Biblical Accounts of Jesus’ (a.s.) Childhood with Commentary

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following are some points about the birth of Jesus (a.s.), from a Biblical perspective, with some commentary by me. 

Firstly, the four gospels do not all record the same events as each other.  This is the same for every point of Jesus’ (a.s.) life.  One pertinent point is that there is way too much information to fit into a single book about Jesus (a.s.).  Even the author of the Gospel according to John acknowledged as such, and he said: 

John 21:25

²⁵ There is much else besides that Jesus did; if all of it were put in writing, I do not think the world itself would contain the books which would have to be written. 

²⁵ ἔστιν δὲ καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ ἃ ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἅτινα ἐὰν γράφηται καθ' ἕν οὐδ' αὐτὸν οἶμαι τὸν κόσμον χωρῆσαι τὰ γραφόμενα βιβλία. 

²⁵ Sunt autem et alia multa quæ fecit Jesus: quæ si scribantur per singula, nec ipsum arbitror mundum capere posse eos, qui scribendi sunt, libros. 

Another point of note is that the gospels, whether canonical or apocryphal, were not all written at the same time, did not take from exactly the same sources, and were written to address specific audiences.  A prevalent mistake of Muslims is that they tend to compare the books of the New Testament to the Qur’an, and look to find issues with the narrative.  It is more accurate to compare them to ahadits, with an inferior methodology.  The methodology of ahadits as we understand them, was perfected a thousand years later.  And even then, there are a lot of nonsensical narrations many Muslims still believe. 

Secondly, the accounts of Jesus’ (a.s.) childhood, from the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke, are known as “infancy narratives.”  While both have parts in common, such as the consensus on the Virgin Birth, the birth in Bethlehem and flight to Egypt, there ae clear divergences because the authors of both Gospels emphasised different aspects of his childhood, for different audiences. 

The author of the Gospel according to Matthew has a brief infancy account.  There is greater focus on Joseph, the supposed husband of the Virgin Mary (a.s.).  The genealogy of the Gospel according to Matthew emphasises the tenuous connection between Jesus (a.s.) and the line of David (a.s.), creating the narrative that Jesus (a.s.) was a literal thread to the legitimacy of the kingship of Herod the Great.  In contrast, the Gospel according to Luke focuses on Mary (a.s.), and does not mention the notion of Jesus (a.s.) as an earthly king.  It has a rather spiritual take, and focuses on Jesus’ (a.s.) identity as the future Messiah. 

Thirdly, whilst there are many omissions, it is possible to come up with a rough timeline of the major events in Jesus’ (a.s.) life from the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke. 

We know that the archangel, Gabriel (a.s.), appeared to the prophet, Zechariah (a.s.), in Jerusalem, to announce the birth of John the Baptist (a.s.): 

Luke 1:5-22

⁵ In the days when Herod was king of Judaea, there was a priest called Zachary, of Abia’s turn of office, who had married a wife of Aaron’s family, by name Elizabeth; ⁶ they were both well approved in God’s Sight, following all the Commandments and Observances of the Lord without reproach.  ⁷ They had no child; Elizabeth was barren, and both were now well advanced in years.  ⁸ He, then, as it happened, was doing a priest’s duty before God in the order of his turn of office; ⁹ and had been chosen by lot, as was the custom among the priests, to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense there, ¹⁰ while the whole multitude of the people stood praying without, at the hour of sacrifice.  ¹¹ Suddenly he saw an angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar where incense was burnt.  ¹² Zachary was bewildered at the sight, and overcome with fear; ¹³ but the angel said, “Zachary, do not be afraid; thy prayer has been Heard, and thy wife, Elizabeth, is to bear thee a son, to whom thou shalt give the name of ‘John’.  ¹⁴ Joy and gladness shall be thine, and many hearts shall rejoice over his birth, ¹⁵ for he is to be high in the Lord’s Favour; he is to drink neither wine nor strong drink; and from the time when he is yet a child in his mother’s womb he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.  ¹⁶ He shall bring back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷ ushering in his advent in the spirit and power of an Elias.  He shall unite the hearts of all, the fathers with the children, and teach the disobedient the wisdom that makes men just, preparing for the Lord a people fit to receive him.”  ¹⁸ And Zachary said to the angel, “By what sign am I to be assured of this?  I am an old man now, and my wife is far advanced in age.”  ¹⁹ The angel answered, “My name is Gabriel, and my place is in God’s Presence; I have been Sent to speak with thee, and to bring thee this good news.  ²⁰ Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and have no power of speech, until the day when this is accomplished; and that, because thou hast not believed my promise, which shall in due time be fulfilled.”  ²¹ And now all the people were waiting for Zachary, and wondering that he delayed in the temple so long; ²² but he, when he came out, could speak no word to them; whereupon they made sure that he had seen some vision in the sanctuary.  He could but stand there making signs to them, for he remained dumb. 

⁵ Ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου βασιλέως τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἱερεύς τις ὀνόματι Ζαχαρίας ἐξ ἐφημερίας Ἀβιά, καὶ γυνὴ αὐτῷ ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων Ἀαρών, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Ἐλισάβετ.  ⁶ ἦσαν δὲ δίκαιοι ἀμφότεροι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ, πορευόμενοι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς καὶ δικαιώμασιν τοῦ κυρίου ἄμεμπτοι.  ⁷ καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τέκνον, καθότι ἦν ἡ Ἐλισάβετ στεῖρα, καὶ ἀμφότεροι προβεβηκότες ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν ἦσαν.  ⁸ ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ ἱερατεύειν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ τάξει τῆς ἐφημερίας αὐτοῦ ἔναντι τοῦ θεοῦ, ⁹ κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἱερατείας ἔλαχε τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ κυρίου, ¹⁰ καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ἦν τοῦ λαοῦ προσευχόμενον ἔξω τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ θυμιάματος.  ¹¹ ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῷ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἑστὼς ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ θυμιάματος.  ¹² καὶ ἐταράχθη Ζαχαρίας ἰδών, καὶ φόβος ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ' αὐτόν.  ¹³ εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος: μὴ φοβοῦ, Ζαχαρία, διότι εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς σου, καὶ ἡ γυνή σου Ἐλισάβετ γεννήσει υἱόν σοι, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννην: ¹⁴ καὶ ἔσται χαρά σοι καὶ ἀγαλλίασις, καὶ πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τῇ γενέσει αὐτοῦ χαρήσονται.  ¹⁵ ἔσται γὰρ μέγας ἐνώπιον τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ οἶνον καὶ σίκερα οὐ μὴ πίῃ, καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου πλησθήσεται ἔτι ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, ¹⁶ καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἐπιστρέψει ἐπὶ κύριον τὸν θεὸν αὐτῶν: ¹⁷ καὶ αὐτὸς προελεύσεται ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ δυνάμει Ἠλίου, ἐπιστρέψαι καρδίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα καὶ ἀπειθεῖς ἐν φρονήσει δικαίων, ἑτοιμάσαι κυρίῳ λαὸν κατεσκευασμένον.  ¹⁸ καὶ εἶπεν Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον: κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο; ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς.  ¹⁹ καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῷ: ἐγώ εἰμι Γαβριὴλ ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἀπεστάλην λαλῆσαι πρὸς σὲ καὶ εὐαγγελίσασθαί σοι ταῦτα: ²⁰ καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔσῃ σιωπῶν καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος λαλῆσαι ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας γένηται ταῦτα, ἀνθ' ὧν οὐκ ἐπίστευσας τοῖς λόγοις μου, οἵτινες πληρωθήσονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν.  ²¹ καὶ ἦν ὁ λαὸς προσδοκῶν τὸν Ζαχαρίαν, καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐν τῷ χρονίζειν ἐν τῷ ναῷ αὐτόν ²² ἐξελθὼν δὲ οὐκ ἐδύνατο λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι ὀπτασίαν ἑώρακεν ἐν τῷ ναῷ: καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν διανεύων αὐτοῖς, καὶ διέμενεν κωφός. 

⁵ Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judææ, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth.  ⁶ Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela.  ⁷ Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis.  ⁸ Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suæ ante Deum, ⁹ secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini: ¹⁰ et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi.  ¹¹ Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi.  ¹² Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum.  ¹³ Ait autem ad illum angelus: Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua: et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem: ¹⁴ et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt: ¹⁵ erit enim magnus coram Domino: et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suæ: ¹⁶ et multos filiorum Israël convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum: ¹⁷ et ipse præcedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliæ: ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam.  ¹⁸ Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum: Unde hoc sciam?  ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis.  ¹⁹ Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Ego sum Gabriel, qui asto ante Deum: et missus sum loqui ad te, et hæc tibi evangelizare.  ²⁰ Et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo hæc fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quæ implebuntur in tempore suo.  ²¹ Et erat plebs exspectans Zachariam: et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo.  ²² Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo.  Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus. 

Here, the angel Gabriel (a.s.) referenced the prophecy of Malachi (a.s.): 

Malachi 4:5-6

⁵ “And before ever that day comes, great day and terrible, I will Send Elias to be your prophet; ⁶ he, it is, shall reconcile heart of father to son, heart of son to father; else the whole of earth should be forfeit to My Vengeance.” 

⁵ ὃς ἀποκαταστήσει καρδίαν πατρὸς πρὸς υἱὸν καὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ μὴ ἔλθω καὶ πατάξω τὴν γῆν ἄρδην ⁶ μνήσθητε νόμου Μωυσῆ τοῦ δούλου μου καθότι ἐνετειλάμην αὐτῷ ἐν Χωρηβ πρὸς πάντα τὸν Ισραηλ προστάγματα καὶ δικαιώματα 

⁵ Ecce ego mittam vobis Eliam prophetam, antequam veniat dies Domini magnus et horribilis.  ⁶ Et convertet cor patrum ad filios, et cor filiorum ad patres eorum: ne forte veniam, et percutiam terram anathemate. 

We know that at the end of his term of service in the Temple, Zechariah (a.s.) returned to his home in the hill country of Judea and his wife, Elizabeth (r.a.), became pregnant: 

Luke 1:23-25

²³ And so, when the days of his ministry were at an end, he went back to his house.  ²⁴ It was after those days that his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months, she dwelt retired; she said, ²⁵ “It is the Lord Who has Done this for me, Visiting me at His Own Time, to Take Away my reproach among men.” 

²³ καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς λειτουργίας αὐτοῦ, ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ.  ²⁴ μετὰ δὲ ταύτας τὰς ἡμέρας συνέλαβεν Ἐλισάβετ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ: καὶ περιέκρυβεν ἑαυτὴν μῆνας πέντε, λέγουσα ²⁵ ὅτι οὕτως μοι πεποίηκεν κύριος ἐν ἡμέραις αἷς ἐπεῖδεν ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδός μου ἐν ἀνθρώποις. 

²³ Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam: ²⁴ post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor ejus, et occultabat se mensibus quinque, dicens: ²⁵ Quia sic fecit mihi Dominus in diebus, quibus respexit auferre opprobrium meum inter homines. 

We know that in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s (r.a.) pregnancy, Gabriel (a.s.) appeared to her cousin, Mary (a.s.), in Nazareth to announce the birth of Jesus (a.s.). 

Luke 1:26-38

²⁶ When the sixth month came, God Sent the angel, Gabriel, to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ where a virgin dwelt, betrothed to a man of David’s lineage; his name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name was Mary.  ²⁸ Into her presence, the angel came, and said, “Hail, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women.”  ²⁹ She was much perplexed at hearing him speak so, and cast about in her mind, what she was to make of such a greeting.  ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid; thou hast found Favour in the Sight of God.  ³¹ And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call him ‘Jesus.’  ³² He shall be great, and men will know him for the Son of the Most High; the Lord God will Give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally; ³³ his kingdom shall never have an end.”  ³⁴ But Mary said to the angel, “How can that be, since I have no knowledge of man?”  ³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the Power of the Most High will Overshadow thee.  Thus, this holy offspring of thine shall be known for the Son of God.  ³⁶ See, moreover, how it fares with thy cousin Elizabeth; she is old, yet she too has conceived a son; she who was reproached with barrenness is now in her sixth month, ³⁷ to prove that nothing can be impossible with God.”  ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.”  And with that, the angel left her. 

²⁶ Ἐν δὲ τῷ μηνὶ τῷ ἕκτῳ ἀπεστάλη ὁ ἄγγελος Γαβριὴλ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς πόλιν τῆς Γαλιλαίας ᾗ ὄνομα Ναζαρὲθ ²⁷ πρὸς παρθένον ἐμνηστευμένην ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰωσὴφ ἐξ οἴκου Δαυίδ, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς παρθένου Μαριάμ.  ²⁸ καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν: χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ.  ²⁹ ἡ δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ διεταράχθη, καὶ διελογίζετο ποταπὸς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασμὸς οὗτος.  ³⁰ καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτῇ: μὴ φοβοῦ, Μαριάμ: εὗρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ: ³¹ καὶ ἰδοὺ συλλήμψῃ ἐν γαστρὶ καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν.  ³² οὗτος ἔσται μέγας καὶ υἱὸς ὑψίστου κληθήσεται, καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸν θρόνον Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ³³ καὶ βασιλεύσει ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰακὼβ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, καὶ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται τέλος.  ³⁴ εἶπεν δὲ Μαριὰμ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον: πῶς ἔσται τοῦτο, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω; ³⁵ καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῇ, πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ, καὶ δύναμις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι: διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώμενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται, υἱὸς θεοῦ.  ³⁶ καὶ ἰδοὺ Ἐλισάβετ ἡ συγγενίς σου καὶ αὐτὴ συνείληφεν υἱὸν ἐν γήρει αὐτῆς, καὶ οὗτος μὴν ἕκτος ἐστὶν αὐτῇ τῇ καλουμένῃ στείρᾳ: ³⁷ ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ πᾶν ῥῆμα.  ³⁸ εἶπεν δὲ Μαριάμ: ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου: γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου. καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ' αὐτῆς ὁ ἄγγελος. 

²⁶ In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilææ, cui nomen Nazareth, ²⁷ ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David: et nomen virginis Maria.  ²⁸ Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit: Ave gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus.  ²⁹ Quæ cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio.  ³⁰ Et ait angelus ei: Ne timeas, Maria: invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum.  ³¹ Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: ³² hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus: et regnabit in domo Jacob in æternum, ³³ et regni ejus non erit finis.  ³⁴ Dixit autem Maria ad angelum: Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco?  ³⁵ Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi.  Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei.  ³⁶ Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua: et hic mensis sextus est illi, quæ vocatur sterilis: ³⁷ quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum.  ³⁸ Dixit autem Maria: Ecce ancilla Domini: fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus. 

We know that Mary (a.s.) went to visit Elizabeth (r.a.) and stayed for three months before returning to Nazareth: 

Luke 1:39-40

³⁹ In the days that followed, Mary rose up and went with all haste to a town of Judah, in the hill country ⁴⁰ where Zachary dwelt; and there entering in she gave Elizabeth greeting. 

³⁹ Ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν Ἰούδα, ⁴⁰ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ζαχαρίου καὶ ἠσπάσατο τὴν Ἐλισάβετ. 

³⁹ Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione, in civitatem Juda: ⁴⁰ et intravit in domum Zachariæ, et salutavit Elisabeth. 

And further down: 

Luke 1:56-57

⁵⁶ Mary returned home when she had been with her about three months; ⁵⁷ meanwhile, Elizabeth’s time had come for her childbearing, and she bore a son. 

⁵⁶ Ἔμεινεν δὲ Μαριὰμ σὺν αὐτῇ ὡς μῆνας τρεῖς, καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς.  ⁵⁷ Τῇ δὲ Ἐλισάβετ ἐπλήσθη ὁ χρόνος τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱόν. 

⁵⁶ Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus: et reversa est in domum suam.  ⁵⁷ Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium. 

Elizabeth (r.a.) gave birth to John the Baptist (a.s.) well into her ninth month.  He was circumcised eight days later and given his name, as per Jewish tradition.  It is important to note that there is no error in the pregnancy lasting ten months, unlike what some may say.  The ancient Israelites considered pregnancy as lasting ten months, not nine.  In reality, a normal pregnancy lasts 9.6 months on the Jewish, lunar-based calendar and 9.3 months on a modern, solar-based calendar.  Also, the Israelites rounded the fraction up to make ten months, while we round this fraction down to make nine months. 

Luke 1:56-63

⁵⁶ Mary returned home when she had been with her about three months; ⁵⁷ meanwhile, Elizabeth’s time had come for her childbearing, and she bore a son.  ⁵⁸ Her neighbours and her kinsfolk, hearing how wonderfully God had Shewed His Mercy to her, came to rejoice with her; ⁵⁹ and now, when they assembled on the eighth day for the circumcision of the child, they were for calling him “Zachary”, because it was his father’s name; ⁶⁰ but his mother answered, “No, he is to be called ‘John.’” ⁶¹ And they said, “There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name,” ⁶² and began asking his father by signs, what name he would have him called by.  ⁶³ So he asked for a tablet, and wrote on it the words, “His name is ‘John’”; and they were all astonished. 

⁵⁶ Ἔμεινεν δὲ Μαριὰμ σὺν αὐτῇ ὡς μῆνας τρεῖς, καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς.  ⁵⁷ Τῇ δὲ Ἐλισάβετ ἐπλήσθη ὁ χρόνος τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱόν.  ⁵⁸ καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ περίοικοι καὶ οἱ συγγενεῖς αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετ' αὐτῆς, καὶ συνέχαιρον αὐτῇ.  ⁵⁹ καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἦλθον περιτεμεῖν τὸ παιδίον, καὶ ἐκάλουν αὐτὸ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ζαχαρίαν.  ⁶⁰ καὶ ἀποκριθεῖσα ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εἶπεν: οὐχί, ἀλλὰ κληθήσεται Ἰωάννης.  ⁶¹ καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτὴν ὅτι οὐδείς ἐστιν ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου ὃς καλεῖται τῷ ὀνόματι τούτῳ.  ⁶² ἐνένευον δὲ τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ τί ἂν θέλοι καλεῖσθαι αὐτό.  ⁶³ καὶ αἰτήσας πινακίδιον ἔγραψεν λέγων: Ἰωάννης ἐστὶν ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐθαύμασαν πάντες. 

⁵⁶ Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus: et reversa est in domum suam.  ⁵⁷ Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium.  ⁵⁸ Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei.  ⁵⁹ Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.  ⁶⁰ Et respondens mater ejus, dixit: Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes.  ⁶¹ Et dixerunt ad illam: Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocetur hoc nomine.  ⁶² Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum.  ⁶³ Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens: Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi. 

Amidst all this, Joseph was informed that Mary (a.s.) was pregnant and planned to break off the betrothal her quietly.  An angel appeared to him in a dream and commanded him to continue the marriage plans: 

Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁸ And this was the manner of Christ’s birth.  His mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, but they had not yet come together, when she was found to be with child, by the Power of the Holy Ghost.  ¹⁹ Whereupon, her husband Joseph (for he was a right-minded man, and would not have her put to open shame) was for sending her away in secret.  ²⁰ But hardly had this thought come to his mind, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take thy wife Mary to thyself, for it is by the Power of the Holy Ghost that she has conceived this child; ²¹ and she will bear a son, whom thou shalt call ‘Jesus’, for he is to save his people from their sins.  ²² All this was so ordained to fulfil the word which the Lord spoke by his prophet: ²³ ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call him ‘Emmanuel’ (which means, God with us).’”  ²⁴ And Joseph awoke from sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, taking his wife to himself; ²⁵ and he had not known her when she bore a son, her first-born, to whom he gave the name “Jesus”. 

¹⁸ Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡ γένεσις οὕτως ἦν. μνηστευθείσης τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας τῷ Ἰωσήφ, πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου.  ¹⁹ Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι, ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν.  ²⁰ ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ' ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων, Ἰωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαρίαν τὴν γυναῖκά σου, τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἁγίου: ²¹ τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν, αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν.  ²² τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, ²³ ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ, ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον μεθ' ἡμῶν ὁ θεός.  ²⁴ ἐγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ: ²⁵ καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκεν υἱόν: καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν. 

¹⁸ Christi autem generatio sic erat: cum esset desponsata mater ejus Maria Joseph, antequam convenirent inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu Sancto.  ¹⁹ Joseph autem vir ejus cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere, voluit occulte dimittere eam.  ²⁰ Hæc autem eo cogitante, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis ei, dicens: Joseph, fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam: quod enim in ea natum est, de Spiritu Sancto est.  ²¹ Pariet autem filium: et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum.  ²² Hoc autem totum factum est, ut adimpleretur quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam dicentem: ²³ Ecce virgo in utero habebit, et pariet filium: et vocabunt nomen ejus Emmanuel, quod est interpretatum Nobiscum Deus.  ²⁴ Exsurgens autem Joseph a somno, fecit sicut præcepit ei angelus Domini, et accepit conjugem suam.  ²⁵ Et non cognoscebat eam donec peperit filium suum primogenitum: et vocavit nomen ejus Jesum. 

This event probably occurred after Mary (a.s.) had returned from her visit to Elizabeth (r.a.), since Joseph had to be certain and wait until Mary’s (a.s.) pregnancy was confirmed.  In the ancient world, there were no pregnancy tests; they used, as proof, that a woman was pregnant, the point of quickening, when the unborn child was large and strong enough for the mother to feel it kicking in the womb.  Considering the timeline, this would coincide to the period when Mary (a.s.) left Elizabeth (r.a.) to return home, and it would have been the most probable reason why she returned.  Mary (a.s.) was betrothed, jot married.  There was no rational way to explain her pregnancy and that was why she had to go into seclusion. 

When the Roman emperor announced a census, they had to travel to Bethlehem.  This would have been because Joseph owned property there.  And here onwards is the narrative of Jesus’ (a.s.) birth. 

Luke 2:1-20

¹ It happened that a decree went out at this time from the emperor Augustus, enjoining that the whole world should be registered; ² this register was the first one made during the time when Cyrinus was governor of Syria.  ³ All must go and give in their names, each in his own city; ⁴ and Joseph, being of David’s clan and family, came up from the town of Nazareth, in Galilee, to David’s city in Judaea, the city called Bethlehem, ⁵ to give in his name there.  With him was his espoused wife Mary, who was then in her pregnancy; ⁶ and it was while they were still there that the time came for her delivery.  ⁷ She brought forth a son, her first-born, whom she wrapped in his swaddling-clothes, and laid in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  ⁸ In the same country there were shepherds awake in the fields, keeping night-watches over their flocks.  ⁹ And all at once, an angel of the Lord came and stood by them, and the Glory of the Lord Shone about them, so that they were overcome with fear.  ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; behold, I bring you good news of a great rejoicing for the whole people.  ¹¹ This day, in the city of David, a Saviour has been born for you, the Lord Christ himself.  ¹² This is the sign by which you are to know him; you will find a child still in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger.”  ¹³ Then, on a sudden, a multitude of the heavenly army appeared to them at the angel’s side, giving praise to God, and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in High Heaven, and peace on earth to men that are God’s friends.”  ¹⁵ When the angels had left them, and gone back into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Come, let us make our way to Bethlehem, and see for ourselves this happening which God has Made known to us.”  ¹⁶ And so they went with all haste, and found Mary and Joseph there, with the child lying in the manger.  ¹⁷ On seeing him, they discovered the truth of what had been told them about this child.  ¹⁸ All those who heard it were full of amazement at the story which the shepherds told them; ¹⁹ but Mary treasured up all these sayings, and reflected on them in her heart.  ²⁰ And the shepherds went home giving praise and glory to God, at seeing and hearing that all was as it had been told them. 

¹ Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην.  ² αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου.  ³ καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν.  ⁴ ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲθ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυὶδ ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλέεμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυίδ, ⁵ ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ.  ⁶ Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν, ⁷ καὶ ἔτεκεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι.  ⁸ Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν.  ⁹ καὶ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξα κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν.  ¹⁰ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος: μὴ φοβεῖσθε: ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, ¹¹ ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτὴρ ὅς ἐστιν Χριστὸς κύριος ἐν πόλει Δαυίδ: ¹² καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν τὸ σημεῖον, εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον καὶ κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ.  ¹³ καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων: ¹⁴ δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας.  ¹⁵ Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπῆλθον ἀπ' αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἱ ἄγγελοι, οἱ ποιμένες ἐλάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους: διέλθωμεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλέεμ καὶ ἴδωμεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο τὸ γεγονὸς ὃ ὁ κύριος ἐγνώρισεν ἡμῖν.  ¹⁶ καὶ ἦλθαν σπεύσαντες, καὶ ἀνεῦραν τήν τε Μαριὰμ καὶ τὸν Ἰωσὴφ καὶ τὸ βρέφος κείμενον ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ: ¹⁷ ἰδόντες δὲ ἐγνώρισαν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ λαληθέντος αὐτοῖς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου τούτου.  ¹⁸ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν περὶ τῶν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων πρὸς αὐτούς: ¹⁹ ἡ δὲ Μαριὰμ πάντα συνετήρει τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα συμβάλλουσα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς.  ²⁰ καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν οἱ ποιμένες, δοξάζοντες καὶ αἰνοῦντες τὸν θεὸν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ἤκουσαν καὶ εἶδον καθὼς ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς. 

¹ Factum est autem in diebus illis, exiit edictum a Cæsare Augusto ut describeretur universus orbis.  ² Hæc descriptio prima facta est a præside Syriæ Cyrino: ³ et ibant omnes ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem.  ⁴ Ascendit autem et Joseph a Galilæa de civitate Nazareth in Judæam, in civitatem David, quæ vocatur Bethlehem: eo quod esset de domo et familia David, ⁵ ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore prægnante.  ⁶ Factum est autem, cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret.  ⁷ Et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit, et reclinavit eum in præsepio: quia non erat eis locus in diversorio.  ⁸ Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum.  ⁹ Et ecce angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno.  ¹⁰ Et dixit illis angelus: Nolite timere: ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo: ¹¹ quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David.  ¹² Et hoc vobis signum: invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in præsepio.  ¹³ Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militiæ cælestis laudantium Deum, et dicentium: ¹⁴ Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis.  ¹⁵ Et factum est, ut discesserunt ab eis angeli in cælum: pastores loquebantur ad invicem: Transeamus usque Bethlehem, et videamus hoc verbum, quod factum est, quod Dominus ostendit nobis.  ¹⁶ Et venerunt festinantes: et invenerunt Mariam, et Joseph, et infantem positum in præsepio.  ¹⁷ Videntes autem cognoverunt de verbo, quod dictum erat illis de puero hoc.  ¹⁸ Et omnes qui audierunt, mirati sunt: et de his quæ dicta erant a pastoribus ad ipsos.  ¹⁹ Maria autem conservabat omnia verba hæc, conferens in corde suo.  ²⁰ Et reversi sunt pastores glorificantes et laudantes Deum in omnibus quæ audierant et viderant, sicut dictum est ad illos. 

As per Jewish tradition, and just like John the Baptist (a.s.), Jesus (a.s.) was circumcised and named eight days after his birth: 

Luke 2:21

²¹ When eight days had passed, and the boy must be circumcised, he was called “Jesus”, the name which the angel had given him before ever he was conceived in the womb. 

²¹ Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς, τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρὸ τοῦ συλλημφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ. 

²¹ Et postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur puer, vocatum est nomen ejus Jesus, quod vocatum est ab angelo priusquam in utero conciperetur. 

Matthew 1:24-25

²⁴ And Joseph awoke from sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord had Bidden him, taking his wife to himself; ²⁵ and he had not known her when she bore a son, her first-born, to whom he gave the name “Jesus”. 

²⁴ ἐγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ: ²⁵ καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκεν υἱόν: καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν. 

²⁴ Exsurgens autem Joseph a somno, fecit sicut præcepit ei angelus Domini, et accepit conjugem suam.  ²⁵ Et non cognoscebat eam donec peperit filium suum primogenitum: et vocavit nomen ejus Jesum. 

As per Jewish tradition, Jesus (a.s.) was presented at the Temple in Jerusalem, forty days after the birth. 

Luke 2:22-24:

²² And when the time had come for purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him before the Lord there.  ²³ It is Written in God’s Law, that whatever male offspring opens the womb is to be reckoned sacred to the Lord; ²⁴ and so they must offer in sacrifice for him, as God’s Law Commanded, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 

²² Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ αὐτῶν, κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως, ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα παραστῆσαι τῷ κυρίῳ, ²³ καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν νόμῳ κυρίου ὅτι πᾶν ἄρσεν διανοῖγον μήτραν ἅγιον τῷ κυρίῳ κληθήσεται, ²⁴ καὶ τοῦ δοῦναι θυσίαν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον ἐν τῷ νόμῳ, κυρίου, ζεῦγος τρυγόνων ἢ δύο νοσσοὺς περιστερῶν. 

²² Et postquam impleti sunt dies purgationis ejus secundum legem Moysi, tulerunt illum in Jerusalem, ut sisterent eum Domino, ²³ sicut scriptum est in lege Domini: Quia omne masculinum adaperiens vulvam, sanctum Domino vocabitur: ²⁴ et ut darent hostiam secundum quod dictum est in lege Domini, par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum 

The basis of this Mosaic practice may be found here: 

Exodus 13:2

² Dedicate to me every first-born thing that Israel yields, whether it be man or beast, the first fruits of every womb; all these are forfeit to me. 

² ἁγίασόν μοι πᾶν πρωτότοκον πρωτογενὲς διανοῖγον πᾶσαν μήτραν ἐν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἕως κτήνους ἐμοί ἐστιν. 

² Sanctifica mihi omne primogenitum quod aperit vulvam in filiis Israël, tam de hominibus quam de jumentis: mea sunt enim omnia. 

Leviticus 12:1-8:

¹ And the Lord Spoke to Moses, ² giving him this Message for the Israelites: “If a woman conceives, and gives birth to a boy, she will be unclean for seven days, as she is unclean at her monthly times.  ³ On the eighth day, the child must be circumcised, ⁴ and after that she must wait for thirty-three days more to be purified after her loss of blood, touching nothing that is hallowed, never entering the sanctuary, until the time is up.  ⁵ If she gives birth to a girl, she will be unclean as at her monthly times, for fourteen days, and she will wait for sixty-six days more to be purified after her loss of blood.  ⁶ When the days needed for her purification, after the birth of boy or girl, have run out, she must bring a lamb of one year old as a burnt-sacrifice, and a young pigeon or a turtledove by way of amends, to the tabernacle door.  These, she will hand over to the priest, ⁷ who will offer them to the Lord and intercede for her, to win purification for her after the blood-losing.  Such is the rule governing the birth of boy or girl.  ⁸ If she cannot lay her hand on a lamb fit to be offered, she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt-sacrifice and one by way of amends; these will suffice, and at the priest’s intercession she will be purified.” 

¹ καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων ² λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς γυνή ἥτις ἐὰν σπερματισθῇ καὶ τέκῃ ἄρσεν καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ χωρισμοῦ τῆς ἀφέδρου αὐτῆς ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ³ καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ περιτεμεῖ τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας αὐτοῦ ⁴ καὶ τριάκοντα ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς καθήσεται ἐν αἵματι ἀκαθάρτῳ αὐτῆς παντὸς ἁγίου οὐχ ἅψεται καὶ εἰς τὸ ἁγιαστήριον οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται ἕως ἂν πληρωθῶσιν αἱ ἡμέραι καθάρσεως αὐτῆς ⁵ ἐὰν δὲ θῆλυ τέκῃ καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται δὶς ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας κατὰ τὴν ἄφεδρον καὶ ἑξήκοντα ἡμέρας καὶ ἓξ καθεσθήσεται ἐν αἵματι ἀκαθάρτῳ αὐτῆς ⁶ καὶ ὅταν ἀναπληρωθῶσιν αἱ ἡμέραι καθάρσεως αὐτῆς ἐ{F'} υἱῷ ἢ ἐπὶ θυγατρί προσοίσει ἀμνὸν ἐνιαύσιον ἄμωμον εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ νεοσσὸν περιστερᾶς ἢ τρυγόνα περὶ ἁμαρτίας ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα ⁷ καὶ προσοίσει ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ ἐξιλάσεται περὶ αὐτῆς ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ καθαριεῖ αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τῆς πηγῆς τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς οὗτος ὁ νόμος τῆς τικτούσης ἄρσεν ἢ θῆλυ 8 ἐὰν δὲ μὴ εὑρίσκῃ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτῆς τὸ ἱκανὸν εἰς ἀμνόν καὶ λήμψεται δύο τρυγόνας ἢ δύο νεοσσοὺς περιστερῶν μίαν εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ μίαν περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ ἐξιλάσεται περὶ αὐτῆς ὁ ἱερεύς καὶ καθαρισθήσεται 

¹ Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens: ² Loquere filiis Israël, et dices ad eos: Mulier, si suscepto semine pepererit masculum, immunda erit septem diebus juxta dies separationis menstruæ.  ³ Et die octavo circumcidetur infantulus: ⁴ ipsa vero triginta tribus diebus manebit in sanguine purificationis suæ. Omne sanctum non tanget, nec ingredietur in sanctuarium, donec impleantur dies purificationis suæ.  ⁵ Sin autem feminam pepererit, immunda erit duabus hebdomadibus juxta ritum fluxus menstrui, et sexaginta sex diebus manebit in sanguine purificationis suæ.  ⁶ Cumque expleti fuerint dies purificationis suæ, pro filio sive pro filia, deferet agnum anniculum in holocaustum, et pullum columbæ sive turturem pro peccato, ad ostium tabernaculi testimonii, et tradet sacerdoti, ⁷ qui offeret illa coram Domino, et orabit pro ea, et sic mundabitur a profluvio sanguinis sui: ista est lex parientis masculum aut feminam.  ⁸ Quod si non invenerit manus ejus, nec potuerit offerre agnum, sumet duos turtures vel duos pullos columbarum, unum in holocaustum, et alterum pro peccato: orabitque pro ea sacerdos, et sic mundabitur. 

It should be noted that to turtledoves were offered instead of a lamb is a clue that they were a family of modest means.  At the Temple, they met Simeon and Anna, who prophesised the destiny of Jesus (a.s.): 

Luke 2:25-38

²⁵ At this time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem, an upright man of careful observance, who waited patiently for comfort to be brought to Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him; ²⁶ and by the Holy Spirit, it had been revealed to him that he was not to meet death, until he had seen that Christ whom the Lord had Anointed.  ²⁷ He now came, led by the Spirit, into the temple; and when the child Jesus was brought in by his parents, to perform the custom which the law enjoined concerning him, ²⁸ Simeon too was able to take him in his arms.  And he said, blessing God, ²⁹ “Ruler of all, now dost thou let thy servant go in peace, according to thy word; ³⁰ for my own eyes have seen that saving power of thine ³¹ which thou hast prepared in the sight of all nations.  ³² This is the light which shall give Revelation to the Gentiles, this is the glory of thy people Israel.”  ³³ The father and mother of the child were still wondering over all that was said of him, ³⁴ when Simeon blessed them, and said to his mother, Mary, “Behold, this child is destined to bring about the fall of many and the rise of many in Israel; to be a sign which men will refuse to acknowledge; ³⁵ and so the thoughts of many hearts shall be made manifest; as for thy own soul, it shall have a sword to pierce it.”  ³⁶ There was, besides, a prophetess named Anna, daughter to one Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser (a woman greatly advanced in age, since she had lived with a husband for seven years after her maidenhood, ³⁷ and had now been eighty-four years a widow) who abode continually in the temple night and day, serving God with fasting and prayer.  ³⁸ She too, at that very hour, came near to give God thanks, and spoke of the child to all that patiently waited for the deliverance of Israel. 

²⁵ Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνθρωπος ἦν ἐν Ἰερουσαλὴμ ᾧ ὄνομα Συμεών, καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος δίκαιος καὶ εὐλαβής, προσδεχόμενος παράκλησιν τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ πνεῦμα ἦν ἅγιον ἐπ' αὐτόν: ²⁶ καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ κεχρηματισμένον ὑπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου, μὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατον πρὶν ἢ ἂν ἴδῃ τὸν Χριστὸν κυρίου.  ²⁷ καὶ ἦλθεν ἐν τῷ πνεύματι εἰς τὸ ἱερόν: καὶ ἐν τῷ εἰσαγαγεῖν τοὺς γονεῖς τὸ παιδίον Ἰησοῦν τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὸ εἰθισμένον τοῦ νόμου περὶ αὐτοῦ, ²⁸ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέξατο αὐτὸ εἰς τὰς ἀγκάλας καὶ εὐλόγησεν τὸν θεὸν καὶ εἶπεν: ²⁹ νῦν ἀπολύεις τὸν δοῦλόν σου, δέσποτα, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ: ³⁰ ὅτι εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τὸ σωτήριόν σου, ³¹ ὃ ἡτοίμασας κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν λαῶν, ³² φῶς εἰς ἀποκάλυψιν ἐθνῶν καὶ δόξαν λαοῦ σου Ἰσραήλ.  ³³ καὶ ἦν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ θαυμάζοντες ἐπὶ τοῖς λαλουμένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ.  ³⁴ καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεὼν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ: ἰδοὺ οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον.  ³⁵ καὶ σοῦ δὲ αὐτῆς τὴν ψυχὴν διελεύσεται ῥομφαία, ὅπως ἂν ἀποκαλυφθῶσιν ἐκ πολλῶν καρδιῶν διαλογισμοί.  ³⁶ Καὶ ἦν Ἅννα προφῆτις, θυγάτηρ Φανουήλ, ἐκ φυλῆς Ἀσήρ: αὕτη προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ἡμέραις πολλαῖς, Ζήσασα μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἔτη ἑπτὰ ἀπὸ τῆς παρθενίας αὐτῆς, ³⁷ καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων, ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν.  ³⁸ καὶ αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐπιστᾶσα ἀνθωμολογεῖτο τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλάλει περὶ αὐτοῦ πᾶσιν τοῖς προσδεχομένοις λύτρωσιν Ἰερουσαλήμ 

²⁵ Et ecce homo erat in Jerusalem, cui nomen Simeon, et homo iste justus, et timoratus, exspectans consolationem Israël: et Spiritus Sanctus erat in eo.  ²⁶ Et responsum acceperat a Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi prius videret Christum Domini.  ²⁷ Et venit in spiritu in templum.  Et cum inducerent puerum Jesum parentes ejus, ut facerent secundum consuetudinem legis pro eo, 28 et ipse accepit eum in ulnas suas: et benedixit Deum, et dixit: ²⁹ Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace: ³⁰ quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum, ³¹ quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum: ³² lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuæ Israël.  ³³ Et erat pater ejus et mater mirantes super his quæ dicebantur de illo.  ³⁴ Et benedixit illis Simeon, et dixit ad Mariam matrem ejus: Ecce positus est hic in ruinam et in resurrectionem multorum in Israël, et in signum cui contradicetur: ³⁵ et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit gladius ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes.  ³⁶ Et erat Anna prophetissa, filia Phanuel, de tribu Aser: hæc processerat in diebus multis, et vixerat cum viro suo annis septem a virginitate sua.  ³⁷ Et hæc vidua usque ad annos octoginta quatuor: quæ non discedebat de templo, jejuniis et obsecrationibus serviens nocte ac die.  ³⁸ Et hæc, ipsa hora superveniens, confitebatur Domino: et loquebatur de illo omnibus, qui exspectabant redemptionem Israël. 

Joseph and his family returned to Nazareth after this: 

Luke 2:39:

³⁹ And now, when all had been done that the law of the Lord required, they returned to Galilee, and to their own town of Nazareth. 

³⁹ Καὶ ὡς ἐτέλεσαν πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸν νόμον κυρίου, ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν εἰς πόλιν ἑαυτῶν Ναζαρέθ. 

³⁹ Et ut perfecerunt omnia secundum legem Domini, reversi sunt in Galilæam in civitatem suam Nazareth. 

However, it is also very likely that they returned to Bethlehem on several occasions.  According to the Law of Moses, there were three annual pilgrimage feasts that Jews were required to make each year: 

Luke 2:41:

⁴¹ Every year, his parents used to go up to Jerusalem at the paschal feast. 

⁴¹ Καὶ ἐπορεύοντο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ κατ' ἔτος εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ τῇ ἑορτῇ τοῦ πάσχα. 

⁴¹ Et ibant parentes ejus per omnes annos in Jerusalem, in die solemni Paschæ. 

Exodus 23:14-17

¹⁴ “Thrice a year keep holiday in My Honour.  ¹⁵ There is the feast of unleavened bread to be observed; for seven days, in the first month of spring, the month of thy rescue from Egypt, thou shalt eat unleavened bread in obedience to My Command.  Then, thou shalt present thyself before Me with gifts.  ¹⁶ And there is the feast of harvest, when the fields thou hast sown reward thy labour with first fruits; and another feast at the end of the year, when the last of thy crops has been gathered in.  ¹⁷ Thrice, then, in the year all thy men folk must present themselves before the Lord thy God.” 

¹⁴ τρεῖς καιροὺς τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἑορτάσατέ μοι ¹⁵ τὴν ἑορτὴν τῶν ἀζύμων φυλάξασθε ποιεῖν ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἔδεσθε ἄζυμα καθάπερ ἐνετειλάμην σοι κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦ μηνὸς τῶν νέων ἐν γὰρ αὐτῷ ἐξῆλθες ἐξ Αἰγύπτου οὐκ ὀφθήσῃ ἐνώπιόν μου κενός ¹⁶ καὶ ἑορτὴν θερισμοῦ πρωτογενημάτων ποιήσεις τῶν ἔργων σου ὧν ἐὰν σπείρῃς ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ σου καὶ ἑορτὴν συντελείας ἐ{P'} ἐξόδου τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ τῶν ἔργων σου τῶν ἐκ τοῦ ἀγροῦ σου ¹⁷ τρεῖς καιροὺς τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ὀφθήσεται πᾶν ἀρσενικόν σου ἐνώπιον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου 

¹⁴ Tribus vicibus per singulos annos mihi festa celebrabitis.  ¹⁵ Solemnitatem azymorum custodies. Septem diebus comedes azyma, sicut præcepi tibi, tempore mensis novorum, quando egressus es de Ægypto: non apparebis in conspectu meo vacuus.  ¹⁶ Et solemnitatem messis primitivorum operis tui, quæcumque seminaveris in agro: solemnitatem quoque in exitu anni, quando congregaveris omnes fruges tuas de agro.  ¹⁷ Ter in anno apparebit omne masculinum tuum coram Domino Deo tuo. 

However, it is also possible that they did not return to Nazareth at this time but stayed in Bethlehem for a period of up to two years.  There is a minor discrepancy between the two Gospels. 

Matthew 2:16

¹⁶ Meanwhile, when he found that the wise men had played him false, Herod was angry beyond measure; he sent and made away with all the male children in Bethlehem and in all its neighbourhood, of two years old and less, reckoning the time by the careful enquiry which he had made of the wise men. 

¹⁶ Τότε Ἡρῴδης ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλέεμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσεν παρὰ τῶν μάγων. 

¹⁶ Tunc Herodes videns quoniam illusus esset a magis, iratus est valde, et mittens occidit omnes pueros, qui erant in Bethlehem, et in omnibus finibus ejus, a bimatu et infra secundum tempus, quod exquisierat a magis. 

The magi appeared in Jerusalem between one and two years after the birth of Christ (a.s.), and ask Herod the Great of the newborn “King of the Jews”.  They were directed to Bethlehem, and travelled there by night, following the star in the southern sky; Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem. 

Matthew 2:1-16

¹ Jesus was born at Bethlehem, in Juda, in the days of king Herod.  And thereupon, certain wise men came out of the east to Jerusalem, ² who asked, “Where is he that has been born, the king of the Jews?  We have seen his star out in the east, and we have come to worship him.”  ³ King Herod was troubled when he heard it, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ so that he assembled all the chief priests and learned men among the people, and enquired of them where it was that Christ would be born.  ⁵ And they told him, “At Bethlehem, in Judah; so, it has been written by the prophet: ⁶ ‘And thou, Bethlehem, of the land of Judah, art far from the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee will arise a leader who is to be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” 

¹ Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ² λέγοντες, ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων; εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ.  ³ ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἡρῴδης ἐταράχθη καὶ πᾶσα Ἱεροσόλυμα μετ' αὐτοῦ, ⁴ καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπυνθάνετο παρ' αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται.  ⁵ οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας: οὕτως γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου: ⁶ καὶ σύ, Βηθλέεμ γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα: ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.  ⁷ τότε Ἡρῴδης λάθρᾳ καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσεν παρ' αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος, ⁸ καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλέεμ εἶπεν, πορευθέντες ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου: ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε ἀπαγγείλατέ μοι, ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ.  ⁹ οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀστὴρ ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ προῆγεν αὐτοὺς ἕως ἐλθὼν ἐστάθη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ παιδίον.  ¹⁰ ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα.  ¹¹ καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν.  ¹² καὶ χρηματισθέντες κατ' ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς Ἡρῴδην, δι' ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν.  ¹³ Ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ' ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ λέγων, ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοι: μέλλει γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό.  ¹⁴ ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, ¹⁵ καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ἡρῴδου: ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου.  ¹⁶ Τότε Ἡρῴδης ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλέεμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσεν παρὰ τῶν μάγων. 

¹ Cum ergo natus esset Jesus in Bethlehem Juda in diebus Herodis regis, ecce magi ab oriente venerunt Jerosolymam, ² dicentes: Ubi est qui natus est rex Judæorum? vidimus enim stellam ejus in oriente, et venimus adorare eum.  ³ Audiens autem Herodes rex, turbatus est, et omnis Jerosolyma cum illo.  ⁴ Et congregans omnes principes sacerdotum, et scribas populi, sciscitabatur ab eis ubi Christus nasceretur.  ⁵ At illi dixerunt: In Bethlehem Judæ: sic enim scriptum est per prophetam: ⁶ Et tu Bethlehem terra Juda, nequaquam minima esin principibus Juda: ex te enim exiet dux, qui regat populum meum Israël.  ⁷ Tunc Herodes clam vocatis magis diligenter didicit ab eis tempus stellæ, quæ apparuit eis: ⁸ et mittens illos in Bethlehem, dixit: Ite, et interrogate diligenter de puero: et cum inveneritis, renuntiate mihi, ut et ego veniens adorem eum.  ⁹ Qui cum audissent regem, abierunt, et ecce stella, quam viderant in oriente, antecedebat eos, usque dum veniens staret supra, ubi erat puer.  ¹⁰ Videntes autem stellam gavisi sunt gaudio magno valde.  ¹¹ Et intrantes domum, invenerunt puerum cum Maria matre ejus, et procidentes adoraverunt eum: et apertis thesauris suis obtulerunt ei munera, aurum, thus, et myrrham.  ¹² Et responso accepto in somnis ne redirent ad Herodem, per aliam viam reversi sunt in regionem suam.  ¹³ Qui cum recessissent, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph, dicens: Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem ejus, et fuge in Ægyptum, et esto ibi usque dum dicam tibi. Futurum est enim ut Herodes quærat puerum ad perdendum eum.  ¹⁴ Qui consurgens accepit puerum et matrem ejus nocte, et secessit in Ægyptum: ¹⁵ et erat ibi usque ad obitum Herodis: ut adimpleretur quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam dicentem: Ex Ægypto vocavi filium meum.  ¹⁶ Tunc Herodes videns quoniam illusus esset a magis, iratus est valde, et mittens occidit omnes pueros, qui erant in Bethlehem, et in omnibus finibus ejus, a bimatu et infra secundum tempus, quod exquisierat a magis. 

This is in reference to the prophecy by the prophet Micah (a.s.): 

Micah 5:2

² Bethlehem-Ephrata!  Least do they reckon thee among all the clans of Judah?  Nay, it is from thee I look to find a prince that shall rule over Israel.  Whence comes he?  From the first beginning, from ages untold! 

² διὰ τοῦτο δώσει αὐτοὺς ἕως καιροῦ τικτούσης τέξεται καὶ οἱ ἐπίλοιποι τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιστρέψουσιν ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ 

² Propter hoc dabit eos usque ad tempus in quo parturiens pariet, et reliquiæ fratrum ejus convertentur ad filios Israël. 

Understandably, Herod was not pleased, and this lead to the Slaughter of the Innocents: 

Matthew 2:7-15

⁷ Then, summoning the wise men in secret, Herod questioned them closely upon the time of the star’s appearing.  ⁸ And he sent them on their way to Bethlehem, saying to them, “Go and enquire carefully for the child, and when you have found him, bring me back word, so that I too may come and worship him.”  ⁹ They obeyed the king, and went on their journey; and all at once the star which they had seen in the east was there going before them, until, at last, it stood still over the place where the child was.  ¹⁰ They, when they saw the star, were glad beyond measure; ¹¹ and so, going into the dwelling, they found the child there, with his mother, Mary, and fell down to worship him; and, opening their store of treasures, they offered him gifts, of gold and frankincense and myrrh.  ¹² Afterwards, because they had received a warning in a dream forbidding them to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by a different way.  ¹³ As soon as they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, “Rise up, take with thee, the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt; there remain, until I give thee word.  For Herod will soon be making search for the child, to destroy him.”  ¹⁴ He rose up, therefore, while it was still night, and took the child and his mother with him, and withdrew into Egypt, where he remained until the death of Herod, ¹⁵ in fulfilment of the word which the Lord Spoke by his prophet, “I called my son out of Egypt.” 

⁷ τότε Ἡρῴδης λάθρᾳ καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσεν παρ' αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος, ⁸ καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλέεμ εἶπεν, πορευθέντες ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου: ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε ἀπαγγείλατέ μοι, ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ.  ⁹ οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀστὴρ ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ προῆγεν αὐτοὺς ἕως ἐλθὼν ἐστάθη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ παιδίον.  ¹⁰ ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα.  ¹¹ καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν.  ¹² καὶ χρηματισθέντες κατ' ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς Ἡρῴδην, δι' ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν.  ¹³ Ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ' ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ λέγων, ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοι: μέλλει γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό.  ¹⁴ ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, ¹⁵ καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ἡρῴδου: ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου. 

⁷ Tunc Herodes clam vocatis magis diligenter didicit ab eis tempus stellæ, quæ apparuit eis: ⁸ et mittens illos in Bethlehem, dixit: Ite, et interrogate diligenter de puero: et cum inveneritis, renuntiate mihi, ut et ego veniens adorem eum.  ⁹ Qui cum audissent regem, abierunt, et ecce stella, quam viderant in oriente, antecedebat eos, usque dum veniens staret supra, ubi erat puer.  ¹⁰ Videntes autem stellam gavisi sunt gaudio magno valde.  ¹¹ Et intrantes domum, invenerunt puerum cum Maria matre ejus, et procidentes adoraverunt eum: et apertis thesauris suis obtulerunt ei munera, aurum, thus, et myrrham.  ¹² Et responso accepto in somnis ne redirent ad Herodem, per aliam viam reversi sunt in regionem suam.  ¹³ Qui cum recessissent, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph, dicens: Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem ejus, et fuge in Ægyptum, et esto ibi usque dum dicam tibi. Futurum est enim ut Herodes quærat puerum ad perdendum eum.  ¹⁴ Qui consurgens accepit puerum et matrem ejus nocte, et secessit in Ægyptum: ¹⁵ et erat ibi usque ad obitum Herodis: ut adimpleretur quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam dicentem: Ex Ægypto vocavi filium meum. 

The prophecy referenced here is from the prophet Hosea (a.s.): 

Hosea 11:1

¹ Soon fades the dawn; soon passes king of Israel.  Israel in his boyhood, what love I bore him!  Away from Egypt I beckoned him, henceforth my son. 

¹ διότι νήπιος Ισραηλ καὶ ἐγὼ ἠγάπησα αὐτὸν καὶ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου μετεκάλεσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ 

¹ Sicut mane transiit, pertransiit rex Israël.  Quia puer Israël, et dilexi eum; et ex Ægypto vocavi filium meum. 

The Slaughter of the Innocents is found only in the Gospel according to Matthew.  All other sources are derived from here.  There are no contemporary accounts of this event.  Even Titus Flavius Josephus does not mention it in his “Antiquities”.  This does not necessarily mean the Slaughter of the Innocents never occurred.  The population of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus (a.s.) was barely over a thousand.  There could not have been more than 20 children within that age category in Bethlehem and surrounding villages.  In a time where Herod was killing off members of his own family, including three sons and a wife, and with all the events throughout the ancient world, 20 children being murdered would not even merit a footnote. 

Matthew 2:16-18

¹⁶ Meanwhile, when he found that the wise men had played him false, Herod was angry beyond measure; he sent and made away with all the male children in Bethlehem and in all its neighbourhood, of two years old and less, reckoning the time by the careful enquiry which he had made of the wise men.  ¹⁷ It was then that the word spoken by the prophet Jeremy was fulfilled: ¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation and great mourning; it was Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted, because none is left.” 

¹⁶ Τότε Ἡρῴδης ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλέεμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσεν παρὰ τῶν μάγων.  ¹⁷ τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἰερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, ¹⁸ φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμὰ ἠκούσθη, κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς: Ῥαχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν. 

¹⁶ Tunc Herodes videns quoniam illusus esset a magis, iratus est valde, et mittens occidit omnes pueros, qui erant in Bethlehem, et in omnibus finibus ejus, a bimatu et infra secundum tempus, quod exquisierat a magis.  ¹⁷ Tunc adimpletum est quod dictum est per Jeremiam prophetam dicentem: ¹⁸ Vox in Rama audita est ploratus, et ululatus multus: Rachel plorans filios suos, et noluit consolari, quia non sunt. 

This is the passage from the Book of Jeremiah: 

Jeremiah 31:15

¹⁵ Now, the Lord Says, “A voice is heard in Rama, of lamentation and bitter mourning; it is Rachel weeping for her children, and she will not be comforted, because none is left.” 

¹⁵ οὕτως εἶπεν κύριος φωνὴ ἐν Ραμα ἠκούσθη θρήνου καὶ κλαυθμοῦ καὶ ὀδυρμοῦ Ραχηλ ἀποκλαιομένη οὐκ ἤθελεν παύσασθαι ἐπὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῆς ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν 

¹⁵ Hæc dicit Dominus: Vox in excelso audita est lamentationis: luctus, et fletus Rachel plorantis filios suos, et nolentis consolari super eis, quia non sunt. 

In the later part of his reign, Herod the Great seemed consumed by paranoia in his bid to retain power.  He had several of his own sons, his second wife and his mother-in-law killed as perceived threats.  All this is recorded in “Antiquities” and elsewhere.  It was to the extent that Caesar Augustus reportedly said that it would be better to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son; as a Jew, Herod could not eat pork. 

When Herod the Great finally died, his son, Herod Archelaus was left in control of Judea.  In Egypt, Joseph was informed of these events in a dream: 

Matthew 2:19-21

¹⁹ But as soon as Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in Egypt in a dream, ²⁰ and said, “Rise up, take with thee the child and his mother, and return to the land of Israel; for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”  ²¹ So he arose, and took the child and his mother with him, and came into the land of Israel. 

¹⁹ Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἡρῴδου ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ' ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ²⁰ λέγων, ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πορεύου εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ, τεθνήκασιν γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου.  ²¹ ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ 

¹⁹ Defuncto autem Herode, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph in Ægypto, ²⁰ dicens: Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israël: defuncti sunt enim qui quærebant animam pueri.  ²¹ Qui consurgens, accepit puerum, et matrem ejus, et venit in terram Israël. 

When Joseph was informed that Herod Archelaus ruled Judea, he relocated his family to Nazareth, outside Herod Archelaus’ area of rule. 

Matthew 2:22-23

²² But, when he heard that Archelaus was king in Judaea, in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to return there; and so, receiving a warning in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee; ²³ where he came to live in a town called Nazareth, in fulfilment of what was said by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” 

²² ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος βασιλεύει τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἀντὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ἡρῴδου ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν: χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ' ὄναρ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας.  ²³ καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται. 

²² Audiens autem quod Archelaus regnaret in Judæa pro Herode patre suo, timuit illo ire: et admonitus in somnis, secessit in partes Galilææ.  ²³ Et veniens habitavit in civitate quæ vocatur Nazareth: ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per prophetas: Quoniam Nazaræus vocabitur. 

This passage is problematic.  There is no such prophecy as far as we can find.  Perhaps the closest is this passage: 

Genesis 49:26

²⁶ This blessing which thy father gives thee draws strength from all the blessings which his own fathers bequeathed; they shall not cease until he comes, whom the everlasting hills await.  May they all rest on Joseph’s head, rest on his brow, who is separated, like a Nazirite, from his brethren. 

²⁶ εὐλογίας πατρός σου καὶ μητρός σου ὑπερίσχυσεν ἐ{P'} εὐλογίαις ὀρέων μονίμων καὶ ἐ{P'} εὐλογίαις θινῶν ἀενάων ἔσονται ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν Ιωσηφ καὶ ἐπὶ κορυφῆς ὧν ἡγήσατο ἀδελφῶν 

²⁶ Benedictiones patris tui confortatæ sunt benedictionibus patrum ejus, donec veniret desiderium collium æternorum: fiant in capite Joseph, et in vertice Nazaræi inter fratres suos. 

Perhaps the word should be “Nazirite”, not “Nazarene”.  A “Nazirite” is defined in the Book of Numbers thus: 

Numbers 6:1-21

¹ This message, too, the Lord Gave to Moses ² for the sons of Israel, man or woman that would be set apart for the Lord by taking the Nazirite vow must abstain from wine, and from all strong drink.  ³ They must not drink vinegar made from wine or from any such liquor, nor any draught that is strained from the grape; they must not eat grapes, whether fresh or dried.  ⁴ No fruit of the vine, grape or raisin, must pass their lips while the days of their consecration last.  ⁵ The Nazirite, while he is set apart, must not pass any razor over his head until his consecration to the Lord has been completed; the growth of his hair is a sign of dedication.  ⁶ Nor, during his time of consecration may he come near any dead body, ⁷ nor may he incur defilement when father or mother, brother or sister is buried; the hair is a sign of his dedication to his God, ⁸ and he is set apart for the Lord as long as the time of his consecration lasts.  ⁹ If he is present when a death befalls unexpectedly, his consecrated head is defiled thereby; he must shave it there and then, on the very day when the need for purification arises, and again on the seventh day.  ¹⁰ On the eighth day, he will offer to the priest two turtledoves or young pigeons at the tabernacle door, ¹¹ and the priest will offer one by way of amends for the fault, and the other in burnt-sacrifice; then he will pray for pardon for the fault which the death occasioned.  On the same day, his head sanctified afresh by the priest, ¹² he will dedicate to the Lord his new period of consecration, and offer a yearling lamb in amends.  His former days of consecration go for nothing, once they have been interrupted by defilement.  ¹³ And this is the rite he must follow when the period of his vow is completed.  He will be brought to the tabernacle door, ¹⁴ and, there, he will make his offering to the Lord, a yearling he-lamb without blemish in burnt-sacrifice, a yearling ewe without blemish to make amends for fault, and a ram without blemish as a welcome offering; ¹⁵ a basket, too, of unleavened bread kneaded with oil, and cakes with oil poured over them, and the gifts proper to each.  ¹⁶ All these, the priest will offer in the Lord’s Presence, performing there the sacrifice of amends and the burnt-sacrifice, ¹⁷ and immolating the ram before the Lord as a welcome-offering; at the same time, he will present the basket of unleavened things and the customary gifts.  ¹⁸ Then, before the tabernacle door, the Nazirite will shave off the consecrated growth of hair, and throw it upon the fire that consumes his welcome offering.  ¹⁹ And now the priest will take the ram’s shoulder, which has been cooking, and one of the loaves from the basket and one of the cakes, and put them into the hands of the newly shaved Nazirite, ²⁰ who will give them back to him, so that he can offer them up in the Lord’s Presence.  These parts of the offering are set apart for the priest, like the breast that has been duly cut away, and the thigh.  After this, the Nazirite is free to drink wine again.  ²¹ So must the time of his dedication be brought to an end, and so must his vow be fulfilled; apart from any special undertaking he may have made.  To achieve the purpose of such consecration, he must carry out the full intentions of his vow. 

¹ καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων ² λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνή ὃς ἐὰν μεγάλως εὔξηται εὐχὴν ἀφαγνίσασθαι ἁγνείαν κυρίῳ ³ ἀπὸ οἴνου καὶ σικερα ἁγνισθήσεται ἀπὸ οἴνου καὶ ὄξος ἐξ οἴνου καὶ ὄξος ἐκ σικερα οὐ πίεται καὶ ὅσα κατεργάζεται ἐκ σταφυλῆς οὐ πίεται καὶ σταφυλὴν πρόσφατον καὶ σταφίδα οὐ φάγεται ⁴ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πάντων ὅσα γίνεται ἐξ ἀμπέλου οἶνον ἀπὸ στεμφύλων ἕως γιγάρτου οὐ φάγεται ⁵ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς τοῦ ἁγνισμοῦ ξυρὸν οὐκ ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ἕως ἂν πληρωθῶσιν αἱ ἡμέραι ὅσας ηὔξατο κυρίῳ ἅγιος ἔσται τρέφων κόμην τρίχα κεφαλῆς ⁶ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς κυρίῳ ἐπὶ πάσῃ ψυχῇ τετελευτηκυίᾳ οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται ⁷ ἐπὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἐπὶ μητρὶ καὶ ἐ{P'} ἀδελφῷ καὶ ἐ{P'} ἀδελφῇ οὐ μιανθήσεται ἐ{P'} αὐτοῖς ἀποθανόντων αὐτῶν ὅτι εὐχὴ θεοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐ{P'} αὐτῷ ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ⁸ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ ἅγιος ἔσται κυρίῳ ⁹ ἐὰν δέ τις ἀποθάνῃ ἐξάπινα ἐ{P'} αὐτῷ παραχρῆμα μιανθήσεται ἡ κεφαλὴ εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ξυρήσεται τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ καθαρισθῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ξυρηθήσεται ¹⁰ καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ οἴσει δύο τρυγόνας ἢ δύο νεοσσοὺς περιστερῶν πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα ἐπὶ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ¹¹ καὶ ποιήσει ὁ ἱερεὺς μίαν περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ μίαν εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ ἐξιλάσεται περὶ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἱερεὺς περὶ ὧν ἥμαρτεν περὶ τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ ἁγιάσει τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ¹² ᾗ ἡγιάσθη κυρίῳ τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς καὶ προσάξει ἀμνὸν ἐνιαύσιον εἰς πλημμέλειαν καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι αἱ πρότεραι ἄλογοι ἔσονται ὅτι ἐμιάνθη κεφαλὴ εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ ¹³ καὶ οὗτος ὁ νόμος τοῦ εὐξαμένου ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ πληρώσῃ ἡμέρας εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ προσοίσει αὐτὸς παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ¹⁴ καὶ προσάξει τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ κυρίῳ ἀμνὸν ἐνιαύσιον ἄμωμον ἕνα εἰς ὁλοκαύτωσιν καὶ ἀμνάδα ἐνιαυσίαν ἄμωμον μίαν εἰς ἁμαρτίαν καὶ κριὸν ἕνα ἄμωμον εἰς σωτήριον ¹⁵ καὶ κανοῦν ἀζύμων σεμιδάλεως ἄρτους ἀναπεποιημένους ἐν ἐλαίῳ καὶ λάγανα ἄζυμα κεχρισμένα ἐν ἐλαίῳ καὶ θυσία αὐτῶν καὶ σπονδὴ αὐτῶν ¹⁶ καὶ προσοίσει ὁ ἱερεὺς ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ ποιήσει τὸ περὶ ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμα αὐτοῦ ¹⁷ καὶ τὸν κριὸν ποιήσει θυσίαν σωτηρίου κυρίῳ ἐπὶ τῷ κανῷ τῶν ἀζύμων καὶ ποιήσει ὁ ἱερεὺς τὴν θυσίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν σπονδὴν αὐτοῦ ¹⁸ καὶ ξυρήσεται ὁ ηὐγμένος παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου τὴν κεφαλὴν τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπιθήσει τὰς τρίχας ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ ὅ ἐστιν ὑπὸ τὴν θυσίαν τοῦ σωτηρίου ¹⁹ καὶ λήμψεται ὁ ἱερεὺς τὸν βραχίονα ἑφθὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ κριοῦ καὶ ἄρτον ἕνα ἄζυμον ἀπὸ τοῦ κανοῦ καὶ λάγανον ἄζυμον ἓν καὶ ἐπιθήσει ἐπὶ τὰς χεῖρας τοῦ ηὐγμένου μετὰ τὸ ξυρήσασθαι αὐτὸν τὴν εὐχὴν αὐτοῦ ²⁰ καὶ προσοίσει αὐτὰ ὁ ἱερεὺς ἐπίθεμα ἔναντι κυρίου ἅγιον ἔσται τῷ ἱερεῖ ἐπὶ τοῦ στηθυνίου τοῦ ἐπιθέματος καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ βραχίονος τοῦ ἀφαιρέματος καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πίεται ὁ ηὐγμένος οἶνον ²¹ οὗτος ὁ νόμος τοῦ εὐξαμένου ὃς ἂν εὔξηται κυρίῳ δῶρον αὐτοῦ κυρίῳ περὶ τῆς εὐχῆς χωρὶς ὧν ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δύναμιν τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ ἣν ἂν εὔξηται κατὰ νόμον ἁγνείας 

¹ Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens: ² Loquere ad filios Israël, et dices ad eos: Vir, sive mulier, cum fecerint votum ut sanctificentur, et se voluerint Domino consecrare: ³ a vino, et omni quod inebriare potest, abstinebunt. Acetum ex vino, et ex qualibet alia potione, et quidquid de uva exprimitur, non bibent: uvas recentes siccasque non comedent ⁴ cunctis diebus quibus ex voto Domino consecrantur: quidquid ex vinea esse potest, ab uva passa usque ad acinum non comedent.  ⁵ Omni tempore separationis suæ novacula non transibit per caput ejus usque ad completum diem, quo Domino consecratur.  Sanctus erit, crescente cæsarie capitis ejus.  ⁶ Omni tempore consecrationis suæ, super mortuum non ingredietur, ⁷ nec super patris quidem et matris et fratris sororisque funere contaminabitur, quia consecratio Dei sui super caput ejus est.  ⁸ Omnibus diebus separationis suæ sanctus erit Domino.  ⁹ Sin autem mortuus fuerit subito quispiam coram eo, polluetur caput consecrationis ejus: quod radet illico in eadem die purgationis suæ, et rursum septima.  ¹⁰ In octava autem die offeret duos turtures, vel duos pullos columbæ sacerdoti in introitu fœderis testimonii.  ¹¹ Facietque sacerdos unum pro peccato, et alterum in holocaustum, et deprecabitur pro eo, quia peccavit super mortuo: sanctificabitque caput ejus in die illo: ¹² et consecrabit Domino dies separationis illius, offerens agnum anniculum pro peccato: ita tamen ut dies priores irriti fiant, quoniam polluta est sanctificatio ejus.  ¹³ Ista est lex consecrationis. Cum dies, quos ex voto decreverat, complebuntur, adducet eum ad ostium tabernaculi fœderis, ¹⁴ et offeret oblationes ejus Domino, agnum anniculum immaculatum in holocaustum, et ovem anniculam immaculatam pro peccato, et arietem immaculatum, hostiam pacificam, ¹⁵ canistrum quoque panum azymorum qui conspersi sint oleo, et lagana absque fermento uncta oleo, ac libamina singulorum: ¹⁶ quæ offeret sacerdos coram Domino, et faciet tam pro peccato, quam in holocaustum.  ¹⁷ Arietem vero immolabit hostiam pacificam Domino, offerens simul canistrum azymorum, et libamenta quæ ex more debentur.  ¹⁸ Tunc radetur nazaræus ante ostium tabernaculi fœderis cæsarie consecrationis suæ: tolletque capillos ejus, et ponet super ignem, qui est suppositus sacrificio pacificorum: ¹⁹ et armum coctum arietis, tortamque absque fermento unam de canistro, et laganum azymum unum, et tradet in manus nazaræi, postquam rasum fuerit caput ejus.  ²⁰ Susceptaque rursum ab eo, elevabit in conspectu Domini: et sanctificata sacerdotis erunt, sicut pectusculum, quod separari jussum est, et femur.  Post hæc, potest bibere nazaræus vinum.  ²¹ Ista est lex nazaræi, cum voverit oblationem suam Domino tempore consecrationis suæ, exceptis his, quæ invenerit manus ejus: juxta quod mente devoverat, ita faciet ad perfectionem sanctificationis suæ. 

Herod Archelaus was a terrible ruler.  He was eventually removed from power by the Romans, and replaced with a governor in 6 CE.  This is the reason Judea was ruled by a governor, Pontius Pilate, during Jesus’ (a.s.) adulthood. 

The final event mentioned of Jesus’ (a.s.) childhood was the time when he was 12, and remained for three days in the Temple, during one of their annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem. 

Luke 2:41-52

⁴¹ Every year, his parents used to go up to Jerusalem at the paschal feast.  ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, after going up to Jerusalem, as the custom was at the time of the feast, ⁴³ and completing the days of its observance, they set about their return home.  But the boy Jesus, unknown to his parents, continued his stay in Jerusalem.  ⁴⁴ And they, thinking that he was among their travelling companions, had gone a whole day’s journey before they made enquiry for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.  ⁴⁵ When they could not find him, they made their way back to Jerusalem in search of him, ⁴⁶ and it was only after three days that they found him.  He was sitting in the temple, in the midst of those who taught there, listening to them and asking them questions; ⁴⁷ and all those who heard him were in amazement at his quick understanding and at the answers he gave.  ⁴⁸ Seeing him there, they were full of wonder, and his mother said to him, “My Son, why hast thou treated us so?  Think, what anguish of mind thy father and I have endured, searching for thee.”  ⁴⁹ But he asked them, “What reason had you to search for me?  Could you not tell that I must needs be in the place which belongs to my Father?”  ⁵⁰ These words which he spoke to them were beyond their understanding; ⁵¹ but he went down with them on their journey to Nazareth, and lived there in subjection to them, while his mother kept in her heart the memory of all this.  ⁵² And so Jesus advanced in wisdom with the years, and in favour both with God and with men. 

⁴¹ Καὶ ἐπορεύοντο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ κατ' ἔτος εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ τῇ ἑορτῇ τοῦ πάσχα.  ⁴² καὶ ὅτε ἐγένετο ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἀναβαινόντων αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἑορτῆς, ⁴³ καὶ τελειωσάντων τὰς ἡμέρας, ἐν τῷ ὑποστρέφειν αὐτοὺς ὑπέμεινεν Ἰησοῦς ὁ παῖς ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ.  ⁴⁴ νομίσαντες δὲ αὐτὸν εἶναι ἐν τῇ συνοδίᾳ ἦλθον ἡμέρας ὁδὸν καὶ ἀνεζήτουν αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς συγγενεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς γνωστοῖς, ⁴⁵ καὶ μὴ εὑρόντες ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἀναζητοῦντες αὐτόν.  ⁴⁶ καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ἡμέρας τρεῖς εὗρον αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καθεζόμενον ἐν μέσῳ τῶν διδασκάλων καὶ ἀκούοντα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπερωτῶντα αὐτούς: ⁴⁷ ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες οἱ ἀκούοντες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῇ συνέσει καὶ ταῖς ἀποκρίσεσιν αὐτοῦ.  ⁴⁸ καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐξεπλάγησαν, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ: τέκνον, τί ἐποίησας ἡμῖν οὕτως; ἰδοὺ ὁ πατήρ σου κἀγὼ ὀδυνώμενοι ἐζητοῦμέν σε.  ⁴⁹ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς: τί ὅτι ἐζητεῖτέ με; οὐκ ᾔδειτε ὅτι ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου δεῖ εἶναί με; ⁵⁰ καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐ συνῆκαν τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς.  ⁵¹ καὶ κατέβη μετ' αὐτῶν καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Ναζαρέθ, καὶ ἦν ὑποτασσόμενος αὐτοῖς. καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ διετήρει πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς. 52 καὶ Ἰησοῦς προέκοπτεν ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ καὶ ἡλικίᾳ καὶ χάριτι παρὰ θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις. 

⁴¹ Et ibant parentes ejus per omnes annos in Jerusalem, in die solemni Paschæ.  ⁴² Et cum factus esset annorum duodecim, ascendentibus illis Jerosolymam secundum consuetudinem diei festi, ⁴³ consummatisque diebus, cum redirent, remansit puer Jesus in Jerusalem, et non cognoverunt parentes ejus.  ⁴⁴ Existimantes autem illum esse in comitatu, venerunt iter diei, et requirebant eum inter cognatos et notos.  ⁴⁵ Et non invenientes, regressi sunt in Jerusalem, requirentes eum.  ⁴⁶ Et factum est, post triduum invenerunt illum in templo sedentem in medio doctorum, audientem illos, et interrogantem eos.  ⁴⁷ Stupebant autem omnes qui eum audiebant, super prudentia et responsis ejus.  ⁴⁸ Et videntes admirati sunt.  Et dixit mater ejus ad illum: Fili, quid fecisti nobis sic?  ecce pater tuus et ego dolentes quærebamus te.  ⁴⁹ Et ait ad illos: Quid est quod me quærebatis?  nesciebatis quia in his quæ Patris mei sunt, oportet me esse?  ⁵⁰ Et ipsi non intellexerunt verbum quod locutus est ad eos.  ⁵¹ Et descendit cum eis, et venit Nazareth: et erat subditus illis. Et mater ejus conservabat omnia verba hæc in corde suo. 52 Et Jesus proficiebat sapientia, et ætate, et gratia apud Deum et homines. 

And thus, this is the story of our prophet, Jesus Christ (a.s.), as told by through the Bible.  There are things we accept, and there are things we do are skeptical about or outright reject, as pointed out.  For example, Muslims reject the existence of Joseph; and Muslims believe that Mary (a.s.) was a Perpetual Virgin, just like the Catholics believe.