Prior to the destruction of the Temple at the hands of the Romans, I understand that sheep singled out for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple were tended by their shepherds in the fields near Jerusalem in order to ensure their safety.

There appears to be a school of thought that the shepherds would not be out in the fields during the wet and cold winter months.

A counter-argument suggests that shepherds would stay with their flocks outdoors throughout the year to prevent attack from predators.

Is there any reference in the Jerusalem Talmud or Mishna to the duties of the temple shepherds with regard to protecting their flocks?

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt, my question is not an attempt to give credance to any Christian traditions with regard to events pertaining to December 25th. This is an academic enquiry. I have an assignment on this topic which I must respond to by Monday 27 December. Can anyone help?

EDIT: From a different Stack Exchange site, reference was made to a source which suggested that, according to the Talmud, flocks were put out to the pasture in March and returned to pens in early November. However, I was unable to access the link: www.religioustolerance.org

In the Mishnah (Baba K, vii.7) it states: “One may not raise small domesticated animals, i.e., sheep and goats, in settled areas of Eretz Yisrael, as they graze on people’s crops.” https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Kamma.7.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

But my question is specific to the area around the temple in Jerusalem where sheep were kept under the watchful eye of shepherds to ensure those animals selected for sacrifice were in perfect condition. Given sacrifices did not stop between November and March, were the temple sheep brought indoors during these months?

Please accept my apologies for not making my question clear. No wonder nobody has answered!

P.S. The bounty has just under 16 hours left to run as of now and I will check it out before 9 a.m. here (U.K.)

Prior to the destruction of the Temple at the hands of the Romans, I understand that sheep singled out for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple were tended by their shepherds in the fields near Jerusalem in order to ensure their safety.

There appears to be a school of thought that the shepherds would not be out in the fields during the wet and cold winter months.

A counter-argument suggests that shepherds would stay with their flocks outdoors throughout the year to prevent attack from predators.

Is there any reference in the Jerusalem Talmud or Mishna to the duties of the temple shepherds with regard to protecting their flocks?

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt, my question is not an attempt to give credance to any Christian traditions with regard to events pertaining to December 25th. This is an academic enquiry. I have an assignment on this topic which I must respond to by Monday 27 December. Can anyone help?

EDIT: From a different Stack Exchange site, reference was made to a source which suggested that, according to the Talmud, flocks were put out to the pasture in March and returned to pens in early November. However, I was unable to access the link: www.religioustolerance.org

In the Mishnah (Baba K, vii.7) it states: “One may not raise small domesticated animals, i.e., sheep and goats, in settled areas of Eretz Yisrael, as they graze on people’s crops.” https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Kamma.7.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

But my question is specific to the area around the temple in Jerusalem where sheep were kept under the watchful eye of shepherds to ensure those animals selected for sacrifice were in perfect condition. Given sacrifices did not stop between November and March, were the temple sheep brought indoors during these months?

Please accept my apologies for not making my question clear. No wonder nobody has answered!

P.S. The bounty has just under 14 hours left to run as of now and I will check it out before 9 a.m. here (U.K.)

Prior to the destruction of the Temple at the hands of the Romans, I understand that sheep singled out for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple were tended by their shepherds in the fields near Jerusalem in order to ensure their safety.

There appears to be a school of thought that the shepherds would not be out in the fields during the wet and cold winter months.

A counter-argument suggests that shepherds would stay with their flocks outdoors throughout the year to prevent attack from predators.

Is there any reference in the Jerusalem Talmud or Mishna to the duties of the temple shepherds with regard to protecting their flocks?

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt, my question is not an attempt to give credance to any Christian traditions with regard to events pertaining to December 25th. This is an academic enquiry. I have an assignment on this topic which I must respond to by Monday 27 December. Can anyone help?

EDIT: From a different Stack Exchange site, reference was made to a source which suggested that, according to the Talmud, flocks were put out to the pasture in March and returned to pens in early November. However, I was unable to access the link: www.religioustolerance.org

In the Mishnah (Baba K, vii.7) it states: “One may not raise small domesticated animals, i.e., sheep and goats, in settled areas of Eretz Yisrael, as they graze on people’s crops.” https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Kamma.7.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

But my question is specific to the area around the temple in Jerusalem where sheep were kept under the watchful eye of shepherds to ensure those animals selected for sacrifice were in perfect condition. Given sacrifices did not stop between November and March, were the temple sheep brought indoors during these months?

Please accept my apologies for not making my question clear. No wonder nobody has answered!

Prior to the destruction of the Temple at the hands of the Romans, I understand that sheep singled out for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple were tended by their shepherds in the fields near Jerusalem in order to ensure their safety.

There appears to be a school of thought that the shepherds would not be out in the fields during the wet and cold winter months.

A counter-argument suggests that shepherds would stay with their flocks outdoors throughout the year to prevent attack from predators.

Is there any reference in the Jerusalem Talmud or Mishna to the duties of the temple shepherds with regard to protecting their flocks?

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt, my question is not an attempt to give credance to any Christian traditions with regard to events pertaining to December 25th. This is an academic enquiry. I have an assignment on this topic which I must respond to by Monday 27 December. Can anyone help?

EDIT: From a different Stack Exchange site, reference was made to a source which suggested that, according to the Talmud, flocks were put out to the pasture in March and returned to pens in early November. However, I was unable to access the link: www.religioustolerance.org

In the Mishnah (Baba K, vii.7) it states: “One may not raise small domesticated animals, i.e., sheep and goats, in settled areas of Eretz Yisrael, as they graze on people’s crops.” https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Kamma.7.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

But my question is specific to the area around the temple in Jerusalem where sheep were kept under the watchful eye of shepherds to ensure those animals selected for sacrifice were in perfect condition. Given sacrifices did not stop between November and March, were the temple sheep brought indoors during these months?

Please accept my apologies for not making my question clear. No wonder nobody has answered!

P.S. The bounty has just under 16 hours left to run as of now and I will check it out before 9 a.m. here (U.K.)

I understand that sheep singled out for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple were tended by their shepherds in the fields near Jerusalem in order to ensure their safety.

There appears to be a school of thought that the shepherds would not be out in the fields during the wet and cold winter months.

A counter-argument suggests that shepherds would stay with their flocks outdoors throughout the year to prevent attack from predators.

Is there any reference in the Jerusalem Talmud or Mishna to the duties of the temple shepherds with regard to protecting their flocks?

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt, my question is not an attempt to give credance to any Christian traditions with regard to events pertaining to December 25th. This is an academic enquiry. I have an assignment on this topic which I must respond to by Monday 27 December. Can anyone help?

EDIT: From a different Stack Exchange site, reference was made to a source which suggested that, according to the Talmud, flocks were put out to the pasture in March and returned to pens in early November. However, I was unable to access the link: www.religioustolerance.org

In the Mishnah (Baba K, vii.7) it states: “One may not raise small domesticated animals, i.e., sheep and goats, in settled areas of Eretz Yisrael, as they graze on people’s crops.” https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Kamma.7.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

But my question is specific to the area around the temple in Jerusalem where sheep were kept under the watchful eye of shepherds to ensure those animals selected for sacrifice were in perfect condition. Given sacrifices did not stop between November and March, were the temple sheep brought indoors during these months?

Prior to the destruction of the Temple at the hands of the Romans, I understand that sheep singled out for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple were tended by their shepherds in the fields near Jerusalem in order to ensure their safety.

There appears to be a school of thought that the shepherds would not be out in the fields during the wet and cold winter months.

A counter-argument suggests that shepherds would stay with their flocks outdoors throughout the year to prevent attack from predators.

Is there any reference in the Jerusalem Talmud or Mishna to the duties of the temple shepherds with regard to protecting their flocks?

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt, my question is not an attempt to give credance to any Christian traditions with regard to events pertaining to December 25th. This is an academic enquiry. I have an assignment on this topic which I must respond to by Monday 27 December. Can anyone help?

EDIT: From a different Stack Exchange site, reference was made to a source which suggested that, according to the Talmud, flocks were put out to the pasture in March and returned to pens in early November. However, I was unable to access the link: www.religioustolerance.org

In the Mishnah (Baba K, vii.7) it states: “One may not raise small domesticated animals, i.e., sheep and goats, in settled areas of Eretz Yisrael, as they graze on people’s crops.” https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Kamma.7.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

But my question is specific to the area around the temple in Jerusalem where sheep were kept under the watchful eye of shepherds to ensure those animals selected for sacrifice were in perfect condition. Given sacrifices did not stop between November and March, were the temple sheep brought indoors during these months?

Please accept my apologies for not making my question clear. No wonder nobody has answered!