Sojourn in Alexandria 

The tragic event of the massacre of the infants by order of Herod occurred around mid-October, 6 BCE, when Jesus was just a little over a year old. However, there were individuals within Herod's court who believed in the future Messiah and one of them, upon learning of the order to kill the baby boys in Bethlehem, contacted Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father. Zacharias, in turn, sent a messenger to Joseph. On the night before the massacre, Joseph and Mary left Bethlehem with their baby and traveled to Alexandria in Egypt. To avoid drawing attention, they undertook the journey alone with Jesus. They reached Alexandria, supported by financial assistance from Zacharias, and Joseph found employment in his trade, while Mary and Jesus stayed with prosperous relatives from Joseph's family. They stayed in Alexandria for a full two years.

Life in Bethlehem had been so full of anxiety and uncertainty that Mary put off weaning Jesus until they could get to safety and stability in Alexandria. The little family lodged with relatives of Joseph’s and he quickly found work as a carpenter. After working for several months, Joseph was promoted to the job of foreman to a large group of workers who were involved in the construction of a public building. This newfound experience sparked his aspiration to become a contractor and builder once they returned to Nazareth.

Throughout the early years of Jesus' vulnerable infancy, Mary remained ever watchful; she maintained a constant vigil to ensure nothing would harm her child or interfere with his future earthly mission. Her devotion to her son was unparalleled, and she spared no effort to protect him.

In the household where the little family lived, there were two other children of similar age to Jesus, and in their nearby community, six other children were close enough in age to be suitable playmates. At first, Mary was inclined to keep Jesus by her side, fearing potential dangers if he played in the garden with the other children. However, with Joseph's help and the support of their relatives, she came to understand that allowing Jesus to interact with children his own age was important for his development. Mary recognized that overprotecting him might lead to self-consciousness and self-centeredness.

Consequently, she agreed to let Jesus grow up like any other child. Even so, she remained vigilant, always keeping a watchful eye on the little ones when they played around the house or in the garden. Only a loving mother can truly understand the weight Mary carried in her heart during these early years of her son's infancy and childhood; she was constantly concerned for his safety.

During their two-year stay in Alexandria, Jesus enjoyed good health and continued to grow at a normal pace. Apart from a small circle of friends and relatives, very few people were aware of Jesus' status as a "child of promise." It was one of Joseph's relatives who disclosed this information to a few friends in Memphis, who happened to be descendants of the ancient Egyptian ruler Ikhnaton. These friends, along with a small group of believers from Alexandria, gathered at the lavish residence of Joseph's relative, who was also a benefactor. This gathering occurred shortly before the family's return to Palestine as a gesture of well-wishing and to show their respect for the child.

During this gathering, Jesus was presented with a complete copy of the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures. However, this copy of the Jewish sacred texts was not given to Joseph and Mary until after they had declined the invitations of their friends from Memphis and Alexandria to stay in Egypt. These believers argued that Jesus, as a resident of Alexandria, could potentially exert a greater influence on the world than if he were located in any specific place in Palestine. These persuasive arguments led to a delay in their departure for Palestine, even after they received news of Herod's death.

But Joseph and Mary did finally leave Alexandria, embarking on a boat owned by their friend, Ezraeon, which took them to Joppa. They arrived in Joppa in late August of the year 4 BCE. From there, they traveled directly to Bethlehem where they spent the entire month of September consulting with their friends and relatives to decide whether they should remain there or return to Nazareth.

Mary had long felt that Jesus should be raised in Bethlehem, the "city of David." She felt that Bethlehem was the most appropriate place for Jesus to be brought up, as he was the possible candidate for David's throne. But Joseph disagreed; he knew that he was not really a descendent of David, that it was only because of an adoption of one of his ancestors that he was reckoned to be part of that lineage. Moreover, Joseph was wary of Herod’s son, Archelaus, who had taken charge after his father’s death. He feared that the son might be as menacing as his father had been. Joseph preferred to take his chances with Herod Antipas in Galilee. He was adamant in his objections to Bethlehem and persuasive in his preference for Galilee as the best place to raise Jesus. But it took three weeks to finally convince Mary.

Ultimately, they did decide to return to Nazareth, and in October of 4 BCE, just about two years after their original flight from Bethlehem, they left that city again on a Sunday morning. Their relatives refused to let them travel alone, so Mary and Jesus rode on a beast of burden and Joseph, along with five friends, walked alongside.