The Birth of Jesus.

  4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth [see Lu. i. 26], unto Judæa, to the city of David [after the lapse of ten centuries the name of David still cast its fragrance over the place of his birth-- 1 Samuel 17:12 ], which is called Bethlehem [Meaning "house of bread." It was the later or Jewish name for the old Canaanitish village of Ephrath, the Ephrath near which Rachel died ( Genesis 35:19 ). It was marked by Micah as the birthplace of Messiah-- Micah 5:2 ; Matthew 2:5 Matthew 2:6 ], because he was of the house and family of David;

  5 to be taxed with Mary, who was betrothed to him

  5 to be taxed with Mary, who was betrothed to him

  6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. [The early Christians made no record of the date of Christ's birth; we find no mention of December 25 earlier than the fourth century. The Eastern church celebrated Christ's birth by a feast called Epiphany, which means manifestation. They chose January 6 as the date for this feast, for they reasoned that if the first Adam was born on the sixth day of creation, the second Adam must have been born on the sixth day of the year. The Western church celebrated Christ's birth on the 25th of December by a feast called Natalis, which means Nativity. But Pope Julius I. (A. D. 337-352) designated December 25 as the proper day, and the Eastern churches soon united with the Western churches in observing this day; and the custom has become universal. We do not observe this day because of the Pope's decree, but because of the tradition on which the Pope's decree was founded.]

  7 And she brought forth her firstborn [This word in no way implies that the Virgin subsequently had other children. Jesus, the only begotten, is also called the firstborn-- Hebrews 1:6 ] son; and she wrapped [having none to help her, she swathed him in bands with her own hands] him in swaddling clothes [the new-born Jewish child was washed in water, rubbed with salt, and then wrapped in bands or blankets, which confined the limbs closely-- 16:4 ], and laid him in a manger [Justin Martyr, who born about the beginning of the second century and suffered martyrdom A. D. 165, first tells us the tradition that the stable in which Jesus was born was a cavern. Caves, however, were never used for stables except when opened on the sides of hills. The surface. Justin must, therefore, be mistaken], because there was no room for them in the inn. [Eastern inns had landlords like our own. The inn was full at this time because of the number who had come to be enrolled. Inns contained rooms for persons and stalls for animals: there was no room in the former, but there was in the latter.]