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==135:2. THE DEATH OF ZACHARIAS==

==135:2. THE DEATH OF ZACHARIAS==

135:2.1 After an illness of several months Zacharias died in July, A.D. 12, when John was just past eighteen years of age. This was a time of great embarrassment to John since the Nazarite vow forbade contact with the dead, even in one's own family. Although John had endeavored to comply with the restrictions of his vow regarding contamination by the dead, he doubted that he had been wholly obedient to the requirements of the Nazarite order; therefore, after his father's burial he went to Jerusalem, where, in the Nazarite corner of the women's court, he offered the sacrifices required for his cleansing.

135:2.1 After an illness of several months [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_(priest) Zacharias] died in July, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_AD A.D. 12], when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] was just past eighteen years of age. This was a time of great [[embarrassment]] to John since the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazarite Nazarite] [[vow]] forbade contact with the [[dead]], even in one's own [[family]]. Although John had endeavored to comply with the restrictions of his vow regarding contamination by the dead, he doubted that he had been wholly [[obedient]] to the requirements of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazarite Nazarite order]; therefore, after his [[father]]'s [[burial]] he went to [[Jerusalem]], where, in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_temple#The_Court_of_the_Women Nazarite corner of the women's court], he offered the [[sacrifices]] required for his cleansing.

135:2.2 In September of this year Elizabeth and John made a journey to Nazareth to visit Mary and Jesus. John had just about made up his mind to launch out in his lifework, but he was admonished, not only by Jesus' words but also by his example, to return home, take care of his mother, and await the " coming of the Father's hour. " After bidding Jesus and Mary good-bye at the end of this enjoyable visit, John did not again see Jesus until the event of his baptism in the Jordan.

135:2.2 In September of this year [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(Biblical_person) Elizabeth] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] made a [[journey]] to [[Nazareth]] to visit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] and [[Jesus]]. John had just about made up his mind to launch out in his lifework, but he was admonished, not only by [[Jesus]]' [[words]] but also by his example, to return [[home]], take care of his [[mother]], and await the " coming of the Father's hour. " After bidding [[Jesus]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] [[good-bye]] at the end of this enjoyable [[visit]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] did not again see [[Jesus]] until the [[event]] of his [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_136#136:2._THE_BAPTISM_OF_JESUS baptism in the Jordan].

135:2.3 John and Elizabeth returned to their home and began to lay plans for the future. Since John refused to accept the priest's allowance due him from the temple funds, by the end of two years they had all but lost their home; so they decided to go south with the sheep herd. Accordingly, the summer that John was twenty years of age witnessed their removal to Hebron. In the so-called " wilderness of Judea " John tended his sheep along a brook that was tributary to a larger stream which entered the Dead Sea at Engedi. The Engedi colony included not only Nazarites of lifelong and time-period consecration but numerous other ascetic herdsmen who congregated in this region with their herds and fraternized with the Nazarite brotherhood. They supported themselves by sheep raising and from gifts which wealthy Jews made to the order.

135:2.3 John and Elizabeth returned to their home and began to lay plans for the future. Since John refused to accept the priest's allowance due him from the temple funds, by the end of two years they had all but lost their home; so they decided to go south with the sheep herd. Accordingly, the summer that John was twenty years of age witnessed their removal to Hebron. In the so-called " wilderness of Judea " John tended his sheep along a brook that was tributary to a larger stream which entered the Dead Sea at Engedi. The Engedi colony included not only Nazarites of lifelong and time-period consecration but numerous other ascetic herdsmen who congregated in this region with their herds and fraternized with the Nazarite brotherhood. They supported themselves by sheep raising and from gifts which wealthy Jews made to the order.

135:2.4 As time passed, John returned less often to Hebron, while he made more frequent visits to Engedi. He was so entirely different from the majority of the Nazarites that he found it very difficult fully to fraternize with the brotherhood. But he was very fond of Abner, the acknowledged leader and head of the Engedi colony.

135:2.4 As time passed, John returned less often to Hebron, while he made more frequent visits to Engedi. He was so entirely different from the majority of the Nazarites that he found it very difficult fully to fraternize with the brotherhood. But he was very fond of Abner, the acknowledged leader and head of the Engedi colony.

135:3. THE LIFE OF A SHEPHERD     Listen to audio recording of this section

==135:3. THE LIFE OF A SHEPHERD==

135:3.1 Along the valley of this little brook John built no less than a dozen stone shelters and night corrals, consisting of piled-up stones, wherein he could watch over and safeguard his herds of sheep and goats. John's life as a shepherd afforded him a great deal of time for thought. He talked much with Ezda, an orphan lad of Beth-zur, whom he had in a way adopted, and who cared for the herds when he made trips to Hebron to see his mother and to sell sheep, as well as when he went down to Engedi for Sabbath services. John and the lad lived very simply, subsisting on mutton, goat's milk, wild honey, and the edible locusts of that region. This, their regular diet, was supplemented by provisions brought from Hebron and Engedi from time to time.

135:3.1 Along the valley of this little brook John built no less than a dozen stone shelters and night corrals, consisting of piled-up stones, wherein he could watch over and safeguard his herds of sheep and goats. John's life as a shepherd afforded him a great deal of time for thought. He talked much with Ezda, an orphan lad of Beth-zur, whom he had in a way adopted, and who cared for the herds when he made trips to Hebron to see his mother and to sell sheep, as well as when he went down to Engedi for Sabbath services. John and the lad lived very simply, subsisting on mutton, goat's milk, wild honey, and the edible locusts of that region. This, their regular diet, was supplemented by provisions brought from Hebron and Engedi from time to time.