Friday, July 20, 2018

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Biblical Reference: Luke 1:39-45
Walking Distance: 100 miles or 200 miles round trip
Key Questions:
  • Which route would Mary have taken and why?
  • Would she have traveled alone or with a group?



Photo by Deror avi - Own work,

Quick Trip

Have you ever received news about a family member, dropped everything and ran out the door to be with them? For us it usually happens when something tragic occurs. The world seems to stop and all our attention is focused on being present in that moment.

But in the first chapter of Luke's gospel, we are told that when Mary heard about her relative Elizabeth's pregnancy she hastily left to be with her. Luke has given us the sense of urgency Mary had, but modern readers often think of this as a quick trip around the corner. In fact what takes us 90 minutes to drive probably took Mary four days to walk.

We cannot be completely sure of the exact route Mary took. Google Maps warns that the eastern route crosses country borders and recommends a more western route through Israel. I tend to think that she took the easier eastern route through the Jordan river valley, avoiding the central hills.

Some suggest that Joseph went with her, returning to Nazareth after safely escorting her. Others think Mary walked with a caravan. Either way, it is unlikely that a young engaged woman traveled alone. The total walking time is about 32 hours. At eight hours walking each day, the trip would take four days. If you look carefully at the map, there are clusters of towns roughly spaced at that distance away from each other which makes sense.

The Greek word Luke uses to describe her hasty exit is σπουδῆς and occurs three times in the New Testament. It conveys a sense of urgency and determination. I don't think Mary ran out the door without a plan, instead I can imagine her throwing together a few things into a bundle, taking off with a driving need to be with Elizabeth as quickly as possible.

It's also helpful to remember that this would be the same route taken several times a year to attend festivals in Jerusalem. In less than nine months Mary and Joseph would again walk this path on their way to Bethlehem.

References

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