You are most welcome and thank you.

Just a note about what is implied in Luke. Given that Mary had just given birth and their was an infant, their relocation to some other area knowing of the Torah obligations that had to be fulfilled, it was unlikely they would leave the area. Since returning to Jerusalem would have been very difficult. So staying in Bethlehem nearby with extended family would make sense.

The season of His birth would have also been a consideration that would have to be factored in if there was a required pilgrimage feast within a month or so. Going to Nazareth and then returning right away for a required feast would have been calculated into any decision of whether to leave or not, especially if they had lodging available in the area. People with larger homes always took in pilgrims for the festivals. It is quite a journey on foot between Nazareth and Jerusalem. Traveling with small children took even longer. Since Jews did not go through Samaria, they would often take the route that went East to the river valley and went south from there till they reached the hill country east of Jerusalem. Then it was uphill from there. It has always amazed me at the stamina of older individuals making such a journey on foot for that distance covering that terrain. A much heartier people for sure.

I will get to the rest of what you had sent me when I have time. I have to have a break long enough to concentrate on trying to connect all those pieces - as you no doubt already know. Not for the short attention casual reader. Thanks again and enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

(You would think being of Irish decent I would be more aware of St Stephan's Day. I guess my family has been here too long. Lol. My roots in this country go back to the Revolutionary War period and prior. One of my ancestors was even on the boat with Washington crossing the Delaware. Had another ancestor that was a drummer for Washington's army. He kept getting his drums shot. The army paid for the first 3 drums. After that, my ancestor had to pay for the rest of them on his own - about 4 more. He was just a teenager. Pretty ballsy.)