Timeline of events after birth of Christ

[Grafted In]

Mathew chapter 2 tells us that the wise men met Joseph,Mary and Jesus in the house.
What house?
Tradition says at the location of His birth.
Then it says they fled to Egypt.
So, what are they doing in Bethlehem after His Dedication and Mary's time of purification, a period of 40 days and supposedly returning home?

 

[Grafted In]

(Tap tap)
Is this thing on?

 

[David Lamb]

Mathew chapter 2 tells us that the wise men met Joseph,Mary and Jesus in the house.
What house?
Tradition says at the location of His birth.
Then it says they fled to Egypt.
So, what are they doing in Bethlehem after His Dedication and Mary's time of purification, a period of 40 days and supposedly returning home?

Matthew 2 doesn't mention the wise men meeting Joseph:

“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Mt 2:11 NKJV)

It was 70 miles from Bethlehem to Nazareth, so possibly they stayed in Bethlehem until Jesus was a bit older. It is not tradition that says at Bethlehem; Matthew writes:

“And he (Herod) sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.” (Mt 2:8-9 NKJV)

Notice that Jesus is called "the young Child;" He is no longer a new-born Baby in a manger. He was probably nearly 2, which was why Herod ordered the slaughter of all boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and the area around it.

Bethlehem was much closer to Egypt than Nazareth, so that could be a reason God caused them to stay in Bethlehem.

 

[Grafted In]

Matthew 2 doesn't mention the wise men meeting Joseph:

“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Mt 2:11 NKJV)

It was 70 miles from Bethlehem to Nazareth, so possibly they stayed in Bethlehem until Jesus was a bit older. It is not tradition that says at Bethlehem; Matthew writes:

“And he (Herod) sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.” (Mt 2:8-9 NKJV)

Notice that Jesus is called "the young Child;" He is no longer a new-born Baby in a manger. He was probably nearly 2, which was why Herod ordered the slaughter of all boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and the area around it.

Bethlehem was much closer to Egypt than Nazareth, so that could be a reason God caused them to stay in Bethlehem.

For Lawful reasons 40 days.
Does Scripture refer to seasonal conditions when they fled?
Also, growing up, even public schools depicted imagery of the wise men standing around baby Jesus and HIS mother. And the camels.

 

[Grafted In]

Thank you for your point about Joseph, David.

 

[David Lamb]

For Lawful reasons 40 days.
Does Scripture refer to seasonal conditions when they fled?
Also, growing up, even public schools depicted imagery of the wise men standing around baby Jesus and HIS mother. And the camels.

No, the bible doesn't mention seasonal conditions when they fled to Egypt. It simply says:

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."” (Mt 2:13-15 NKJV)

Yes, images here in the UK are similar, nearly always showing 3 wise men at the manger!

 

[Jermayn]

Matthew 2 doesn't mention the wise men meeting Joseph:

“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Mt 2:11 NKJV)

It was 70 miles from Bethlehem to Nazareth, so possibly they stayed in Bethlehem until Jesus was a bit older. It is not tradition that says at Bethlehem; Matthew writes:

“And he (Herod) sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.” (Mt 2:8-9 NKJV)

Notice that Jesus is called "the young Child;" He is no longer a new-born Baby in a manger. He was probably nearly 2, which was why Herod ordered the slaughter of all boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and the area around it.

Bethlehem was much closer to Egypt than Nazareth, so that could be a reason God caused them to stay in Bethlehem.

Outstanding observation!

 

[Grafted In]

Outstanding observation!

I agree. But then God speaks to Joseph as if he were present in the house at that time.
There's no calling him from Nazareth.
Why do you suppose God led the man who wrote it to omit that detail?

 

[David Lamb]

I agree. But then God speaks to Joseph as if he were present in the house at that time.
There's no calling him from Nazareth.
Why do you suppose God led the man who wrote it to omit that detail?

Because it didn't happen. They went from Bethlehem to Egypt, then when Herod was dead, from Egypt to Nazareth:

“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead." Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."” (Mt 2:19-23 NKJV)

 

[Grafted In]

Because it didn't happen. They went from Bethlehem to Egypt, then when Herod was dead, from Egypt to Nazareth:

“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead." Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."” (Mt 2:19-23 NKJV)

You may have misunderstood my poorly worded post.
What i meant was that he hadn't gone back home.

 

[David Lamb]

You may have misunderstood my poorly worded post.
What i meant was that he hadn't gone back home.

Thanks - in that case, I agree.