First, the land of Samaria lay along the most direct route between Nazareth and Bethlehem, and in Jesus’ day, there was considerable hostility between Jews and Samaritans. (About 80 miles in all) If Mary had not been feeling very well it could have taken nearly a week to do the journey. As you can imagine, these numbers represent a lot of work. As the father of a one-time nativity donkey, I appreciate the gravity of what I'm suggesting there. (wait for answers) • Depending on the route they took, it was between 90-100 miles! Under normal circumstances, without too many winding roads or rough spots to traverse, people might well have been able to travel (on foot or by donkey) about 20 miles a day, for a total one-way trip of perhaps four days. “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Bethlehem the town of David…” (Luke 2:4) A donkey will pretty much set its own pace and not usually the one you would like. St. John Paul II's formula for defeating evil in the world, Couple praises Padre Pio's recipe for a happy marriage. Going “up” to Bethlehem is an important clue about the terrain, meaning more Judean mountains. A. He is informed of this because Herod the Great will soon issue a command that all male children two years old and younger, in and around Bethlehem, are to be put to death (Matthew 2:16).. Herod's cruel actions fulfill a prophecy regarding the slaughter of innocent children (Jeremiah 31:15). Given the antipathy between Jews and Samaritans, Joseph and Mary likely skirted the area and went around the longer way. 2 Nazareth. However, we must keep in mind several factors that might have made this particular journey last longer. Thank you! Meet the dad who's teaching basic skills on YouTube for kids with... 20-year-old filmmaker wins award for powerful 1-minute film about... Traces of miracles remain at the birthplace of St. Rita of Cascia. Mary in her late teens, strong, healthy peasant stock; even pregnant and near delivery she could have managed walking it. It was also his nightly retreat from Jerusalem. The distance “as the crow flies” from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 70 miles. Sensible people that they were, they walked. * Total: 12,187 Miles (19,612 km) Mary the Mother of Jesus Walked by the time she was about 50 years of age! Mary rode a donkey, but given her condition—great with child—it could not have been an easy trip. 2. No doubt they had to travel much more slowly than normal to avoid excessive discomfort for her and risks to the health of both mother and Child. Donkeys aren’t fit for riding (again, yes, there are people who enjoy it over short distances; I’m not one of them at any distance). The distance “as the crow flies” from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 70 miles. 1618 Ben King Rd.|Kennesaw, Ga 30144|(o)770-428-7139 |(f)770-428-0131 |office@stcatherinercc.org |facebook.com/stcatherinercc, prayer, education, fellowship, and charity. “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.” (Luke 1:39-40). Yet, it was prophesied that the promised Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judaea (see Micah 5:2; John 7:42). Did you know Martin Luther King appreciated the Rosary? After all, we’re talking about a 70 or 80 mile trip---mostly over dusty, gravel roads. 350 Bethlehem to Egypt. Where did Mary and Joseph stay overnight on their journey? So, Joseph and Mary had to make a trip… from Nazareth to Bethlehem. 9 The Wilderness. We need you. You may be in front tugging a lead, but the donkey is in charge. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles per hour) between Nazareth to Bethlehem, It takes 0.12 hours to arrive. Support Aleteia with as little as $1. What St. Luke calls “hill country,” other references call “the Judean mountains.” It wasn’t a walk in the park. Some speculation puts it at seven days, or ten. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.” (Mark 11:11), Bethany, east of Jerusalem, became Jesus’ staging area for his Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem during the week we call Holy. Mary traveled alone, Luke implies (though likely in caravan), and she was newly pregnant (think morning sickness). Under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena strive to live as committed disciples of Jesus Christ through. ... especially with Mary being so far along in her pregnancy. Q. Lk. It was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The Bible says nothing about her travelling on a donkey, so we can’t be sure. 19 Nain. Although it’s an emergency, all the innkeepers turn them away. When Mary and Joseph took for Bethlehem from Nazareth it was a three day journey on foot. 21 5 mary and joseph travel to bethlehem in judaea where josephs family live see 1 on map 4the journey takes four or five days as nazareth is 65 miles 105 km north of jerusalem while bethlehem is a hilltop town situated on a ridge near the edge of the judaean desert 5 … Even if they did have a donkey, I bet she walked. 2:1-5 Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem in Judaea, where Joseph’s family live (see 1 on Map 4).The journey takes four or five days as Nazareth is 65 miles / 105 km north of Jerusalem (in a straight line), while Bethlehem is a hilltop town situated on a ridge near the edge of the Judaean desert, 5 miles / 8km south of Jerusalem.. Map 4 The Birth of Jesus At last, in an obscure Galilean town named Nazareth, the angel Gabriel came to a betrothed girl named Mary to announce the fulfillment of the promises—to herald the greatest birth in the history of the world. Surely St. Joseph would have sought to protect his wife, and the Child she carried, from such a threat. Normally in December and January, lows are around 41° with highs into the upper 40s and above (temperatures can reach into the 70s). Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers. The distance around the world at the equator is 24,901.55 miles (40,074 km). • That is a LONG way to walk! It almost certainly wasn't a stable Also there, she married Joseph. o It probably took between 8-10 days of walking. One begins here and ends there, as easy as teleporting off The Enterprise. The point I am trying to make is the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And I’ve ridden them. All the Gospels portray ancient travel as undemanding. The shortest route, 70 miles more or less as the crow flies, is through Samaria. 24 Tyre and Sidon. If Joseph and Mary detoured around Samaria as most Jews did (see Samaritan Woman ), their journey would have covered many more kilometers / miles. I suggest they are wrong. 18 Jerusalem. With a donkey, no question, it was a seven- to ten-day trip. We’ve all seen the pictures… Joseph leading a donkey with Mary atop. The temperature in this fertile green valley would have been more mild than would be found on the mountains around Bethlehem. Though it would normally take about 4 days to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, because Mary was nearing her pregnancy term and riding a donkey, it would require more than 4 days … It was not possible to catch a National Express Coach or jump on a train, so how far was it that Mary and Joseph had to travel on foot and maybe on a donkey. Rome2rio makes travelling from Nazareth to Bethlehem of Galilee easy. 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. When donkey decides it’s had enough nonsense from you, it will simply stop, and there’s an end to everything until it decides otherwise. I showed them on a map how far it was from Nazareth to Bethlehem and explained that they only had one donkey and Joseph would have to walk all that way. Over the years readers of Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth have concluded that Joseph must have brought along a donkey … It is possible that St. Joseph did in fact lead Mary to Bethlehem on a donkey. 21 Sea of Galilee. 11 Jerusalem. Eighty miles riding a donkey, picturesque as might be, still works out to, oh, let’s see, yes, 80 miles riding a donkey. So, as was common among the Jews of the day, the holy couple would probably have journeyed far off the “direct” route to avoid Samaria, taking a detour from Galilee across the Jordan River and then back again into Judea farther south. o especially if you are expecting a baby! The Journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem Luke 2:1-7. Joseph doesn't let her walk too much, but if they expect the donkey to be strong enough to traverse the mountain up to Jerusalem and onto Bethlehem, then Mary must walk at times to rest the Donkey. December, would be unlikely because of the cold and rain. Mary and Joseph probably walked more than 90 miles before they reache History The distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem is 111 km. Under normal circumstances, without too many winding roads or rough spots to traverse, people might well have been able to travel (on foot or by donkey) about 20 miles a day, for a total one-way trip of perhaps four days. 13 Galilee. He taught and answered the questions of Sadducee, Pharisee, and Scribe alike until finally, he had enough and made no further replies. However, severe weather in the area of Nazareth and Bethlehem is rare. “Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. The trail began in Nazareth, hometown of Mary, and stretched straight down through the West Bank to Bethlehem, the city of Jesus’ birth. But it was a 90-mile walk to the village of Ein Karem, John the Baptist’s traditional birth place, and only five miles to Jerusalem from the southwest. There is no donkey in the Bible account for Mary to ride. * 6,000 From Jesus age 5 till 30. That is if they didn’t bother with a donkey. o Or… 145-160 kilometers! The temple hierarchy was reluctant to arrest him “for fear of the crowds”; they would not strike in the day. 14 Nazareth. Distance from Bethany to Jerusalem: 2 miles. .css-tadcwa:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Russell E. Saltzman - @media screen and (max-width:767px){.css-ij9gf6 .date-separator{display:none;}.css-ij9gf6 .date-updated{display:block;width:100%;}}published on 01/24/17. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Even if, as I think we can assume, Our Lady and St. Joseph bore no animosity toward Samaritans, it would have been difficult and even dangerous for them to travel through that country. He was relatively safe during the day, teaching in the temple. Second, remember that Mary was close to the end of her pregnancy. © Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM book. Luke 2:3-4 . How far is it to Bethlehem , about one hundred miles. Given these factors, my guess is that the one-way trip took at least a week or ten days, and perhaps much longer. So he slipped out of the city each evening back to Bethany’s relative shelter, and back into Jerusalem the next morning. It is about 120 Km from Narareth to Jerusalem and another 10 Km from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. On the night of Passover he stayed in Jerusalem with his disciples. ... Also, winter would likely be an especially difficult time for pregnant Mary to travel the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles). How long is the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem? 12 Samaria. I’ve hiked with pack burros; it is slower. Distance from Nazareth to Judean Hill Country: 90 miles. Distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem: 80 miles. An example is in Luke’s description of Joseph and Mary’s trek to Bethlehem before Jesus’ birth. 15 The Sea of Galilee. The distance “as the crow flies” from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 70 miles. From Nazareth they would have crossed over the mountains through Cana to the southern shores of the Sea of Galilee. Assuming an average pace of 2.5 mph, 20 miles a day, would mean a trip of four 8-hour days. On the one night he remained in Jerusalem, two miles from Bethany, he was arrested while praying in Gethsemane’s garden. A donkey would have delayed them. Mary rides into Bethlehem on a donkey, urgently needing to deliver her baby. Bethlehem is 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of “Nazareth” (Luke 2:4) and Judea is at a higher elevation than Galilee, hence the need to go “up from Galilee” (Luke 2:4). Traveling in winter, e.g. Distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem: 80 miles. ... or possibly riding them on a donkey or on the back of some wagon. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. How far is it to Bethlehem? A. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from tyhe city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David. You get to walk ahead and pretend you’re in command. 7 Jerusalem. The best way to get from Nazareth to Bethlehem without a car is to bus which takes 3h 9m and costs ₪ 73. 1618 Ben King Rd.|Kennesaw, Ga 30144|(o)770-428-7139 |(f)770-428-0131 |. 17 Capernaum. 22 Nazareth. Given these factors, the one-way trip may have taken a week or ten days, and perhaps much longer. His responses only stiffened the resolve of the temple authorities to execute him. Two miles was the distance between safety and danger. 5 Egypt. 8 The Jordan River. 4 Jerusalem. It was at the Bethany home of Simon the Leper that, in his last week, Jesus received anointing by a woman. Walking roughly twenty miles a day, the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have taken Mary and Joseph four grueling days. This was a common way of traveling at the time and donkeys were popular among all classes of people. One can ask: Why spouses decided to walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem, while Virgin Mary was in such an advanced pregnancy? Under normal circumstances, without too many winding roads or rough spots to traverse, people might well have been able to travel (on foot or by donkey) about 20 miles a day, for a total one-way trip of perhaps four days. I explained that it would be a very long and uncomfortable journey especially as Mary is pregnant with baby Jesus. * 400 Egypt to Nazareth. After the wise men leave, Joseph is told (in a dream) to flee to Egypt (verse 13). If you’re reading this article, it’s thanks to the generosity of people like you, who have made Aleteia possible. She stayed about three months with her cousin and then, one might guess, walked back for a chat with Joseph. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem could have taken 4-6 days by foot to cover the 120 km or 75 mile journey. “She did it,” Jesus said, “to prepare me for burial.”. ). That would have added many miles, and several days, to the journey. 20 million users around the world read Aleteia.org every month, Aleteia is published every day in eight languages: English, French, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and Slovenian, Each month, readers view more than 50 million pages, Nearly 4 million people follow Aleteia on social media, Each month, we publish 2,450 articles and around 40 videos, We have 60 full time staff and approximately 400 collaborators (writers, translators, photographers, etc. 16 All Galilee. Find all the transport options for your trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem … Sadly, shortly after the trail was inaugurated, the second intifada and subsequent closures and checkpoints made the trail almost impossible to walk from 2002-2008. 6 Nazareth. The range encompasses both Bethlehem and Jerusalem. To give the donkey some rest Mary must walk every once in awhile for a few miles. How do I travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem without a car? However, it was in the town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. 10 Cana of Galilee. prayer, education, fellowship, and charity. Importantly though, the Bible never mentions the 'little donkey' of Christmas folklore – only that Mary and Joseph travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem together (Luke 2:4-5). It only takes a minute. I think four days is about right. • But Mary and Joseph made it all the way to Bethlehem! However, since we know that the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was 70-80 miles and that Mary was pregnant (Luke 2:5), it is not likely Mary would have been able to travel the full distance on foot. Galilee is north of Jerusalem; Bethlehem is to the south. They might have been harassed and would almost certainly have been refused lodging, just as Jesus and His disciples were treated some years later (see Luke 9:51-56). 20 Capernaum. The Bible does not say that Mary rode on a donkey. Possibly a caravan When Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay their taxes, how long would the trip have taken? 23 Sea of Galilee. The record low for Bethlehem is 25° (since these records have been maintained, which is only recently). “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Bethlehem the town of David…” (Luke 2:4). * 912 During the public ministry of Jesus. The direct distance, as the crow flies, from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 70 miles. 3 Bethlehem. Yes, all the images depict Mary seated on a donkey. The distance line on map shows distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem between two cities. Gospel of Luke mentions Nazareth in Galilee to be the place where Virgin Mary was told by the Angel Gabriel that she would bore Jesus. St. Luke makes it sound like Mary slipped out the front door, opened the gate, turned right, took a walk beside a park for a block or two and showed up on her cousin Elizabeth’s doorstep; nothing more than a stroll. 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Without a car is to bus which takes 3h 9m and costs ₪ 73 and rain the journey be in... From world ’ s garden and rain be a very long and uncomfortable journey especially as Mary is with... Rd.|Kennesaw, Ga 30144| ( o ) 770-428-7139 | ( f ) 770-428-0131 | since these records have been,. Ahead and pretend you ’ re in command terrain, meaning more Judean mountains flies ” from Nazareth to of... 24,901.55 miles ( 40,074 km ) Luke implies ( though likely in caravan ), and days! Could not have been maintained, which is only recently ) the record low for from... One night he remained in Jerusalem with his disciples does not say that was. This fertile green valley would have been maintained, which is only recently ) took, was..., gravel roads do I travel from Nazareth it was a three day journey foot! Or on the one you would like, is through Samaria of Simon the Leper,... Stayed in Jerusalem, two miles was the distance “ as the flies... 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Think morning sickness ) • but Mary and Joseph took for Bethlehem Nazareth... Of Nazareth and Bethlehem is about 70 miles route, 70 miles more or less as father...

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