We are told that Mary gave birth in Bethlehem, and as we light the second candle of Advent, we reflect upon Mary’s journey and her experience there before the birth of Jesus. Considering Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and the time spent travelling there and back, it is possible that Mary was five months pregnant on her wedding day. However, given that the couple were formally engaged, her pregnancy before marriage would have been relatively less scandalous than it otherwise would have been.

This raises an important question: when did she travel with Joseph to Bethlehem for the census of Quirinius recorded in Luke 2:1, as decreed by Emperor Augustus? While artistic depictions of a heavily pregnant Mary riding a donkey are common, there is no biblical text to support this.  It seems unlikely that they would have chosen to make this journey at the most dangerous point of Mary’s pregnancy.  The risks of travel during advanced pregnancy were well known, as seen in the tragic story of Rachel in Genesis 35:19, who died in childbirth on her journey to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph faced rough paths over terrain including hills, valleys, and desert, which would be physically taxing, but also held the potential threats from wildlife or the lēstai who ambushed and robbed travellers along the highways.  It is possible they made the journey during her second trimester, when any nausea may have eased.  She may also have experienced a surge of energy making the arduous journey of around 140 km more tolerable. However, this second trimester is also associated with swollen feet and increased pressure on the bladder by the growing baby in the womb.

Taking several days, and possibly a week, they likely depended on the hospitality of locals, with each day’s journey ending at a water source providing for the caravan’s needs.  They may have journeyed alone, but more likely with others also travelling to register for the Roman tax, as travelling in groups offered greater safety. It is possible that Mary’s mother or another relative accompanied them to assist in the event of an emergency. They were also most likely on foot.  We are not told that they had a donkey, and Luke 2:22 informs us that when Mary went to dedicate her son at the Temple in Jerusalem, she gave two birds as the purification offering. This indicates that the couple could not afford to offer a sheep, nor likely own a donkey.

Setting out from Nazareth, located in the northern region of the Galilee, Mary and Joseph would begin their journey by descending from the hilly surroundings, their route taking them through the Jezreel Valley, a flat, fertile area providing a brief respite from more challenging terrain. The next stage involved crossing over at Jericho, heading up to Jerusalem, and then eight km south across several miles of arid desert and some hills down to Bethlehem.  This whole journey posed significant challenges and was tiring and difficult, especially for Mary.

Arriving in Bethlehem of Judea’s small shepherding agricultural village, the couple would expect the customary Jewish hospitality extended to travellers. This cultural and biblical notion of hospitality included the provision of whatever was necessary to a guest – even a stranger – for as long as was needed before they could be on their way. Luke 2:6 indicates that some time passed before the birth as ‘[while] they were there the time came for her to deliver her child’ (Lk 2:6).

By the third trimester, Mary possibly experienced back pain under the weight of her growing baby, and difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position.  How did the women in the community offer supportive wisdom and experience as they carried out their daily activities together? At a time when many women died during childbirth, with little to alleviate the pain of labour except the comfort and assurances of those around you and natural remedies, Mary once again would have had to trust in God. Many modern women like to prepare a detailed birth plan, and Mary might also have expected ritual and order around the birthing.  In Nazareth, she probably would have prepared a separate birthing room with a local midwife or other female friends and relatives ready to encourage, assist and calm her.  In Bethlehem, however, she must rely on the wisdom of the local women.

Next week, as we approach the third Sunday of Advent, we will consider the momentous event of the actual birth of Christ—when hope became flesh amid the most humble of surroundings.

Dr Amelia Fleming is a lecturer in Theology at Carlow College, St. Patrick’s.