The bad news were already times in advance: the ox and the ass present at the birth of Jesus. At least not when it comes to the gospel of Luke, which tells the classic Christmas story. Of the animals, each track is missing. The good news: Hardly anyone knows that. So let us not spoil the mood. Maybe Luke has forgotten you in all the excitement just. In the book of Isaiah, a competent prophet from the Old Testament, are the donkey and the ox in any case, as a wise being mentioned, and people who know the manger of their Lord.
Whether the two animals were, in fact, live on-site, one can only surmise. In Nativity scenes, they are only in the 4. A century after the birth of Christ showed up. At the time they were placed on ornaments of sarcophagi prominently next to the baby Jesus. Joseph, the poor, had to wait a few decades longer, until he, too, belonged automatically to the crib inventory. Donkey and the ox have been posted in the beginning, often even directly in the manger while Mary and Joseph with the second number of stuck had to take.
Glorious Image
Skeptical minds might now argue that it is needed in this poor birth environment, holding a fluffy decoration, and because Tierli are so jöö, had set resourceful artists, two of them right next to Jesus. Practical might, in turn, argue that the Nativity is nothing more than a common trough, and it was therefore logical, that two stable animals look at the contents. In addition, one might interject also, it was customary at the time, to use in the cold nights, the warmth of the animals as a natural heating. Donkey and the ox would be nothing more than a stopgap measure, the little celebration of the revamp of the Royal stable situation.
Such speculations are interesting, but wrong. To Spice it up you could as well stand the sheep and the goats. But why, of all things, donkey and ox? Would not need to something loftier animals to attend this year, thousands of occasion? Instead of a donkey, at least, a horse and of the ox any more Glamour? A Swan, maybe?
Not necessary. Donkey and ox were at the time of the birth of Christ, the pop star among the breeding animals, the rate of Renner in the country as well as in the city. Their Image was in contrast to today, almost gloriously. “Both of them were appreciated as a reliable service forces high,” says the Bernese theologian and Professor Silvia Schroer, which researches, among other things, about animals in the Bible.
The donkey was wearing harmless each load, the ox left margins patiently in front of every cart or plow. And no, it is not exaggerated, if you attested the two even a significant involvement in the development of high cultures. Because without cattle, no Farming, no donkey, no trade in goods.
donkey and the cow were treated like members of the family, with their own Rights, and regulated rest periods.
Who would like to lead at this point, the horse as an equal means of transport in the field: compared to Asses the correct sissies. In rough terrain almost unusable, and the maintenance is much more demanding than their smaller tough counterpart. This can, in fact, drag also in monkeys heat loads over long distances and comes in almost any terrain with sure-footed.
“donkeys and cattle were valuable, and both are always been often together as Pets in Israel,” says Schroer. Where “Pets” is a slight understatement. Rather, they were treated like members of the family, with their own Rights, and regulated rest periods. “You were like people, for example, the Sabbath rest,” said Schroer. And not only that: It was required by law, to assist a donkey or a cow in Distress and administer First aid, even if it were the animals of the enemy. Those who did not, was socially at the bottom.
This high regard is reflected, of course, the Bible. Donkey and the ox are enlightened are often smarter than people, so to speak, because you know, according to Schroer of the care of God, and therefore intuitively recognize. Presumably, the donkey and the ox have understood, thanks to their “psychic” abilities long before Josef, what’s going on in the barn and that there in your manger now the Messiah was.
and Balaam’s wise donkey
Asses can communicate in the Bible, also verbally, such as the story of the prophet Balaam proves to Be a female riding animal remains, because an angel is blocking the way, what escapes the seer, ironically, not the supposedly stubborn animal. When Balaam beats the donkey, because they stirred from the place, it is enough to her – and she says what is really thing.
It was at the time, by the way, is not a sign of poverty, if you had a donkey as a riding animal. Noble men and prophets strips in the Bible, not on horses through the countryside, but without exception, on donkeys; not even God’s son pulls up to Ross in Jerusalem. “Horses have in the Bible a miserable reputation,” says Schroer, “because you knew her in Israel, mainly as military animals of enemies or as an imported luxury item, the exploitative upper classes.” In short: the donkey is The biblical Anti-Ross.
Video – A whole village as a Christmas crib
With the ox, it is more complicated. It would indeed be a bit too boldly, just in the case of the birth of Jesus, an ox, because castration was forbidden in Israel. It is also not so, that it had been chosen for decency’s sake for the sterilized version, because with testosterone hopped up Taurus would be out of place.
The castrated crib animal is Martin Luther’s fault. “He has translated the Hebrew words for cow and bull is always with the “ox”, because he knew from the agriculture of his time, probably oxen as working animals, but not bulls,” says Schroer. The cattle in the manger was just a cow. So the symbolism makes sense, because male cattle were the epitome of strength, the female stood for nutrition and care.
Good for swear words
The social descent of the crib heroes only in ancient times among the Greeks. The donkey is derided as a poor-people-animal, and even demonized. He and his faithful Gspänli not only lose your Status, you can seal them with stupidity, the words like “you ninny” in bad until today persistent.
The battered Image los be the is never. In Switzerland oxen are currently experiencing a small Revival as grazing animals, however, interested in just some farmers. The donkey was, after all, as the slowing travel and therapy animal are discovered, the greatest popularity of the former Nativity star enjoys, however, as a stuffed stuffed animal. In the media spotlight, others are available today. Wolves, polar bears or bees.
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 12.12.2018, 23:51 PM
