[Tanniker Smith]

"In a Manger or a Cave?"

"Was Jesus the Original Bat-Man?"

[21twelve]

I get a kick out of the “disputes” that some of these details bring up. And that to some, these “disputes” somehow shine doubt on the whole thing. At Christmastime we had a fun little “quiz” for the Sunday school kids. Like “How many wise men?” (Doesn't say. Was probably an entire caravan of people with the rich, powerful “wise men” to support them on their journey).

“What did the wisemen first say when they saw the baby in the manger?” (Trick question - he was 2 or 3 years old when they got there!), etc......

IIRC the “manger” is the feeding trough - not the “stable”. And the animals were kept in caves. Often they were kept in a room in the home too. I had one preacher I respect that talked about he conjectured that Joseph would have had relatives in Bethlehem, and that being a good Dad, he would have made arrangements with the relatives prior to their trip into town. And probably just used the manger as an impromptu crib. Probably stayed with the animals (”no room for them in the “inn”), but perhaps the manger was brought into the home. (I have a photo of me as a baby in the drawer of a dresser in a hotel room - all padded with towels and a blanket!)

[left that other site]

It was a manger (feedbox) IN a cave that was used to shelter livestock.

Wooden barns were rather scarce in an area with few trees.

And there are as many bats in barns as there are in caves!
LOL

(I know you were being facetious, and am just joining in!)