holy-family

Computer Science students in grades K-8, learned about the rugged journey of the Holy Family from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Through instruction, students were able to develop a map using ArcGIS to plot points in Nazareth and Bethlehem, then they were able to measure the distance and conclude how many miles The Holy Family had to travel. Students also watched a video about the journey and learned about additional research from biblical archaeologists from the L.A. Times.

Some of the highlights from the biblical archaeology research is displayed below:

-Joseph and Mary’s hardships would have begun more than a week before the birth of their son, when the couple had to leave their home in Nazareth, in the northern highlands of Galilee, to register for a Roman census.

-They had to travel 90 miles to the city of Joseph’s ancestors: south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into Bethlehem.
-It was a fairly grueling trip and it was very much uphill and downhill. It was not simple.
-It is estimated that Joseph and Mary likely would have traveled only 10 miles a day because of Mary’s impending delivery.
-And the trip through the Judean desert would have taken place during the winter, when it’s in the 30s during the day
[and] rains. It’s nasty, miserable. And at night it would be freezing.
-To protect themselves during inclement weather, Mary and Joseph would likely have worn heavy woolen cloaks, constructed to shed rain and snow. Under their cloaks, the ancient residents wore long robes, belted at the waist. Tube-like socks and enclosed shoes protected the feet.
-And the unpaved, hilly trails and harsh weather were not the only hazards Joseph and Mary would have faced on their journey south.
-One of the most terrifying dangers in ancient Palestine was the heavily forested valley of the Jordan River. Lions and bears lived in the woods, and travelers had to fend off wild boars. Archeologists have unearthed documents warning travelers of the forest’s dangers.
-And bandits, pirates of the desert and robber were also common hazards along the major trade routes like the one Joseph and Mary would have traveled, said the Rev. Peter Vasko, a Catholic priest and director of the Holy Land Foundation, an organization that works to retain a Christian presence in Israel and promotes the restoration of sacred Christian sites there.
-The threat of outlaws often forced solitary travelers to join trade caravans for protection.
-Mary and Joseph had to bring their own provisions. In wineskins, they carried water, and they carried a lot of bread. . . . Breakfast would be dried bread, lunch would be oil with bread, and herbs with oil and bread in the evening.
-It is widely agreed that Jesus was born in a cave used for housing animals. But it may not be realistic that Joseph, Mary and the newborn Jesus were surrounded by camels, oxen, cows, chickens, pheasants and peacocks. Since the stable was part of the inn, the only animals likely to be found there would have been donkeys used for travel–and perhaps a few sheep.

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