What Inn?

All my life, when I have thought about the birth of Jesus, I have pictured the inn that had no room as a two, maybe three, story building. Of course, to my way of thinking, the stables would also have been located on the edge of town. You know, so the smell was away from the town and it's people.

Then I found out recently that the countryside in and around Bethlehem was filled with caves. These caves were often used to house the local livestock. In fact, many homes were built over caves. (A Visual Guide to Bible Events, and In The Footsteps Of Jesus) The family lived over the cave and their animals stayed in the cave below...basically, all under one roof. I can't even imagine the smell and hygiene of the place.

So, come to find out, I was naive to think any of that.

According to Sketches of Jewish Social Life by Alfred Edersheim there were set-ups called khans, which served as a place for strangers to lodge outside of a town. These places were built in the shape of a square and opened up in the middle. The people stayed in the unfurnished rooms that surrounded the open square while the animals and carts, etc. stayed in the open court area. Feeding troughs would have been all over the place.

Here's another interesting fact. People who stayed in these places did not have to pay for the room. However, there was always an available caretaker who would see to the needs of the people and their animals for a price. Can you imagine that? Having a place to stay without paying upfront costs?

Still, all the rooms were taken, and after giving birth Mary had to stay out in the open area with the animals. (Note: There is a tradition-marked cave where Jesus was birthed. Sounds like she was granted privacy for the actual birthing experience.)

No matter what your station in life is - that has to be 'no fun'. Yet, like any new mother all she probably saw was the sweet face of God Incarnate; all she probably heard was the soft cooing of her son; all she probably smelled were the cloths from home that wrapped her son in comfort.

It wasn't perfect. It wasn't proper. But, they made the best of it and used what resources were at hand to serve a purpose. That's a great lesson in focus.