Christmas Scripture To Reflect Upon - 2015 And Beyond. Semper Fi !!!

In Judaism, there is the theological topic of Tikkun Olam, the “Restorative Repairing  (hence, “redemption”)  of the World / Ages.”     The Hebrew word Tikkun, by a secondary definition, will  incorporate the idea of  an ascending “spark” or flame, as if part of an burnt offering that  ascends up to GOD. Therefore, to be repaired or restored, one must make oneself as if a light of the menorah, or as a living allegory of the burnt offering (a living sacrifice) unto GOD.

Therefore, the basic concept of Tikkun Olam can be immediately recognized by many born-again Christians who read the priestly Gospel of John (1:1-13) where Jesus, as the light and spark of eternal life, lights the dead pilot --

(some may want to envision a gas burner or gas burning space heater that remains unlit until sparked on to give heat and fulfill its destined function in order to better grasp this concept)

-- that is within every man - woman - child of whosoever believes into and receives Him. 

If we apply this concept to Christ's Mass / Christmas, we can see in the historical retelling of the event of the star that led the magi from the East, that effectually the star itself, be it a preternatural Constellation or a manifesting Angel, was signifying the same concept as pointing the way to He who was the true spark and redemption of the World / Ages, Christ Jesus the Messiah whom is clearly named Yeshua in various Salvation Scriptures in the Hebrew Passages of the Bible for any willing to simply accept the Scriptures instead of debating GOD on a "How dare you name the King Messiah the same as the one whom the Gentile Christians follow."  

Micah 5:2 
“And you, Bethlehem Ephratah,
(though you) have grown into being least and insignificant
while being among the Commanders of the Thousands of Judah;   

{read “alupe”, construct plural; not alepe}

(yet) out of you to Me,  He shall come forth to become
Compared like unto Me in a Proverb,   
                 { Numbers 21:17-18b*}

ruling with dominion in Israel;
And his forth coming origin as one going out
is from the days of eternity, since before the world (came into being).”

Matthew 2:6
“And you, Bethlehem, Land of Judah,
Not by any means least in rank, dignity, or importance are you
Among the leaders of Judah who rule as Commanders
Who exercise authority by means of both military and civil law;

Out of you for will come out and go forth from His place
A leader who will rule as a Commander
And who will exercise authority by means of both military and civil law;

Who will Shepherd the people of Me, Israel.”     

{and be their King,   2 Sam. 5:2}


----------------------------------------------------
*Numbers 21:17-18b 
17 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:
18 The  Cistern Well which the princes dug,
Which dug the nobles of the people,
by  the (direction of  the )  Commander of the statutes – laws –customs –decrees, with their staves.”               

 

"Behold!  GOD is my JESUS!
I will trust and not be afraid, for my strength and my song is YH YHVeH,
and He became to me, JESUS.
And you shall draw water with joy
out of the flowing mountain spring of JESUS."  - Isaiah 12:2-3

In Micah 5:2, we read that the "comings forth" as umootsata(y)v  is as the source going forth, as though referring to a well spring which origin is unseen, and practically unknowable except in generality.

That origin is M'Qedem memey olam...from before the days of eternity, from before the days of the world.   

In Isaiah 7:14, we have "The Virgin" or Ha Almah in regard to the use of the word for "virgin".   Almah speaks of a "hiddenness", a chaste purity, lest perhaps someone would say as in Deuteronomy 22:19, the virgin verse of Isaiah 7:14  could ever speak of a Bethulah as one (a woman) having already had intercourse.   This is why we have Almah in Isaiah 7:14, a VIRGIN in the true sense of the word, whereas also Bethulah might be argued against as not being a virgin if the female is past age 12 (or something to this effect)  as the Akkadian cognate (the origin of the Hebrew word Bethulah)  informs us in regard to what the original origin of the word Bethulah concerned itself with.  Again, in the Akkadian, the related Bethulah cognate will only translate to virginity when applied to the very youthful; while in the Ugaritic, the possible  root  "btlt" is a oft a reference to the wife of Baal, who indeed has an active sex life in the mythology regarding Baal and Anat.   That kind of idolatrous association would be avoided by Scripture, even if human organizations later chose to merge pagan patterns and holidays where the Bible utterly separates itself from such idolatry and immoral practices as idol worshipers engage in.

 In many ways, First Century Judaism and Christianity were almost as close as some Protestant denominations are from one another in our day.

We see that many of the ideas between First Century Judaism and First Century Christianity easily cross over as virtually synonymous but for the identification of a definitive Messiah.   In our day, the division or lack of tolerance to one another is often more popular than it was in Christianity's first 35 - 40 years.  

In the Byzantine period, there was a listing on a column that claimed that a number of 20,000 were present at Bethlehem at the time of Christ's birth.  This would be the entire number of those of the House of David, and likely we might expect as many as several hundred babies from birth to the age of two to be present, as the Census number includes only men, and not any women and children that were brought along to be taxed by the Romans.  All these people pressed into the town as outside were fields and fields of many tens of thousands of bleating sheep to be used for the daily ritual Temple Sacrifice less than 5 miles away.  If it was the springtime, as some contend it was, over 207,000 sheep at a minimum would be needed to be present for sacrifice at Jerusalem at Passover.  More than half of these would have come up or through the southern passage from Bethlehem, so you can just imagine that whether spring or fall, what seeing and smelling anywhere from tens of thousands of sheep to perhaps over 200,000 sheep in a staging area where most were probably bleating for water must have looked and sounded like prior to any hush that fell upon them in reverence to the Creator Himself being born through a virgin, that we might not have any excuse to say that He did not know what it was like to be born by experiencing it for Himself, and spending an average lifetime (as it was back then) of a little over 33 years amongst us.  

The Gospel of Luke  

[written circa 50 A.D. while Peter and Paul jointly preached in Corinth of Achaia]

2:8-21 in KJV and AWPR Translations

King James Version (KJV)

Alternative Word Pictures with Reiterations translation - translation mine (AWPR)

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  (KJV)

  

(8)     And Shepherds were in the fields and grazing ranges of 

          the country-side,

          the same (also) abiding / lodging in the fields

          (with the flocks [of sheep])

          and keeping a doubly protective guarded watch of the night

          over the flock  of them.

          (AWPR)

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (KJV)

(9)     And behold, look and see,

an Angel (of the) LORD stood above and over them,

          and (the) LORD’s glory shone forth [great light] around them;

          and they were terrified with such a fright so as to run away,

          [it being such a mentally and spiritually overwhelming] 

             great fleeing terror.

          (AWPR)

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  (KJV)

(10)   But the Angel said to them,

          (Although you can)

‘Do not fear or be terrified with such a fright so as to run away.

              Behold, look and see,

               for I am giving forth a good proclamation of good tidings,

    of good news to you,

               which will be to the people a great joyous exultation;

          (AWPR)

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.   (KJV)

  

(11)             because was born to you    this day / today

                    a Savior / Deliverer (from destruction) and benefactor

                    who is Christ / (the Anointed (One),

                    LORD / YHVeH / JeHoVaH,

                    in the city of David. 

          (AWPR)

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.   (KJV)

(12)             And this to you is a miraculous (and visible) Sign /

                    proof of a Miracle Of Fulfillment:

                    you will search out – inquire and find a (nourishing) baby

                    having been enwrapped about as in a band

         in a swathing / in swaddling clothes,

          laid down – placed – set in a stall.

                  [alternatively: a feeding trough].

                  (AWPR)

13    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,    (KJV)

(13)   And of a sudden – suddenly

          there was together with the Angel

          a fullness – multitude – throng of a Heavenly / Celestial army

          singing praises of approval – benefits – commendations / praising

          GOD,

          and laying down forth definite words, saying:

          (AWPR)

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.   (KJV)

(14)            ‘Praise – honor – applause duly rendered / Glory

                     in the highest to GOD;

                     and upon Earth,

                     Peace – Tranquility – Rest – and Every Kind Of Good;

                     in men, benevolent pleasing favor – kindness  and good will.’

          (AWPR)

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.    (KJV)

(15)   And it so happened in what manner or way,

          the angels withdrew and went away / departed

          from them into the Heaven.

         

          And the men, the Shepherds, 

          spoke up alongside and with one another,  (saying),

                   ‘Let us most definitely (now) pass through and go

                    as far as / unto Bethlehem,

                    and let us behold, see and know 

                   this pronouncement / command,

                    that having occurred and come into being,

                    the which the LORD / JeHoVaH / YHVeH

                    made known / revealed unto us.’

          (AWPR)

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.   (KJV)

(16)   And they came forth so as to make a public appearance,

          urging themselves on hastily – quickly,

          and diligently sought and found out both Mariam / Mary and Joseph

          and the newborn child / baby  lying down in a stall

                             [alternatively: a feeding tough].

          (AWPR)

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.   (KJV)

(17)   Then seeing and being made aware with understanding,

          they went around making it known regarding the

          Statement / Pronouncement / Command spoken to them

          regarding this child.

          (AWPR) 

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.   (KJV)

          

(18)   And all those hearing and listening intently

          were struck with astonishment and marveled / wondered

          regarding / concerning the thing spoken about the Shepherds

          (who were) up alongside and with them.

          (AWPR)

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.   (KJV)

(19)   Then Mariam / Mary

kept considering – pondering – mulling over – meditating

(upon) these spoken words / sayings, in the heart of her.

           (AWPR)

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.   (KJV)

(20)   And the Shepherds turned about and returned,

                   

            [alternatively: Gr. epistrephan also means “having converted”]

(verbally and publicly [with loudness])

recognizing – honoring – glorifying and singing praises to GOD

for / upon / regarding all (the) things

which they attentively heard and beheld / saw,

even as (it) was spoken / proclaimed up to and alongside with them.

(AWPR)

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.   (KJV)

(21)   And when were fulfilled – completed – accomplished

          (made fully past) 8 days to circumcise the baby,

          moreover was called forth the name of Him, Jesus / Yeshua;

          that called forth / That called from through the Angel

          before He was conceived in the womb.

          (AWPR)  

Matthew Chapter 2 in the King James Version (KJV) and Alternate with Word Pictures and Reiterations Version (AWPR)

  

Matthew Chapter 2

King James Version (KJV)

Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) - Translation mine.

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, (KJV)

     1)       Then Jesus / Yeshua, having been born in Bethlehem of Judea

in the days of Herod the king:

Behold, look and see;

Magi from (the) rising sun – from (the) dawn – 
     from (the) East

(publicly and noticeably) arrived into Jerusalem, 

 (AWPR)

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (KJV)

2)      Uttering definite words – saying:

          ‘In what place – Where is He (whom is) brought forth – born

            King of the Jews?

            For – Because   we beheld – saw – observed – watched

            the luminous body – the star of Him 
            in the East,                

            and came forth publicly so as to make an appearance

            to kiss – to adore – to show respect 
                  and falling/ prostrating obeisance

                  -  to worship him.

           (AWPR)

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  (KJV) 

3)      Then (paying heed and) hearing intently – listening 
          (carefully),

Herod the king

was stirred up and agitated / troubled 
with great fear and questions,

and all of Jerusalem with him.   

(AWPR)

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.  (KJV)

4)    And gathering – assembling together

the first / chief priests and Scribes

[Scribes - includes scribes who copy the Torah, Accountants,

and Civil Servant / Officials that were Recorders, Librarians,
 and other various forms of Book or Document Keepers
 (including tax-collectors like   
 Matthew, author of this Gospel).]

            of the people,

            he asked – inquired – examined from them

            where – in what place the Christ was to be born.  

(AWPR)

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, (KJV)

5)     Then they said – spoke – replied to him,

          ‘In Bethlehem of Judea,

          for thus – in this manner or way

          it has been 
          engraved – inscribed – carved – written

            through the prophet,     

(AWPR)

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel.  (KJV)

6)     ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

          by no means – not at all

          are you least in rank – dignity – importance

          in – amongst the leaders – rulers – governors of Judah;

          for – because out of you will proceed / come forth

          a leader – chief – commander – ruler,

          someone who will Shepherd the people – nation

          of Me, Israel.  

(AWPR)

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. (KJV)

7)    At that time then, Herod in a manner or way
          concealed from notice –

secretly – discreetly – privately

calling – summoning forth – authoritatively invited

the Magi – the wise men

(and) asked precisely - inquired accurately / inquired exactly

from them the Time – Period – Season

of the shining – illuminating – giving light

[and remaining in that state of excessive illumination]

star – luminous body.   

(AWPR)

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.  (KJV)

8)    And causing to go – sending them

[implies a military escort for part of the journey 
to ensure they went on the correct road and were 
certainly on their way.  Herod was in Jerusalem 
only 4.1 plus miles to the north, where sending word 
back to him could be done by one servant sent back
 on foot, even walking by lamp or torch by night,
 in just inside one hour]

into Bethlehem, he said,

          ‘Having walked and passed – having gone through,

            accurately examine – exactly with diligence find out –

             inquire thoroughly about

          regarding the little child.

          Then, as soon as – whenever you find and
          search out / discover,

          announce it to – send word to – make known to

          me,  so that I may also come up alongside with (you)

          to worship Him.’     (AWPR) 

Comment on distance:

Justin, in his Apology, 1.34, says:  "And thou, Bethlehem, the land of Judah" etc.  ‘Now there is a village in the land of the Jews, 35 stadia  [4.1 miles] from Jerusalem, in which Jesus Christ was born, as you can [still] ascertain also from the registers of the taxing made under Cyrenius, your first procurator in Judea."  It appears to me that the Inn or House to where Jesus was to be located was in this general vicinity at least a mile closer than the boundaries of modern Bethlehem and in the hills northeast of the current modern city, as yet unexcavated.  That makes sense that if Bethlehem was so crowded that there was no room, they would be forced to make the best they could in the outskirts of the city, at a in Bethlehem point closest to Jerusalem, and yet above the primary dust and smog (that generally settles upon the first 200 feet of a civilization and makes the air tan or brownish as one looks down across a valley or plain of it), it seems to me. 

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.  (KJV)

9)    Then they, having heard and listened to 
          the king carefully – intently

(continued and) passed through – departed.

And behold, look and see;
 the luminous body – the star

which they saw – beheld – observed – watched

in the rising sun – in the dawn – in the East

preceded before and led them forth until, coming,

it stood up above / over and upon

where the little child was.  

(AWPR)

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. (KJV)

10)    Then seeing – beholding – observing 
          the luminous body / star,

          they rejoiced with great – abundant

           joy – delight – gladness,

          with very much eagerness.  

          (AWPR)

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.   (KJV)

11)     And coming into the house / building, ¹

         They saw – beheld – observed the little child

         with Miriam / Mary the mother of Him.

         And falling down prostrate they 
         adored – showed obeisance to –

         worshiped Him.

         And opening the treasures put – set – stored of them,

         they brought up alongside with / next to – near to Him

         gratuitous – generous  gifts of

         gold and frankincense and myrrh.  

        (AWPR)

        

       

    

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.  (KJV)

12)       And having been addressed

         in a very straight-forward business-like warning – oracle

         by a dream that they should not go back again – return

         up alongside with Herod,

         through another of the same kind of way – highway – route

         they departed back again into

         the country – land – region – territory of them.²   (AWPR)

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.   (KJV)

13)      Then they, having left – having departed back again:

                   behold, look and see;

          an angel / messenger of (the) LORD

          shone – gave light / illumination – appeared

                   down in a dream to Joseph,
                  uttering definite words – saying,

              ‘Rise (from sleep and sluggishness) – Rise up!

               take up and seize the little child and the mother of Him,

               and hurriedly flee – escape quickly  into Egypt;

               and be you in that place there

               until I shall speak to you:

               for Herod is at the point of – is about to

               look for and strive to find

               the little child, to kill – put to death – destroy Him.’

               (AWPR)

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:  (KJV)

14)    Then he  rising up (from sleep and sluggishness)

          Took up and seized – snatched up 

          The little child and the mother of Him by night,

          And departed back again into Egypt.³

          (AWPR) 

15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.  (KJV)

15)    And he was in that place there until

          the end – completion (death) of  Herod,

         in order that would be fulfilled that spoken

         under the LORD through the prophets,

         laying down definite words saying – speaking,

            ‘Out of Egypt I have called / summoned forth

              The Son of Me.’

         (AWPR)

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. (KJV)

16)    At that time then,  Herod (upon) seeing –beholding that

          he was deluded – deceived – played the fool

          under – by the Magi,

          (he) was provoked into a great wrath – indignation – rage.

          And sending forth [soldiers on his resulting orders],

          he took away in death – he murdered

          All the male children in Bethlehem,

          
         And in all the boundaries – frontiers – limits – region of it,

          from 2 years and downwards,

         according to the Time he diligently and accurately 
         inquired from the proximity of

  [i.e., that Herod posed to a group presented before him

   who were also far enough away to converse in whispers secretly

   among themselves]

        the Magi.

       (AWPR)

17)  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet,   

        saying,  (KJV)

      17)      Then at that time was fulfilled – accomplished – completed

                  that definitely uttered / said  

                  under – by – through Jeremiah the prophet

                  saying,

           (AWPR)     

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.  (KJV)

18)      ‘A voice – A sound

                    Shone forth –toned forth

  [and would echo in the recurring recollections of the minds

    of those who heard it]

                    in Rama was attentively heard – listened carefully to:

                    loud wailing and grievous weeping with tears,

                    and much (tormented – sorrowful) bewailing;

                    Rachel grievously weeping with tears 
                    for the children of her,

                    And certainly not willing / certainly not having the

                    will – desire – purpose

                    to have called to the side of – to be aided or comforted

                    because they certainly were not.’

                    (AWPR)

Comment:  The tomb of Rachel, wife of Jacob, who died in giving birth to Benjamin (cf. Genesis 35:16-19), was and is located in the region that is now the city of modern Bethlehem.  Benjamin was called Ben-Oni “son of I / son of me”, which some have mistranslated as “son of my sorrow”.  However, Jacob affirms it was “son of I / son of me” when he renamed the child as Ben-Yamin “Son at my Right Hand”.  Indeed, Jesus / Yeshua would eventually be known to humanity as “the son at the Right Hand” of GOD the Father Almighty.

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, (KJV)

19)    Then Herod

          having come to his end – having expired / completed / died;

          behold, look and see: an Angel of (the) LORD

          down in a dream gives light – shines – appears

          to Joseph in Egypt,

          (AWPR)      

20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.  (KJV)

20)       Speaking with definite words – saying,

             ‘Rising up (from sleep and sluggishness).

              Take up – possess – seize – take along

              the little child and the mother of Him,

              and pass through into (the) Land of Israel:

              for – because those seeking – striving to find

              the soul of / the life of   the little child

              have died (by natural means).’     (AWPR)

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. (KJV)

21)    Then he [Joseph] rising up,

          took up – seized and took along – snatched up

          the little child and the mother of Him,

          and came forth publicly into (the) Land of Israel.

          (AWPR)

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:  (KJV)

22)    Then, hearing attentively and hearkening that Archelaus

          reigns upon Judea  against / in place of – in lieu of /

          in substitution as a successor of 

          Herod the father of him,

          he [Joseph] feared and trembled with fright and terror

          (so as to run away) [rather than]  to go there in that place:

           Then, down in a dream,

           being addressed

           in a very straight-forward business-like

           order - response - warning – oracle,

           he [Joseph]  departed back again into the [sea – waters

           of the] sides – parts – coasts.⁴

           And behold, look and see;

           The heavens to him were opened,

           And he saw – beheld – observed (it was) the Galilee.

           (AWPR)

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. (KJV)

23)   And having come forth publicly,

          He dwelt in a permanent dwelling / he resided

          Into a city – protected settlement called Nazareth;

          So as to accomplish – make full – complete – fulfill

          That spoken – foretold through the prophet:

                 ‘He shall be summoned forth / called Nazarene.”

          (AWPR)

Disclaimer:  The Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) translation should be used as a Bible Study Aid only, and it is recommended that a direct literal translation or the King James Bible be used for regular and ecclesiastical purposes, and that the AWPR be used in association only as a Bible study aid so as to help the reader / user in their Bible Studying to clarify context and Scriptural Intent.     Thanks.  -- Brianroy

End-notes: 

1.       The events of the Magi arriving is AFTER the events listed in Luke Chapter 2.  Finding Mary and Jesus the angelically announced Messiah in a manure filled stall, it is not a stretch in any way that the Shepherds (who possibly were raising their flocks primarily  in the valley of Achor, south of Jericho – Isaiah 65:9-10, before proceeding round about to Jerusalem through the south via Bethlehem) could easily have used sheep as payment for someone or the Inn itself to take Miriam and her baby in out of doors.  Judaism often places an emphasis of the relationship of child and mother, and of common decency.  A trade (for example) of 7 fat sheep for eating, and perhaps a lamb without spot or blemish for trade or sacrifice for the Temple would have been more than sufficient payment.  There is absolutely no justification for any relocation of the event to Nazareth or anywhere else.  In fact, the events of both the Shepherds and the visit by the Magi would have preceded the actual day of circumcision of the little child Jesus, meaning the visits by the Shepherds in Luke 2 (written in A.D. 50) and that of the Magi in Matthew 2 (written between June of A.D. 55 and the early fall of A.D. 56 at the latest), both were completed within the first 8 days of Jesus birth.   

2.      The Highway to Israel from Babylonia would have been via:  Accad, Mari, Tadmor, Damascus, Capernaum, Jericho, Jerusalem, and points along that route.

The exit taken by the Magi away from Herod, would likely have been south from Bethlehem to the road that passed from Kadesh Barnea (around the southern part of the Dead Sea traveling East then North through Edom on the King's Highway) to Rabboth-Bene-Ammon, then due east to Dumah, and from Dumah to Babylonia.

3.      “Departed back again”  is the most accurate translation possible for the Koine Greek Word of this verse, which is “anechoresen” – the aorist indicative active of anachoreo.  This means that Joseph, although of the House of David, was a Jew who was previously living in Egypt and for some time had made his home and livelihood there.  Most likely that home was in Alexandria, and the use of the aorist indicative active of anachoreo in the way it is presented in this verse suggests that is where Mary also had spent some time as the wife of Joseph upon her marriage to him.  It also gives cause for a working hypothesis as to part of the reason why Mark took his Gospel to Alexandria after the death of the Apostle Peter on June 29, 57 A.D., and founded what would be the Coptic Church before his own death in the 8th year of Nero in A.D. 62 (just 5 years after that of Peter’s death in Rome).  There must have been some sort of familiarity and testimony that joined Joseph by family and (Mary and the LORD Jesus to that city later, albeit briefly) as a city of refuge away from and out of Herod’s jurisdiction and influence.

4.       Joseph, it seems to me, most clearly took the little child / baby Jesus and the mother of Him out of Egypt by ship back to Israel.  They probably first embarked to Joppa, heard the news of Archelaus, and then took the journey to the next stop of Caesarea (Song of Solomon 2:1) on the coast of Samaria and entered through the plain of Sharon.  Prophecy related to Sharon in the Old Testament informs us that Joseph then would have proceeded by land up to Mount Carmel (Isaiah 35:1-2) before turning aside to Galilee, so as to appear to enter it from an origin in the north and avert suspicion as having actually come from the south.