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They went to Egypt after Jesus' birth.
"When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt." Matthew 2:14
They went to Nazareth after Jesus' birth.
"And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth."
Luke 2:39
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A law is also known as a commandment. When God issues a command to someone, it is as if He is dictating a law. Such was
the case when an angel of God appeared to Joseph, right after the birth of Jesus:
“And when they[the wise men] departed, behold, an 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 to
destroy him.” (Matthew 2:13)
Joseph then took his family to Egypt. And again, an angel came back to him issuing a further command from God:
“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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.” (Matthew 2:19-20)
That is the point when Joseph made his journey back to Nazareth.
It is important to realize that Luke did not say that they returned immediately after the birth. Just from
that Gospel, we are not given the details. However, because we have Matthew’s account, we know all of the facts. Joseph,
Mary, and Jesus fled into the land of Egypt by a command, and then returned to Nazareth after an angel dictated another command.
When they “they had performed all things according to the law[including the commands] of the Lord”, they were
free to return to Galilee.
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