Luke 2:4

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, etc.] Where he now lived, and worked at the trade of a carpenter; having for some reasons, and by one providence or another, removed hither from his native place: out of the city of Nazareth; which was in Galilee, where he and Mary lived; and where he had espoused her, and she had conceived of the Holy Ghost: into Judea; which lay higher than Galilee, and therefore he is said to go up to it: unto the city of David; not what was built by him, but where he was born and lived; (see <091712>1 Samuel 17:12). which is called Bethlehem: the place where, according to (<330502>Micah 5:2) the Messiah was to be born, and was born; and which signifies “the house of…”

“Not only does Joseph, who was of the royal line, go to Bethlehem (Sa1 16:1), but Mary too--not from choice surely in her condition, but, probably, for personal enrollment, as herself an heiress.”

“The city of David - Bethlehem, called the city of David because it was the place of his birth. See the notes at Matthew 2:1. Because he was of the house - Of the family. And lineage - The “lineage” denotes that he was descended from David as his father or ancestor. In taking a Jewish census, families were kept distinct; hence, all went to the “place” where their family had resided. Joseph was of the “family” of David, and hence he went up to the city of David. It is not improbable that he might also have had a small paternal estate in Bethlehem that rendered his presence there more desirable. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Joseph: Luk 1:26, Luk 1:27, Luk 3:23 of the city: Luk 4:16; Mat 2:23; Joh 1:46 unto: Gen 35:19, Gen 48:7; Rut 1:19, Rut 2:4, Rut 4:11, Rut 4:17, Rut 4:21, Rut 4:22; Sa1 16:1, Sa1 16:4, Sa1 17:12, Sa1 17:58; Sa1 20:6; Mic 5:2; Mat 2:1-6; Joh 7:42 he was: Luk 1:27, Luk 3:23-31; Matt. 1:1-17 Luke 2:5”