Category Archives: M) Fled to Egypt

M) Fled to Egypt

1) When did Jesus, Mary, and Joseph go to Egypt?

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Question

When did Jesus, Mary, and Joseph go to Egypt?

Answer

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph went to Egypt after Mary purification and before Herod the Great death.

Discussion

Matthew and Luke recounted that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph went to Nazareth (see red fonts).

And when they had performed all things according to the injunction of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. (Luke 2: 39)

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts 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. (Matthew 2: 19-23)

Luke also recounted that Joseph family went to Nazareth after performing all things according to the injunction of the Lord.

και ως ετελεσαν απαντα τα κατα τον νομον κυριου υπεστρεψαν εις την γαλιλαιαν εις την πολιν αυτων ναζαρετ

And when they had performed all things according to the injunction of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. (Luke 2: 39)

The injunction of the Lord included:

  1. Circumcision

    Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. (Leviticus 12: 2-4)

  2. Purification

    Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. (Leviticus 12: 2-4)

  3. Escape to Egypt and back to Palestine after Herod death

    And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee 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 into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. (Matthew 2:13-15)

According to Luke 2: 22, Mary family was still in Bethlehem, Palestine, forty days after delivery.

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present to the Lord; (Luke 2: 22)

Time in Julian Calendar Event Ref
25th of December 5 BC Jesus was born in a cave. See “Train of Thought about Christmas December 25“
A day between 26th and 30th of December 5 BCE Joseph, Mary, and Jesus moved to a house. Matthew 2: 11
31st of December 4 BC Preparation for Jesus circumcision (religious and social event). Considering social setting of Luke 2: 21
1st of January 4 BC Jesus circumcision. Luke 2: 21
2nd of February 4 BC Purification of Mary. Luke 2: 22
February and/ or March 4 BC Fled to and dwelt in Egypt Matthew 2:13-15
April 4 BC Herod death, Mary family went to Nazareth Luke 2:39; Matthew 2: 15, 19-23

Conlusion

Mary, Joseph, and Jesus went to and dwelt in Egypt in February and/ or March to April 4 BCE Julian Calendar.

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