It sounds like Joseph and Mary had intended to stay in Bethlehem after Jesus was born rather than returning to Nazareth. In fact they did stay for about two years before being earned to leave immediately after the wise men departed. I imagine that by staying where Mary’s early pregnancy was not known to be early would have made things easier for them.
By leaving right after the wise men left they were able to be well away by the time Herod realized that the wise men were not returning to him. Hopefully there weren’t to many young boys in Bethlehem when the decree came to kill them.
Jesus was in Egypt for no more than 10 years since he was back in Jerusalem by the time he was twelve. By returning to Nazareth instead of Bethlehem Jesus would not have been suddenly conspicuous as having escaped the slaughter which must still have been fresh on the minds of the people of Bethlehem.
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