The Roman Census – An Unpopular Decree
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world (Luke 2:1). The Roman census wasn’t very popular. One of the main reasons that Rome went to all of the work of doing a census was to make sure that people were paying the taxes Rome demanded. For the Jewish people -- who had endured centuries of outside control – the Roman census was considered another mockery of its historic, religious principles. They viewed Israel as their land given to them by God. However, the Roman census wasn’t voluntary, and there was no real way for the average Joe (or Joseph) to fight it.
“And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (Luke 2:3-5)”
The Roman Census -- The Trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem
At the time of the Roman census during the first-century, the most direct route from Nazareth to Bethlehem was just over 90 miles. Mary and Joseph likely traveled with a caravan. We don’t know exactly what route they took – perhaps the shorter but more demanding walk along the trade route through the center of Samaria, or perhaps the longer but easier way through the Jordan River Valley. Regardless, the journey would have taken a week or more.
Tradition places the very pregnant mom-to-be on a donkey with Joseph walking alongside. But the Gospels do not mention a specific “ride” for Mary. What we do know is that the Roman census got Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem at just the right time in history.
The Gospel of Matthew specifies “Bethlehem in Judea.” Luke tells us “Bethlehem, the town of David.” Why does this matter? Because there was more than one town called Bethlehem, and it appears that the Bethlehem about five and a half miles southwest of Jerusalem is exactly where the Jewish Scriptures predicted the Messiah would be born.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
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Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWater’s Drive Thru History® TV series and Drive Thru History® “Adventures” curriculum.