Simply because Matthew or Luke or any other Bible writer does not mention everything that every other Bible writer mentions about the same general time or event, does not mean that someone has erred. (Image credit: Werner Forman Archive/Alamy) In 609 B.C., a confrontation was brewing between Egypt (led by Pharaoh Necho II) and the Babylonians (led by King Nabopolassar) who . Good Question, Magi and Egypt Before Going Home | Katherine Speaks, https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/32953/why-use-bce-ce-instead-of-bc-ad, Did Joseph and Mary take Jesus to Egypt because they could blend in there? You may want to look for further items of interest by using the resources below: the search bar; the lists of posts; and the list of categories. Thank you for your reply and clear explanation, Christopher. Christianity is the second largest religion in Egypt. They remained there until the death of Herod. He made it clear that him healing on the Sabbath was actually keeping it, as he was doing good, not bad. If success makes us feel that God loves us, does that mean God does not love those whofail? Most people familiar with the few details given in Scripture about the early life of Jesus are aware of the fact that following the visit from the wise men, Matthew indicates that Joseph and Mary took Jesus and fled to Egypt at the command of God (Matthew 2:13-14). 1653. The biblical text does not tell us. Not that there would be anything wrong with that but you wouldnt be lying on Jesus if you depicted Him as he probably waslight skinned. It was Herod's attempt to destroy this new king by killing all of the boys in Bethlehem who were two years old or younger that led . He adds that God wasnt counting peoples sins against them. That is, God extended forgiveness. Matthew 11:14. Jesus name in Hebrew was Yeshua which translates to English as Joshua. Is it documented that the holy family blended in with the Egyptians? Should the Bible be read and studied in the order it waswritten? Remember how he healed on a Sabbath? The Holy Family fleed to Egypt and they stayed in a cave. If Jesus had arrived with great fanfare as the heir to the Roman imperial throne, wed know the facts of his early life a lot better. Thank you for your explanations, which are helpful. 2:13-18 Joseph is warned by an angel in a dream to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt to escape King Herod's wrath (see 3 on Map 4). . Receiving rich presents from mysterious eastern magi at Bethlehem after Jesus' birth, he then fled to Egypt to avoid the wrath . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But Matthew discreetly does not say where Jesus actually was when they arrived, just that the Magi followed the star from Jerusalem to that place. I hope youve found what you were looking for. You have obviously done some study on these issues. Verifiable data available from Egyptian censuses and other large-scale nationwide surveys indicate that Christians presently constitute around 5% of the Egyptian population. It would be a shame for children to lose the magic of Christmas Nativity but sooner or later they have to learn the reality of Santa Claus. The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:13-23) and in New Testament apocrypha. come worship now the infant King. "Herod is looking for your child and wants to kill him.". I thank the Lord for the joy that I always feel about your site. We have a better idea of when the sojourn in Egypt ended. Thankyou. how old was jesus when they fled to egypt. Four doctoral dissertations have analyzed his contribution to religious education and evangelism. from Dallas Theological Seminary also in Dallas, a MRE from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a D.Min. A common knowledge among those who are familiar with the little facts provided in Scripture concerning Jesus' early life is that following the visit from the wise men, Matthew reports that Joseph and Mary took Jesus and fled to Egypt at the order of God (Matthew 2:13-14). The flight to Egypt by Jesus family is related by Matthew to the statement in Hosea 11:1 which refers historically to the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt. Also, to Elaine (no reply link was under her comment about progressives). Change). Neither writer made such a declaration (cf. The nativity stories are generally accepted as myths and the arguments for this assertion are excellently presented in this article: http://www.religioustolerance.org/myths-about-jesus-birth.htm. You say, And since Jesus was born around the time of the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, his birth occurred some time between 6 B.C. (Matthew 2:16-18). Once again, Luke, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2:13 says that they fled to Egypt after the Magi visited. But thought, since Jesus was the sacrificial lamb, he would not need to. 2- Joseph was still alive when Jesus was 12 . The way the gospel writers see Jesus reliving the experience of Israel is another biblical example. All rights reserved. the baby Jesus born this night. How can you assert that a human can only exist on earth by being born here? The family traveled to Nazareth which took them a journey of at least 170 kilometers. how to print iready parent report. Its the same no matter what religion you believe in, or whether you believe in none. Why can no one accept that the most logical and efficient way to have accomplished His mission to educate and prepare us, would be to arrive, carry out the mission and return to where he came from as soon as he was finished.This is exactly how his life on earth is recorded in Mark and John. What spiritual rejoicing was there when this little family, hides in the place that so long ago was used against Gods house. How long did Jesus family stay in Egypt? Answer (1 of 6): Right after Jesus was born, Saint Joseph took baby Jesus and his Mother Mary to Egypt! You must accept that you are a sinner and you must accept that Jesus died so that your sins COULD be forgiven (if you have faith). Towns has given theological lectures and taught intensive seminars at over 50 theological seminaries in America and abroad. Rally I agreed Woman with 12 stars round her head Alan Peters opinion 12 Stars indicaes around Mother Marys Head is true as per the old testment Abraham grand Son JOCOB having 12 Sons, at time of critical stage they went to Egypt for morethan 400 years and 12 generations brought from egypt to Jerusalem 12 generations under leadership of Moses. Jesus could have arrived on earth, in the same way we arrived on the moon, or by such other, far more advanced forms of travel which must exist on one of Gods many mansions which Jesus himself has told us exist in His Kingdom. The writer cited Luke and Mathew as a reference. Jesus could just as easily, and far more logically, have arrived as a fully-grown adult on the day he presented himself to John for Baptism. There were a few TV programmes about it. What I understand before, a few days after Mary delivered our Lord Jesus, the wise men came and then a few days later they escaped to Egypt. Learn how your comment data is processed. The tree is still there after thousands of years in the middle off desert with nothing around it. Matt. Q. . This has been a very good and interesting discussion, and the information you provided is informative, helpful, and much appreciated. Perhaps Matthew is shielding the identity of a community that sheltered Jesus and his family to protect them from potential reprisals even so many years after the events. You state His birth as an obvious fact, as if you had witnessed the event yourself! It is only extremist groups such as the Taliban or ISIS, which hardly deserve the name Muslim or Islamic, that wantonly destroy historical records and artifacts. To few do not care. So the Lord's birth, the visit by the Magi, the flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth all had to take place between 6 and 4 BC. He was being taught while he was in Egypt. NIV When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. . The Rev. Firstly, thank you for your work and this excellent hypothesis. When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. Joseph is . Q: In Matthew 2, it says Mary, Joseph and Jesus were in Bethlehem, and (verse 13) after the wise men left, the angel told them to flee to Egypt. Pyramids of Giza. The Magi told Herod that they had first seen the star that led them to come worship the king of the Jews two years earlier. It seems probable that He was between one and two years oldbased upon the account of Herods order to kill all the children two years and under. If it was to die so that our sins should be forgiven, why is there still going to be a Judgement Day, when those found wanting will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone? (LogOut/ Answer: If we assume that Herod and the magi were accurate in their calculations of the Christmas star's first appearance, that would mean Jesus was no older than two years. Because there is good reason to suppose that Jesus saw them as a child. There are traditions in Egypt that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Elephantine for safety and to be in a Jewish community. The calendar of BC and AD was adopted at a time when it was believed that Jesus had been born in 1 AD. The anwer is 1,260 days so l thought that was 4.56 years tus in revelation 12:4-5-6 . It seems to me that the most likely scenario is that Jesus was born around 6 B.C., the wise men (by their own account) arrived in Jerusalem two years later in 4 B.C., and in that same year Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt, Herod died, and they returned. So depending on when Jesus was born, the journey to Egypt lasted no more than two years, and perhaps as little as a few weeks or months. Our artists over the years have europeanised Jesus making him tall and pale with fair hair. It is indeed blessed by the Holy Spirit because it makes us praise His glorious name always in the knowledge that we learned from your site. B.C. ended as soon He was born, A.D. began after He was born. Even a literal read has the child being caught up to God then the the women flees . . When King Herod had died, Joseph could take his wife and child back to Nazareth from the exile in Egypt, where they fled to escape King Herod's order of killing all boys. It is probable that the Magi were led by the star to Bethlehem, offered their homage, departed, Joseph was warned, and the holy family started to Egypt, all the same night. I dont understand how you can say Jesus was born in 6 B.C., when B.C. means Before Christ. for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Those people are brown to black skinned in those days. Luke 2:1-21. Matthew doesnt say that the Magi went to Bethlehem and found Jesus in the manger. But such an omission is in no way proof of dishonestyanymore than if, at the funeral of a 90-year-old man, someone gives a synopsis of his life, and omits the two years he spent in Warner, Oklahoma in junior college. Dont know that I agree. Did Adam lie before sin entered theworld? Bethlehem is only 5 miles from Jerusalem while Nazareth was a journey of several days. Matthew 2:13-21 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to . 2, p.8). Why did Jesus hide in Egypt? We dont always see immediately what feels like fitting retribution for atrocities like this one that he committed, but in this case it seems that the perpetrator very quickly joined his victims in death and had to answer for his crimes. The purpose behind understanding this ties it to the seven Feasts. (Part 1). According to Genesis 46:27, Joseph and his family numbered 70 people when they moved to Egypt. with skin of yellow hue. Why isnt the exact date recorded of Jesus birth? Download our eBooks to read on your computers, phone, tablet, or eReader. Soon after the visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus since King Herod would seek the child to kill him. The Lord of heavn to earth come down. Dr. Christopher R. Smith is an an ordained minister, a writer, and a biblical scholar. Why arent his life events such as how long he was in Egypt, just to name one, more obvious? When Jesus was still an infant, King Herod of Judea ordered him to kill all "firstborns.". This passage identifies the place of Christs birth as being Bethlehem of Judea and the time of His birth was in the days of Herod the King. According to Matthew, after Herod killed John the Baptist, When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Its unlikely that this solitary place was Egypt because: (1) Jesus wouldnt have gone there by boat, but rather on foot; by boat suggests across the Sea of Galilee, as the context in Matthew confirms (when they went back to the other side, they landed at Gennesaret, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, and (2) a solitary place suggests an unsettled place like the far shore of the Sea of Galilee, not a major civilization such as Egypt. It was between the age of eleven and twelve that he was summoned to return to Jerusalem. They reached Egypt after a 65 kilometers journey where they lived for three years until after the death of Herod in 4 B.C. 2:13 After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to look for the child to kill him." 2:14 Then he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and went to Egypt. They made it into cakes, boiled it, and ground it into flour. Perhaps you were brought here by a search engine or by a link to one of the posts. Starring: Adam Greaves-Neal, Sara Lazzaro, Vincent Walsh. At your suggestion I have updated the image that accompanies this post. Later, for example, in chapter 24, Luke omitted the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus in Galilee, which both Matthew and John mentioned. In other words, only those who believe they are forgiven and ask God for forgiveness, can be forgiven. Matthews gospel, which tells us about the Magi, also specifies that they followed the star from Jerusalem to the place where the child was, and that they went into a house to see him. Jesus, the Chief Shepherd of our souls, fasted 40 days and 40 nights before beginning his ministry. One consequence of that is that his life is not as well documented as wed like it to be, but Im sure wed agree the trade-off is worth it. Herod died and was replaced by his son Archelaus in 4 BC. Moses was in the wilderness for 40 years, working as a shepherd, before God called him back to Egypt to deliver his people. I do not believe the comment is fair to Muslims, who, I find, have a profound respect for history and culture, even if it predates the founding of their religion. We grow food to support a community, build and repair homes, and support the poor, widows, and the fatherless. More intriguing is the fact that the fathers of Christianity didnt want to add a historical fallacy by guessing the date. If Jesus family were in Egypt for much less than a year, why then does it say in the Revelation Prophecy of the Woman with 12 stars round her head, generally interpreted (incorrectly I believe) as Mary giving birth to Jesus, that she was transported to a place prepared for her for 1260 days, which equates to nearly 3 and a half years? Some children see Him bronzed and brown, According to this text, which Notovitch had translated into French, Jesus had spent his missing years the years between his childhood and the beginning of his ministry studying Buddhism in India. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. How does the supposed census help us date the birth to Christ, and what historical records do we have to support this? We believe in the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord not because it is documented, but because of our faith. Speculative, but intriguing. Jesus was born, and that is that! Should a man desire to learn of them, let him ask for understanding. they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Rather, just as we oftentimes tell stories today and include certain details that others omit, so did the inspired writers of Scripture. The calendar has remained fixed even though our understanding has changed of when Jesus was born. Joseph is 56 and Benjamin is about 40. Luke indicates that after Jesus birth, and once Marys days of purification according to the law of Moses were completed (2:22), which would have been about six weeks after Jesus was born (Leviticus 12:3-4), Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-38).