The Wise Men Visited Jesus In Nazareth Not In Bethlehem
I was shocked when I was reading Luke chapter 2 one day and discovered this!
Luke 2:39 “And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.”
This says Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Nazareth after fulfilling all things according to the law concerning Mary’s purification after giving birth to Jesus.
The law said that if a woman gave birth to a son then she was unclean for a total of 41 days , then she had to go do a sacrifice in order to be made clean.
Leviticus12:2 “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. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 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. 5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. 6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.” 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
S0, 8 days + 33 days = 41days total.
Mary and Joseph brought 2 turtledoves or 2 pigeons. for her sacrifice.
Luke 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.“
Therefore, Jesus was taken home to Nazareth about the age of 6 weeks.
The Wise Men Visited Jesus In A House Around The Age of 2yrs, Not In The Manger When He Was Born.
Matthew 2:11 “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”
We Know Jesus Was About 2 Yrs Old, Because Herod Ordered All The Little Boys 2 Yrs and Under Killed In Order To Try To Kill Jesus.
Matthew 2:16 “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.”
God Still Told Joseph To Take Jesus and Mary and Flee Into Egypt, Because Herod Would Have Heard That The Wise Men Had Actually Went To Nazareth, Then Herod Would Have Sent Soldiers To Nazareth To Kill Jesus.
Matthew 2:13-15 “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.”
The Wise Men Rejoiced When They Saw The Star, Because They Realized The Star Was Not Going To Bethlehem, So They Followed The Star And Found Jesus. If They Had Went To Bethlehem Like Herod Told Them too, They Would Not Have Found Jesus.
Matthew 2:9-10 “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
So Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but He was taken to Nazareth when he was about 6 weeks old (after they did everything they needed to do at the Temple in Jerusalem), and then the Wise Men found Him in a house in Nazareth, when He was about 2 years old.
Also, the Bible does not say how many Wise Men there were, so there were probably more than just 3.
It also says they came “from the East,” not that they went “to the East.” So they were travelling West. (Matthew 2:1)