Questions From Readers
After they born Jesus, why Joseph and Mary stay in Bethlehem instead of going back to their hometown in Nazareth?
The Bible not tell us the reason why. But it talk about some interesting thing them that maybe make them to not go back that time.
One angel tell Mary that she will get pregnant and born boy child. When the angel gave this message, Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth in Joseph hometown in Galilee. (Luke 1:26-31; 2:4) Later on when they left from Egypt, they came back to Nazareth. Jesus grew up there so he became Nazarene. (Matt. 2:19-23) So that the reason we can think about Nazareth when we talking about Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.
Mary was having her relative living in Judah. Her name was Elizabeth. Her husband name was Zechariah and he was priest. She was also John the Baptist ma. (Luke 1:5, 9, 13, 36) Mary went to visit Elizabeth in Judah and she stay there for three months. Then Mary went back to Nazareth. (Luke 1:39, 40, 56) That the reason why Mary knew the area good-good.
Later on, Joseph left from Nazareth and went to Bethlehem because the Roman government say everybody must go to their hometown “to be registered.” And that in Bethlehem the Messiah was suppose to be born according to prophecy. (Luke 2:3, 4; 1 Sam. 17:15; 20:6; Mic. 5:2) After Mary born Jesus there, Joseph not make her to go back to Nazareth with the young baby because the distance was far. They stay in Bethlehem because it was not too far from Jerusalem. It was nine kilometers (about 6 mi) from there. So it was easy for them to carry the young baby to the temple and make the offering according to the Law.—Lev. 12:2, 6-8; Luke 2:22-24.
God angel told Mary before that her son was going to sit down on “David throne” to “rule as King.” Maybe Joseph and Mary were thinking that it was important that Jesus be born in David city. (Luke 1:32, 33; 2:11, 17) So maybe they were thinking that it important for them to stay there and wait for God direction.
We not know how long they stay in Bethlehem before the astrologers reach there. But by that time, the family was living in one house and their son was not young baby again. He was small boy now. (Matt. 2:11) It look like they not go back to Nazareth, but they stay in Bethlehem and make the place their home.
Herod say that they must kill all the boy children them in Bethlehem from two years old down. (Matt. 2:16) One angel warn Joseph about it. So, he and Mary run away with Jesus and went to Egypt and they stay there until Herod die. Why they not go back to Bethlehem? Because that time Herod wicked son, Archelaus, was ruling in Judea. Also, one angel warn Joseph again about the danger of going there. So he carry his family to Nazareth. That place was safe for them to bring Jesus up to worship Jehovah the right way.—Matt. 2:19-22; 13:55; Luke 2:39, 52.
Maybe Joseph die before Jesus make it possible for other people to go to heaven. So Joseph will come back to life on the earth. Plenty people will be able to see him and learn more about why he and Mary stay in Bethlehem after they born Jesus.