Christmas Bits and Thoughts and Midrashim -- #4
BLESSED IS SHE WHO HAS BELIEVED Zechariah came out of the Holy of Holies mute! Perhaps he tried to use sign language to communicate what had happened, but ... everyone knew something supernatural had happened, but ? ? ? Zechariah went home, and in the 'natural course of events' Elizabeth, his wife, became pregnant. It says she stayed in seclusion for 5 months. However, it never says WHY. I checked a few commentaries ... nothing! OK, some clearly biased guesses. (Sometimes I wish commentators would just say "Wow! don't have a clue!") Elizabeth wasn't ashamed. She said, " The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people ." (Luke 1:25) So why 5 months of seclusion ~ my answer: We don't know ... don't have a clue!! What we do know is that in the 6th month of Elizab...