Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary 

Thus it may have been during the Feast of Tabernacles that the angel told Zechariah the good news that he 

and Elizabeth would conceive a son. 

    It is possible, though, that the angel visited Zechariah in the Temple on the Day of Atonement (Tishri 10), 

the week before the Feast of Tabernacles. Zechariah may have been on duty that week also, as part of the 

regular schedule for his division of priests. As concluded above, an exceptionally large crowd, representative of 

the whole nation of Israel, were gathered at Jerusalem for the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles 

at the start of this Sabbatical year (autumn of 16 

B.C.

). Since  the whole multitude of the people  were 

gathered outside the Temple praying when Zechariah received the annunciation by the angel, that day was 

either the Day of Atonement or one day during the Feast of Tabernacles.

257

 On other days, fewer people would 

be gathered outside the Temple and the phrase  the whole multitude of the people  would not apply. 

    Consequently, there are two likely scenarios for the timing of John's conception suggested by the available 

information. 

    1)   Blessed Anne Catherine states that Zechariah had to wait four days, after arriving in Jerusalem, for his 

turn to sacrifice.

258

 It was on the day that Zechariah was chosen to offer sacrifice (the sacrifice of burning 

incense) that the angel appeared to him. In the year 16 

B.C.

 (the calendar year before the Incarnation), Tishri 

10 fell on a Wednesday, four days after the Sabbath (Saturday).

259

 Thus, if Zechariah began his term of service 

on Saturday, Tishri 6, his turn to sacrifice would have coincided with the Day of Atonement on Wednesday, 

Tishri 10.

260

 In this case, Zechariah would have completed his week of service the following Saturday, on 

Tishri 13.

261

 But if Zechariah was serving in the Temple during the week containing the Day of Atonement, 

when would he have returned to his home? 

    Sacred Scripture tells us that, even though he had been left mute by his encounter with the angel, Zechariah 

did not go home until his time of service in the Temple had ended (Lk 1:20, 23). If Zechariah had tried to go 

home immediately after his time of service, the soonest he could have departed would be on Saturday, after 

sunset. He had to complete his term of service in the Temple on  the Sabbath, and also, devout Jews would not 

travel more than a short distance on the Sabbath, (about one half to two thirds of a mile). 

    Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich states that Zechariah and Elizabeth lived a short distance from Hebron, 

in Jutta.

262

 Hebron is about 20 miles from Jerusalem, and Jutta is another 5 miles or so further south.

263

Zechariah's home was more than a Sabbath's walk away. Since Zechariah was  advanced in years  (Lk 1:7), 

his home was some distance from Jerusalem, and he could not depart before sunset on Saturday, he probably 

could not have arrived at his home until sometime late in the day on Sunday, at the earliest. Yet Monday 

(Sunday at sunset) was the 15

th

 of Tishri, the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, a day of solemn rest, when 

Zechariah would not be able to travel (Lev 23:35). He would have had to arrive home before sunset on 

Sunday. And once home, he would not have had time to return to Jerusalem before the Feast began. 

    Even if he would have been able to arrive home before sunset on Sunday, Zechariah nevertheless would 

have had to remain in Jerusalem to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. He would not have had sufficient time or 

opportunity to return home until the feast had ended. The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the three holiest feasts 

of the year, and he was one of the Temple priests. Every division of the priests was required to be on duty at 

that time. And Sacred Scripture tells us that, even though he had been struck mute by the angel, he still 

completed his service in the Temple (Lk 1:23). Being a priest and a devout Jew, he had to remain in Jerusalem 

to attend the Feast of Tabernacles, before going home to his wife. 

    Also, Zechariah would have wanted to fulfill the commandment of God in Sacred Scripture:   `Three times 

a year all your males shall appear before the L

ORD

 your God at the place which he will choose: at the feast of 

unleavened bread, at the feast of weeks, and at the feast of booths.'   (Deut 16:16). (The  feast of booths  is 

the Feast of Tabernacles.) Sacred Scripture tells us that Zechariah and Elizabeth kept all of God's 

commandments.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and 

ordinances of the Lord blameless.  (Lk 1:6). Therefore, Zechariah must have remained in Jerusalem until after 

the Feast of Tabernacles (which ended on Tishri 22), even if it was on the Day of Atonement (Tishri 10) when 

the angel appeared to him. 

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