Excavating the Evidence for Jesus

Egypt and Return

After the magi visited Jesus, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt to flee the wrath of Herod the Great (Matthew 2:13-15; cf. Hosea 11:1).To the north of Judea was Syria Province, which was politically connected to Judea and had been ruled by Saturninus who was favorable to Herod, and then by a cruel governor named Varus (power switched in 7 BC). The region to the east and the south was under the control of the Nabatean Kingdom, which had family ties to Herod. But to the west was the province of Egypt.