The story of Jesus’ birth which is
found in Matthew’s gospel narrates events that took place months, or perhaps
even years, after the miraculous night described in the Gospel of Luke. We don’t know precisely how long it took the
Magi, after they first saw the star, to outfit their caravan and make their way
along the ancient trade route from Persia to Judea. Stopping first in Jerusalem to inquire about
the child, they were delayed while Herod consulted the temple authorities
concerning prophecies of the Messiah. The
protocols of oriental hospitality would have extended their stay in Jerusalem
even longer.
By the time the Magi arrived in
Bethlehem, the holy family was living in a house, not the rude stable-cave
where Jesus had been born. (see Matthew
2:11) Jesus most likely was already a
toddler playing at his mother’s knee.
This supposition is strengthened by the fact that Herod targeted
boy-children two years of age and under in his attempt to assassinate the
Christ child. Thanks to a timely warning
by one of God’s messengers before the massacre could occur, Joseph took Mary
and Jesus and fled into Egypt. There
they lived as refugees until they received word that Herod had died. Though there is considerable uncertainty
about the exact dates for these events, it would seem that the family lived for
at least a year or two in Egypt before they were able to return safely to Judea
and take up permanent residence in the town of Nazareth.
