (Deut.16:1).

"...this month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you..." (Ex.12:2).

However, the spring can come on time, early, or late in any given year... and so it is determined by the priesthood, who would go out into the crop field to ascertain the condition of the early spring crop, whether or not the ears of grain were still tender and ready to sprout.

"Abib" means: green, or a young ear of grain. The first month of God's year is the month of "Green Ears."

Therefore, when Zacharias' "course" or "week" began that year may only be generally assumed... depending upon whether or not spring came early, late... or on time.

Generally speaking, the "eighth" course would have put Zacharias' Temple duty eight weeks into the new year... or, roughly around the end of our May or early June.

Uh... give or take a week.