The story of Mary and Joseph's travels with the infant Jesus is a significant part of biblical history. These journeys, fraught with challenges and divine guidance, highlight their devotion and the fulfillment of prophecy. Let's delve into the details of their travels before and after the birth of Jesus.
Flight into Egypt by Adam Elsheimer
The Initial Journey to Bethlehem
Nazareth was the hometown of Mary and Joseph. In 5 B.C., just before the birth of Christ, the Romans required them to travel to their ancestral home (they were both of the lineage of King David) of Bethlehem. The couple travels the roughly 80 miles (about 129 kilometers) to the city, where Christ will be ultimately born in a stable and laid in a manger (Luke 2:1 - 20).
Events After Jesus' Birth
Jesus' birth, which occurs on or around the Feast of Trumpets (September 2 in 5 B.C.) fulfills the prophecy found in Micah 5:2. Joseph, on the eighth day after Mary gives birth, takes the family to Jerusalem so that the Lord can be circumcised according to the law of God (Luke 2:21).
Forty days after Jesus is born, fulfilling the purification requirement of Leviticus 12, Mary and Joseph travel to Jerusalem's temple to present him before God. The trip is only 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) long. His parents make an offering to the temple of two young birds.
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Before Mary and Joseph leave the temple to return home a woman named Anna, a widowed prophetess who lived in Jerusalem, praises the Lord when she learns of Jesus' birth.
The family then makes the short trip back to Bethlehem.
The Flight to Egypt
In Bethlehem, Jesus' family is living in a home and not a stable (Matthew 2:11). The wise men (Magi) from the East, guided by a star (an angel), arrive to worship the King of Kings with Mary in attendance. After the wise men leave, Joseph is told (in a dream) to flee to Egypt (verse 13). He is informed of this because Herod the Great will soon issue a command that all male children two years old and younger, in and around Bethlehem, are to be put to death (Matthew 2:16).
Their journey from Bethlehem to what is Egyptian-controlled territory (which was outside the jurisdiction of Herod) was at least 65 kilometers (40 miles). Herod's cruel actions fulfill a prophecy regarding the slaughter of innocent children (Jeremiah 31:15).
What Is The Holy Family's Flight To Egypt? - Churches Of Faith
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Map of Ancient Israel and Surrounding Regions
The Return from Egypt
After Herod dies in early 4 B.C., Joseph has a dream where an angel tells him it is safe to return to Israel. Mary and the family's trip to and from Egypt is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy (Hosea 11:1). They soon begin their travel back to Judea and Bethlehem.
However, as Mary and Joseph approach Judea, it is discovered that Herod Archelaus, the eldest surviving son of Herod the Great, is the new ruler of the area. Like his father, Archelaus rules with tyranny and cruelty. Joseph's fears about living within Judea are confirmed when God sends him a warning in a dream.
The family, instead of going back to Bethlehem, continue their journey and go northward to their hometown of Nazareth (Matthew 2:22 - 23). The city is part of Galilee, which is ruled by a another son of Herod the Great named Herod Antipas. This son had a slightly less violent disposition than Archelaus.
The Final Journey to Nazareth
The travels of Mary and Joseph from Egyptian territory all the way north to Nazareth is a journey of more than 140 miles (225 kilometers, see Luke 2:39 - 40)!
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Here's a summary of the distances traveled by Mary and Joseph:
| Journey | Approximate Distance |
|---|---|
| Nazareth to Bethlehem | 80 miles (129 kilometers) |
| Bethlehem to Jerusalem (for circumcision) | 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) |
| Bethlehem to Egypt | At least 40 miles (65 kilometers) |
| Egypt to Nazareth | More than 140 miles (225 kilometers) |
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