Why this is known to be a kataluma will be revealed in about 10 weeks from now, in my Capernaum segment of documentary with Dr. Fleming.
Numerous scholars that study cultures in the middle east believe the “inn” is different from our old understanding of the story in Luke 2:7. Even the fact that Jesus was “wrapped in swaddling clothes” is likely different from what we’re used to thinking. This doesn’t change the application of the old traditional story. There was no room for Jesus, which also happens too often in our hearts. But we’re out of touch, reading into these stories our westernized culture instead of the middle eastern culture. Is it a good idea to stay ignorant when the correct knowledge is readily available? That’s what this blog is about.
In different books, I’ve read hospitality was critical in Bible times, and expected of everyone. Travel was more dangerous, travellers more vulnerable, worn out from walking, and needy. There were “inns” in Bible times, but they were
generally located on the outskirts of a town…large complexes…a square…open centre was an ample courtyard for the unloading, feeding, and stabling of animals, while the quadrangular structure surrounding it contained a continuous series of small chambers
–from the Reader’s Digest “Jesus and his Times.” In other words, it wasn’t private where the animals and manger were. But scholars think it was unlikely Mary and Joseph would’ve wanted to stay there anyway.
Joseph had to go to “his own town” (Luke 2:3) to be enumerated for taxation, so he likely had at least distant, if not immediate relatives in Bethlehem. It was even more incumbent upon relatives to look out for each other when traveling. Archaeology reveals they all lived in “insulas” back then, which were like mini city blocks surrounded by high walls. Grandparents, kids, grandchildren and perhaps even great-grandparents all lived together (see more in my pictures). Insulas always had the best room reserved for company, called the kataluma.
Scholars now believe the relatives had no room in the kataluma. So the relatives found another place for Mary and Joseph, where the animals were kept. If this were a cave (which is quite possible), this could’ve been nicer. Because caves were slightly warmer on chilly nights than homes could be. Homes didn’t have glass windows or insulated walls. Instead, the earth of a cave maintained a more moderate temperature throughout the year, compared to stones. Which is what houses were made of.
GotQuestions.org says this about swaddling clothes:
are…essentially ‘wrapping’ an infant tightly in cloth. The idea…is…it helps the baby transition from the womb (a very snug place) to the outside world…swaddling has been proved to help infants sleep better, to prevent them from scratching themselves, and to reduce the risk of SIDS…. Many cultures still practice swaddling today.
Now the big question: why should these details matter? On the face of it, they don’t matter. But the concern is with the next step and the next, and where to after that? If we don’t dig deep and strive for accuracy, inaccuracy will abound. By shutting our minds to truth, we lose it. And the patterns we set for ourselves today do affect our decisions tomorrow. Worse yet, they’ll eventually affect others’ decisions, too.
