Sojourn in Alexandria
In 6 BCE, Herod ordered the slaughter of infants and Mary, Joseph, and Jesus narrowly escaped to Alexandria, where they lived in safety for two years. After Herod's death, they moved to Nazareth in 4 BCE.
Summary
In October of 6 BCE, Herod ordered the slaughter of all boy babies in Bethlehem, hoping to eliminate the child of promise. But Mary and Joseph narrowly escaped his treachery, taking Jesus with them to safety in Alexandria, where they remained for two years. The little family were taken in by relatives of Joseph, and they resumed a normal life. Joseph secured gainful employment, and Mary, after some reluctance, allowed Jesus to enjoy a normal childhood among the children of their new city. No one outside of their immediate family and friends knew about Jesus being a child of promise. And for two years, Jesus thrived and grew in a normal way in this environment. After the death of Herod, Mary wanted to return to Bethlehem and raise Jesus in this "city of David." But Joseph harbored fears for the child’s safety in that city and thought it best to return to Nazareth. They did return to Bethlehem for a short time, all the while discussing the merits of staying there or returning to Nazareth. But eventually Mary was persuaded to agree with Joseph that Nazareth was the best choice. And in October of 4 BCE, the little family left Bethlehem for Nazareth.