Not Too Cold For Shepherds in December, 2022
Luke 2:8
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Myth: Too cold for shepherds to be in the fields.
This time of the year some will say that it is too cold for shepherds to be in the fields with their flocks. However this is actually a silly statement.The historical climate for Jerusalem (5.5 miles from Bethlehem) shows that the December temperatures are very similar to Lake City, Florida.
This year is an example. Using the Weather Channel data and forecast for Jerusalem:
Thu 22 59°/42°
Partly Cloudy
Fri
23 59°/42°
Partly Cloudy
Sat 24
59°/45°
Partly Cloudy
Sun 25
57°/45°
Showers
Mon 26
56°/44°
Light Rain
Tue 27
58°/41°
Showers
Wed 28
58°/40°
Sunny
Note that these temperatures are at an elevation of about 2,000 ft. It would be warmer in the valleys.
The Claim that it is too cold for shepherds at Christmas time is just plain false.
The truth is that the historical records show that the average lows in Jerusalem are almost identical to Lake City, Florida. I would invite any and all that believe that December in Jerusalem is "frigid" to visit the modern day Battle of Olustee, just outside Lake City, Florida in February. Here you will see re-enactors living for the weekend in much the same manner as shepherds would have in the time of Jesus. February in Lake City is colder than December in Jerusalem. Not Too Cold For Shepherds In December
This time of the year some will make the claim that it is too cold for shepherds to be tending flock in December.
Who knows why statements about being too cold for the shepherds are made? Could it be for the purpose of discrediting Christianity or just because they want to believe it is too cold.
Those who make them have spent very little time researching the historical data and current data! All you have to do is access the Weather Channel historical data for Jerusalem, Israel! These false claims are not the result of an actual investigation or research!
The Bible does not tell us that Jesus was born on December 25. The Bible does not tell us what day Jesus was born. The Bible also does not tell us he was "NOT" born in December. The Bible does tell us that Jacob tended flocks with frost on the ground over 400 miles to the north.
