How long did Joseph and Mary stay in Bethlehem when Jesus was born?

Answer 1

A:If Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem for the census under Quirinius, as told in Luke's Gospel, they would have travelled there in the year 6 CE, when that census was held. Until then, Judea had been granted autonomy to collect its own taxes, first under Herod the Great then under his successor Archelaus. In 6 CE, Rome deposed Archelaus and placed Judea under the rule of a local governor. At the same time, Rome appointed Quirinius governor of Syria, with overall responsibility for Judea, and ordered him to conduct a census of Judea so that Rome could collect taxes there.

If Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem in time for Jesus to be born during the reign of King Herod, they must have travelled prior to April 4 BCE, when Herod died.

These dates are at least ten years apart and can not both be true. Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says the best explanation is that, although Luke likes to set his Christian drama in the context of well-known events from antiquity, sometimes he does so inaccurately.

Answer 2

Joseph and Mary likely stayed in Bethlehem for a few months after the birth of Jesus before returning to Nazareth in Galilee. This is based on the biblical account in the Gospel of Luke where it mentions that they stayed in Bethlehem until it was time for Mary's purification rites to be completed.

Answer 3

Most people assume that Mary was on a donkey and Joseph was walking by the side. Held back by a man walking for a few hours a day it could have taken weeks.

However, Joseph was by now a very rich man, having received gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, so would scarcely have walked. He would have bought at least two donkeys or even camels for their journey. They would not have used horses, the fastest means of transport, as these would have drawn too much attention. Even travelling slowly by donkey or camel they would have completed the journey in less than a week, but it is impossible to tell.

Answer

The US Army forced march on paved road is 20 milesa day. The Roman Army covered 14 miles a day Considering the condition of the traveler (Mary with Christ child, Joseph walking)between 4-7 miles a day Distance between Bethlehem and Egypt ca. 230 - 260 miles The rest is guess work

Answer 4

Luke's Gospel does not say how long before the birth of Jesus the young couple arrived in Bethlehem, but it says that after the days of purification for Mary were completed, a period of forty days from the date of the birth, they took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him at the Temple, then returned home to Nazareth.

Matthew's Gospel says that Bethlehem was already the home of Mary and Joseph. Some time after the birth of Jesus, the magi (wise men) arrived, resulting in the need for the young family to flee from Bethlehem to Egypt for fear of King Herod. This is clearly a very different story from that in Luke, but it does not say how just long they stayed in Bethlehem. Since Bethlehem was their home town, and this Gospel mentions them living in a house, they could have stayed in Bethlehem as long as they wished, but it should have been less than two years, since King Herod ordered all the infants under two years to be slaughtered.

Answer 5

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In Luke's Gospel, Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem every year for the Passover, but does not say they had any interest in returning to Bethlehem.

In Matthew's Gospel, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt for fear of Herod and returned to go to Bethlehem after his death but, being warned in a dream, turned aside and travelled to Nazareth in Galilee, instead. Because of the warning, they did not actually return all the way to Bethlehem. This return journey took place during the rule of Archelaus, who ruled over Judea for ten years. More importantly, the flight to Egypt would seem to have taken place several years before Herod died in 4 BCE. In this version of the nativity, Mary and Joseph were probably in Egypt for a good few years, and Jesus could have been approaching his early teens before the family began the return journey.

Answer 6

it took at least seven days to get from nazereth to bethlehem.

Answer 7

it takes 12 hours

Answer 8

7.5 weeks

Answer 9

1 night