Confusion in God’s Holy Word The Holy Bible
It is not often that we see any form of confusion illustrated in the Holy Word of God, The Holy Bible, but I have discovered one such instance.
The Jewish Purification Law; according to the Law of Moses
According to the Law of Moses, every woman 40 days after giving birth to their first born male child must be presented to the Lord, and a sacrifice made in honor of the child to the Lord.
In MATTHEW:2:13-15a; “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 by night, and depart into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod:
In LUKE: 2: 22-40; We read how according to the Law of Moses, Joseph, and Mary bring Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, in compliance with the Jewish Purification Law, according to Moses.
The confusion in scripture as recorded in God’s Holy Word, is quite evident. How is it possible for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus remain obedient to God in fulfillment of the scripture and flee into Egypt, and also 40 days after Mary gives birth to Jesus, appear in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, to fulfill the Purification Law according to Moses.
The trek from Bethlehem to Jerusalem under normal circumstances on foot, is/was about a 30 day trek.
The trek from Egypt to Jerusalem is longer still. Furthermore we know that the Holy Family was still in Bethlehem at least 8 days after Jesus birth, because under Jewish law and the Law of Moses, Jesus is presented for his Brith milah, or circumcision and naming, in Bethlehem.
The four Gospel writers, almost never disagree in their recording and reporting of circumstances regarding Our Lord Jesus, but, in this one particular instance one must be wrong.
I leave it to you my readers to discern for yourselves, which version and which Gospel writer you wish to align yourself with.
As for me, I know that the Holy Family, cannot be in two places at the same time and since God orders them to flee into Egypt which is totally in the opposite direction of Jerusalem, and probably about 30 days journey from Bethlehem on foot, Mary would have to have fulfilled the Purification Law either in Egypt itself or in some town near Jerusalem where a Jewish Temple could be found.