Could Jesus have been born in September instead of December?

There is an argument for Jesus not being born on December 25th. One of the arguments runs like this: > During the time of King David, there were so many priests, that they > had to be divided into 24 'courses' or groups. Each course would serve > in the Temple for a period of 1 week, starting with the first Sabbath > of the year (Month of Nisan). During the 3 annual Holy Days, when all > of Israel had to gather in Jerusalem, all the priests would serve > together, then resume the group rotation the following week. Since > Zechariah belonged to the 8th group, he would be in the Temple during > the 9th week of the year. ..." > > This would put Zechariah's turn to serve in the Temple during the > month of Sivan. When he completed his week of service, he returned > home. It is reasonable to assume that Elizabeth became pregnant later > that month, (Sivan). > > John the Baptist was then born 40 weeks (9 months) later, during the > month of Nisan. Since John was about 6 months older than Yeshua (Luke > 1: 36), The birth date of Yeshua must be during the month of Tishri. > > The lunar month of Tishri occurs during our September or October. (See > this site ) Another argument by Ray Butterworth runs like this: > The Fall makes far more sense than late December... > > Elisabeth conceived (John the Baptist) immediately after Zacharias > finished his Abia priestly duties (Luke 1): > > ... priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia ... ... he > executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course > ... as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he > departed to his own house. And after those days his wife > Elisabeth conceived ... Her cousin Mary conceived (Jesus) six months > later: > > And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a > city of Galilee, named Nazareth To a virgin espoused to a man > whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name > was Mary. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also > conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, > who was called barren. And [Mary] entered into the house of > Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And Mary abode with her about > three months ... The course of Abia is defined in the First book of > Chronicles: > > [24:10] The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah [24:19] These were > the orderings of them in their service ... Each priest served for a > week, with the cycle beginning on the 1st day of Nisan. But during the > week of Passover (Nisan 14) and Pentecost (7 weeks later) all priests > served together, so Zacharias, being of the 8th course, would have > finished his first course after the 10th week of the year. Six months > after that (Jesus's conception) would have been around what the Romans > called late December, and nine months after that (Jesus's birth) would > have been late September or early October. > > That would be around the time of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). > Sukkot is one of three times each year when people made a pilgrimage > to Jerusalem. In addition to the normal tithe given to support the > priesthood, people were encouraged to save a second tithe to use for > their own expenses and celebrations during these times (Deuteronomy > 14:26): > > And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth > after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or > for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the > LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household. Even > today, most people that observe this fall festival travel away from > home, or if they can't, they arrange to sleep in a tent or some other > location different from their normal home. > > It's by no means a certainty that this is when Jesus was born, but if > Jesus had been born during the Feast of Tabernacles, it then confirms > why his parents stayed in their family's home town of Bethlehem, just > south of Jerusalem. How would those who believe in the traditional December 25th date of Jesus birth answer these arguments? Related questions: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/88558/what-are-the-earliest-references-to-jesus-birthday-being-december-25 https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/88625/why-would-the-shepherds-be-out-at-night-in-the-winter-during-jesus-birth?noredirect=1#comment245511_88625 https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/61250/according-to-the-jehovahs-witnesses-why-was-jesus-likely-not-born-in-december