 A donkey ( or ass ) and an ox typically appear in nativity scenes . Besides the necessity of animals for a manger , this is an allusion to Isaiah : " the ox knoweth his owner , and the ass his master 's crib ; but Israel doth not know , my people doth not consider " Isaiah 1 : 3 . The Gospels do not mention an ox and donkey Another source for the tradition may be the extracanonical text , the Gospel of Pseudo @-@ Matthew of the 7th century . ( The translation in this text of Habakkuk 3 : 2 is not taken from the Septuagint . ) : 
