Luke 2:5

With Mary. The motive that led Mary to accompany Joseph is not stated. Neither Roman nor Jewish law required her to go. According to Roman law women were to pay the poll tax, but need not appear in person. It may be that Mary, knowing that the birth of her child was at hand, knew also that prophecy pointed to Bethlehem as his birthplace (Micah 5:2), and intentionally accompanied Joseph. They may have purposed to settle in Bethlehem (see DA 66). Again, it may be that her going was dictated by the Holy Spirit. The fact that they could not find a lodging place in Bethlehem may imply that they owned no property there. In Luke 2:39 Nazareth is called “their own city.” In Bethlehem, then, both were strangers, “homeless,” “unrecognized and unhonored” (DA 44).

Wife. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 146) for omitting this word. Mary probably would not have traveled with Joseph unless they had been married. Matthew implies that Joseph married Mary immediately after the angel instructed him to do so (ch. 1:24), and thus before the journey to Bethlehem (see on ch. 2:1).