Jerome, who lived and died in a neighbouring cell, the spot is at variance with probability, as although it may occasionally happen that caverns are used as stables in Palestine, this is deeper underground than would be convenient for such a purpose; and when we consider, in addition, the tendency of the monks to fix the scene of remarkable scriptural events in grottoes, perhaps from the impressiveness of such spots, the presumption against the site appears almost conclusive. ”
जहाँ तक इस कहानी के ऐतिहासिक मूल्य का सवाल है, इस से सूचित होता है कि उस समय तक परंपरा किसी एक जगह से जुड़ी नहीं थी, और केव ऑफ द नॅटिविटी से तो बिल्कुल ही नहीं । ”