Mary traveled with Joseph on a donkey

At the time of Jesus’ birth, people traveled by foot, by animal, or in a cart. Nazareth to Bethlehem was a four to six-day journey over rough tracks with wild animals and robbers. People usually traveled in groups for their own protection.
Donkeys or asses were the normal animals used to carry loads and are still used in many countries today. Horses were only used by the rich or as a war animal.
The hand of God is seen everywhere, even here, with His using a Roman census to get Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.
Jesus, to be the Messiah and Savior of the world, had to fulfill a number of prophecies. Can you think of any?

Background Reading: – Mary travels with Joseph

5 He went there to be registered with Mary, who had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.
Luke 2:5

More Information:

We do not know the name or breed of the donkey that was used to carry Mary, who was pregnant at the time with Jesus.
The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem could have taken 4-6 days by foot to cover the 120 km or 75 mile journey.

Traveling in winter, e.g. December, would be unlikely because of the cold and rain.
If the census was taken over a period of time, then Joseph and Mary could have gone to Bethlehem and been in Jerusalem at one of the three feasts. All Jewish males were compelled to attend.

The three feasts are:
1. Unleavened Bread (which includes Passover): which was in spring.
2. Pentecost: which was in late spring.
3. Tabernacles: which was in autumn – see Leviticus 23:24. John 1:14. Jesus “dwelt among us”. Literally, the meaning is – Jesus “tabernacled among us”.

Jerusalem covered one square mile and had an estimated population of 200,000, with one million pilgrims annually, mainly arriving for the religious feasts.


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