Mary legally remained with Joseph until Jesus was 12 years old. Based on the biblical accounts, there is evidence to suggest that Joseph provided a home to Mary and Jesus for as long as he was alive.
The Bible never directly states how long Joseph and Mary stayed together, however evidence in the book of Luke suggests that they spent 12 years together as a family unit. Luke 2:41-52 begins with Jesus being twelve years old and the account centers around a visit the family makes to the Temple in Jerusalem.
It has been speculated that Joseph was considerably older than Mary and that he may have died shortly after the family returned from the Temple. Although this is only speculation, it was likely that Mary was left a widow shortly after Jesus was 12 years old and she had no other family to care for Jesus at the end of Joseph’s life.
It is possible that Mary stayed with Joseph until his death, and in the 12 years of their union, they raised Jesus and helped him to become the man he was to become.
How long was Joseph when he married Mary?
Joseph is not specifically mentioned as having an age at the time of his marriage to Mary, though he is assumed to be significantly older than Mary. As Mary was a young teenager at the time of marriage the traditional belief is that Joseph was a much older man, typically estimated to be quite a bit over 20 years of age.
This belief is still very much prevalent in various modern depictions of the couple in which Joseph is often depicted as an elderly man. But most experts agree that he was likely a man substantially older than Mary.
How long did Mary and Joseph stay in Egypt after Jesus was born?
Mary and Joseph stayed in Egypt for about two years after Jesus was born, according to the Bible. They fled there after an angel warned them that King Herod of Judea was planning to kill the young child and returned to their home in Nazareth after the king’s death.
During their stay in Egypt, the holy family likely stayed with other Jews who had fled to avoid persecution from the Roman rulers and subsidized their expenses so they could get by.
How long did Joseph stay in Egypt?
Joseph stayed in Egypt for a total of about two decades, from the time he was 17 until he was 37. Before that, his family had taken him from Canaan to Egypt during a famine and Joseph then spent many years in Potiphar’s house and in the prison in Egypt until Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer remembered Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams and brought it to Pharaoh’s notice.
Through God’s will, Pharaoh soon set Joseph in charge of the whole of Egypt and Joseph was instrumental in saving the kingdom from famine. During his tenure as Governor of Egypt, Joseph made very good use of his administrative ability and rose to a position of influence and power in the kingdom.
Hence, he stayed in Egypt for a total of roughly two decades.
When did Joseph and Mary return from Egypt?
Joseph, Mary and Jesus returned from Egypt to Nazareth in Israel sometime after Herod died in 4 BCE. This is likely because after the news of Herod’s death reached Egypt, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary and Jesus and go to Israel because Herod’s son Archelaus was ruling in his father’s place.
After the journey, Joseph settled the family in Nazareth, which is where the Bible says that Jesus grew up. As far as exact dates, it is not known when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned from Egypt, but it likely happened after 4 BCE.
How long was Mary and Joseph’s journey to Egypt?
Mary and Joseph’s journey to Egypt is believed to have been about 800 miles and could have taken them several months to complete. The route that Mary and Joseph took to get to Egypt is not known for certain, but according to one tradition, they traveled from the Judean desert to Gaza, and then continued south along the Mediterranean Sea to Egypt.
The journey would have been arduous, as they traveled on foot, with Mary riding either a donkey or a camel. Furthermore, Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus were likely traveling through inhospitable terrain–including desert, mountains and valleys–and privations such as a lack of food, water and lodging.
In the end, the family’s three-month journey likely proved to be an eye-opening experience that brought the young family closer together.
How old was Jesus when Joseph died?
It is not known for certain how old Jesus was when Joseph died, as the Bible does not provide an exact answer. However, some believe Jesus was approximately 30-33 years old at the time of Joseph’s death.
This assumption comes from the book of Luke, which mentions that Jesus was “about 30” when he began his public ministry. Most historians agree that Jesus’ ministry lasted around three years, which would mean he was around 33 when Joseph died.
This timeline is further supported by the belief that Joseph was relatively old when Jesus was born, and therefore had a short lifespan.
What is the reason why the Holy Family flee to Egypt?
The Holy Family fled to Egypt because of an angel’s warning to Joseph in a dream. The angel told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus away to Egypt to save them from King Herod’s plan to kill the baby Jesus.
It is said that King Herod was so threatened by the prophecy of a new King of Israel that he ordered the killing of all male infants two years old and younger in Bethlehem. The Holy Family fled to Egypt to save Jesus from this horrific event and to fulfill the prophecy that Jesus would be “called out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1).
It was in Egypt where Jesus was safe from harm until the angel told Joseph in another dream that it was safe to return home to Nazareth.
What did Mary and Joseph do in Egypt?
Mary and Joseph traveled to Egypt with their infant son, Jesus, after receiving a warning from an angel in a dream. Egypt was an important part of God’s plan for Jesus, as it would provide a safe haven for the Holy Family.
Once in Egypt Mary and Joseph stayed in the city of Memphis for some time, trying to avoid going further south to the more densely populated area of the Nile Delta. During their stay, Mary and Joseph continued to live as a family, participating in the cultural activities of their time and living off the offerings of neighbors and strangers.
Within Egypt, Mary and Joseph likely taught Jesus about their faith and the Old Testament scriptures as they traveled looking for a safe place to settle. They experienced the hospitality that Egypt was known for, even among strangers.
This hospitality included gifts of gold and frankincense, corroborating the prophecy of Isaiah that Jesus was the messiah (Isaiah 60:6).
Eventually, Mary and Joseph decided to return to Judea after an angel tells them Herod the Great had died in Jerusalem. They made their way back to Nazareth, probably following the same route that had taken them to Egypt.
By this time, Jesus was a young boy, likely having learned a great deal during his time in Egypt and was respected by the people of the region.
Through the experience of living in Egypt, Mary and Joseph not only provided Jesus with a safe place to be during the turbulent times of Herod the Great, but it provided a foundation of faith and culture as Jesus grew up.
Did Mary and Joseph ever get married?
Yes, Mary and Joseph were married. The Bible does not explicitly say when or how they were married, although it does mention that Joseph was committed to taking Mary as his wife and that Mary was presented to him as his spouse (Matthew 1:24-25).
It is likely that Mary and Joseph were likely married in a Jewish traditional ceremony as Joseph was a devout Jew. This ceremony would have involved the bride and groom being given a cup of wine to share and an exchange of wedding vows, likely uttered in the presence of two witnesses.
The bride and groom were then considered to be legally married in the eyes of the community. Mary and Joseph likely shared the same living quarters, which in those days was seen as a sign of being married.
After Jesus’ birth, Matthew 1:24-25 states that Joseph took Mary as his wife.
What age did Joseph marry Mary?
Joseph and Mary were married when Joseph was around 90 years of age and Mary was 14 or 15, according to the Bible. The exact age of Joseph when he married Mary is unknown, but most scholars believe that he was within the elderly range.
The Bible notes that Joseph was “a righteous man” (Matthew 1:19) and that he was aged, likely because he was from a much older generation than Mary and likely far older than her father’s age. It was quite common in ancient times for older men to marry much younger women, as Mary’s father and Joseph were likely from a different social class than Mary.
The age gap between Mary and Joseph was not necessarily frowned upon, as Mary had no say in the matter. It was her father who arranged her betrothal with Joseph, based on their beliefs in the chosen line of King David.
They were married in what was likely a simple ceremony, following Jewish customs.
Did Mary and Joseph have children other than Jesus?
Yes, Mary and Joseph had several other children in addition to Jesus. According to the New Testament Gospels, the names of their children were James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (also known as Jude). Other than these four, there may have been other unnamed children and daughters of Joseph, as indicated in Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3.
Did Joseph have a wife before Mary?
No, Joseph did not have a wife before Mary. Mary and Joseph are an important part of the Christian story, as their child Jesus was born to be the savior of the world according to Christian traditions.
Joseph was a carpenter from Nazareth, and Mary was the daughter of a family of influential priests. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke in the Bible both say that Mary was a virgin, and therefore, at the time of her conception, Joseph had not been married before her.
Joseph was initially reluctant to marry Mary after learning of her pregnancy. However, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and informed him that what had happened was divinely orchestrated. After the dream, Joseph took Mary as his wife and accepted Jesus as his son.
Joseph is considered to be a faithful and obedient believer. He devoted himself completely to his role as a husband to Mary and a father to Jesus. He even took the family to Bethlehem to comply with the census and later to Egypt to keep them safe from Herod’s orders.
As a result, Joseph contributes to the story of Jesus in a very significant and meaningful way.
What happened to Joseph the father of Jesus?
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was an ancient Jewish carpenter from Nazareth in Galilee. He was descended from the House of David and was betrothed to the Virgin Mary. It was an angel who revealed to Joseph that Mary would conceive a son not by a man, but through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph was an honorable man, and so chose to take Mary as his wife and take care of the child.
Christians believe that Joseph passed away before Jesus began his ministry. This belief is based upon a passage in the Gospel of James where Joseph is described as being dead before Jesus was crucified.
Some history and theology experts theorize that Joseph may have died shortly after Jesus was born. Other Biblical scholars, such as those of the Franciscan school, propose that Joseph continued in his role as father to Jesus up until he became an adult and began his ministry.
Regardless, Joseph was an integral part of Jesus’ life and faith, teaching him many of the tenets of the Jewish faith. Joseph’s presence in Jesus’ life is also an important reminder to believers of the importance of fathers for guidance, nurture, and support.
What happened to Joseph Mary’s husband in the Bible?
Joseph Mary’s husband in the Bible is named Joseph and he was the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He is considered the legal father of Jesus for his role in raising Jesus, though it is believed he was not the biological father.
Joseph is mentioned by name only in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, although there is also an “unnamed husband” mentioned in the Gospel of Mark and in John. He was a carpenter, and according to the Bible, he was already betrothed to Mary when he discovered she was expecting a child.
The angel Gabriel cautioned Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife and accept her pregnancy as an act of God. Joseph did as he was asked, and the two were later married.
Joseph faithfully protected Mary and Jesus, taking them to Egypt to escape King Herod’s order to kill all babies in Bethlehem. After Herod died, Joseph received a divine warning in a dream to take his family back to Israel, where he settled in the region of Galilee.
He is said to have provided for them and raised Jesus as his own.
Tradition holds that Joseph lived to see Jesus as an adult and became a very old man. Upon his death, Joseph was buried in Jerusalem, where he has been venerated as a saint throughout the centuries.