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NASB | Luke 2:5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 2:5 in order to register with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. [Matt 1:18-25] |
Subject: The "dramatic addition" is extrabiblical |
Bible Note: In John 8:41, those Jesus is confronting say to him, "We are not illegitimate children..." I have heard more than one person mention that this may have been a jab at Jesus' questionable birth. It's not conclusive, but just a thought. Here is what I think.... Mary and Joseph go to the census during the feast of booths (Joseph would be going to Jerusalem anyway at that time, and Bethlehem was very close by so it “kills two birds with one stone”. The Romans usually had a window of time to register.) Since Bethlehem was Joseph's home town, many relatives would have been there. So why did they not find "room?" Really...a pregnant woman can't find room in their hometown? I figure 1 of 2 possibilities. 1) Joseph and Mary were ostracized by their family due to the questionable pregnancy, and her odd explanation. After the birth, the relatives relented and accepted them, especially after the witness of the shepherds from Migol Eder (the Temple shepherds) which would have confirmed Mary and Joseph's story from a third party. This is why later in Matthews story we see them in a home. 2) From Archeology we learn that the INN near Bethlehem was typical of the times. The people lived above and the animals. For any privacy, people could descend into the stable area below the housing (The stables below the housing served to warm the housing and give those staying close watch of their animals.) It is thought that for privacy, people could expel the animals from an area of the stable, clean it up, and find privacy. Since this time was so busy given a Festival at Jerusalem, the INN would be packed. Theory 2 does not match the history of being born in a cave, but does match archeology and inferences. As far as the people in Bethlehem NOT knowing about the questions surrounding Mary’s pregnancy assumes that the relatives from Bethlehem and Nazareth never communicated, which is hard to believe since they met at least 3 times a year at the feasts. Also, then why didn’t Mary and Joseph find accommodations with family if they had no reason to keep them apart. It is doubtful that the time of arrival and the time of birth were far removed. If not that night, then within a week would make most sense, but the text is not clear about how long they waited. MJH |