Does the Bible actually mention Mary riding a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem?

Answer 1

No, The Bible does not say this. However, as early as the second century, the Infancy Gospel of James, soon dismissed by the Church as unhistorical, speculated that the young couple did have a donkey.

Based on exegesis of Luke's Gospel, we can arrive at an informed view that they could not have had a donkey, in spite of Mary's pregnancy. Luke 2:24 says that they offered two doves as a sacrifice at the Jerusalem temple, instead of the usual sheep. This was a concession available to the very poorest in society, evidence that Joseph could not afford to own or hire a donkey and in keeping with his status as a village carpenter. Apart from this, anyone willing to lend a donkey would have risked the loss of a valuable asset if the young family were waylaid on this long and hazardous journey or if Joseph simply failed to return.

Answer 2

== == The Bible gives very little detail on Mary & Joseph's actual trip to Bethlehem. Considering the times and the location, though, it was very likely that they would've had a donkey carrying their belongings on the trip, and Mary, who was well along in her pregnancy, would've ridden it rather than walked the entire way. In the "Infancy Gospel of James" (Protoevangellium of James), Chapter 17, are the verses, "And there was an order from the Emperor Augustus, that all in Bethlehem of Judaea should be enrolled. And Joseph said: I shall enrol my sons[....]. And he saddled the ass, and set her upon it; and his son led it, and Joseph followed." Although not in the Canon, the "Infancy Gospel of James", possibly written as early as the second century, tends to cross over between apocryphal and Canon. Many of the images it describes have been used by artists and writers through the centuries.

Answer 3

The Flight into Egypt (paintings) depict Mary on a donkey with the baby Jesus.

This is so since the donkey was a common means of transport in those days. The truth is we don't actually know how they got there. It is likely though, that Joseph, being a considerate man, would have arranged transport for his wife and young son.

Answer 4

You don't.

There are four accounts of the life of Jesus in the Bible, collectively called the Gospels.

The Gospel of Matthew gives Jesus' lineage, briefly discusses Joseph's struggle with the concept, and then about all it has to say about the actual birth is "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem..."

The Gospel of Mark pretty much starts with Jesus being baptised at around age 30.

The Gospel of Luke is the one with the all the familiar details about the angels and the shepherds and the manger (though the Magi come from the account in Matthew). It just says "Joseph went up [...] to Bethlehem [...] with Mary," it doesn't mention how they went, or say anything in particular about a donkey.

The Gospel of John starts before the creation of the Earth ("In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"), but skips ahead really fast to, again, Jesus' baptism.

So, nope, no riding on donkeys there. It's certainly plausible, of course.

Answer 5

Luke's Gospel gives us the story of Joseph and Mary travelling from Nazareth to Bethlehem, but he does not mention how they got there, nor whether Mary was fortunate enough to have ridden an animal.

Since such a long and arduous journey on foot seems so improbable for a young woman in her late pregnancy, later Christian tradition says that she rode a donkey. Against this, a poor village carpenter, who could only offer two pigeons at the Temple (Luke 2:24), could never have afforded to hire a donkey for this long journey.

This journey only happens in Luke's Gospel, but Uta Ranke-Heinemann (Putting Away Childish Things) says the nativity accounts in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are both a collection of legends. Mary did not really have to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem in her late pregnancy.

Answer 6

Other answers from our contributors:

• it never happened
• The Bible doesn't tell us whether or not Mary rode on a donkey.

Answer 7

As a fact we dont even know for sure wether Mary and Joseph went on a donkey, we only presume so. There is no mention what so ever of Mary having a fall on the way to Bethlahem.