How Mary and Joseph Fled with Him into Egypt

When a commotion took place in consequence of the search made by Herod for our Lord Jesus Christ to kill Him, then an angel said to Joseph: Take Mary and her boy, and flee into Egypt from the face of those who seek to kill Him.

Jesus was two years old when He went into Egypt.

As He was walking through a field of grain, He stretched forth His hand, and took of the ears, and put them over the fire, and rubbed them, and began to eat.

When they had come into Egypt, they received hospitality in the house of a certain widow, and they remained in the same place one year.

Jesus was in His third year.

Seeing boys playing, He began to play with them.

He took a dried fish, and put it into a basin, and ordered it to move about. And it began to move about.

He said again to the fish: Throw out your salt which you have, and walk into the water.

The neighbours, seeing what had been done, told it to the widow woman in whose house Mary His mother lived.

As soon as she heard it, she thrust them out of her house with great haste.

Chapter 2. How a Schoolmaster Thrust Him Out of the City

As Jesus was walking with Mary His mother through the middle of the city market-place, He looked and saw a schoolmaster teaching his scholars.

Behold 12 sparrows that were quarrelling fell over the wall into the bosom of that schoolmaster, who was teaching the boys.

Seeing this, Jesus was very much amused, and stood still.

When that teacher saw Him making merry, he said to his scholars with great fury: Go and bring him to me.

When they had carried Him to the master, he seized Him by the ear, and said:

Schoolmaster

What did you see, to amuse you so much?

Jesus

Master, see my hand full of wheat. I showed it to them, and scattered the wheat among them. They carry it out of the middle of the street where they are in danger.

This is why they fought among themselves to divide the wheat.

And Jesus did not pass from the place until it was accomplished. And this being done, the master began to thrust Him out of the city, along with His mother.

Chapter 3. How Jesus Went Out of Egypt.

The angel of the Lord met Mary, and said to her:

Take up the boy, and return into the land of the Jews, for they who sought His life are dead.

Mary went up with Jesus into the city of Nazareth, which is among the possessions of her father.

When Joseph went out of Egypt after the death of Herod, he kept Him in the desert until there should be quietness in Jerusalem on the part of those who were seeking the boy’s life.

He gave thanks to God because He had given him understanding, and because he had found favour in the presence of the Lord God. Amen.