Mary's Ten Year Pregnancy

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Fun Bible Fact for this Christmas season:
Mary's pregnancy with the Lord lasted 10 years. 

Luke 1:5

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

King Harod died in 4 BCE, which places these events around that time. 

Luke 1:13

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

And said wife does become pregnant and hid for five months. 

Luke 1:24

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, ...

After which time Gabriel goes to tell Mary she's going to conceive. 

Luke 1:26

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

I'm sure most of you know the story so I'll skip ahead. 

Luke 1:36

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

So we've established that Mary becomes pregnant during the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. 

Luke 1:39-42

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 

So the Wholly Babble establishes that Mary was pregnant already with the Lord as Elizabeth's six month old fetus was leaping for joy. Since this conception happened during the reign of Harod the Great, it all happened no later than March of 2004, when Harod died. Any questions so far?

Luke 2:1-5

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

So Mary is still pregnant with Jesus into the administration of Cyrenius over Syria, which did not begin until 6 CE. 

Hence, Mary's pregnancy lasted at least 10 years according to the Infallible Word of God. 

I guess those Sons of Gods take longer to bake in the oven. 

Her back must have been killing her.

I've heard this remarkably stupid exegesis before. The reason it doesn't work is the profusion of Herods.  Attend:

Luke clearly has his Herods muddled up.  Herod the Great died in 4 BCE.  Herod Archaleus (whom Luke most likely meant) was governor of Samaria and Judea from 4 BCE until 6 CE, when he was succeeded by Quirinius. Archaleus was the Son of Herod the great, and his brothers were Herod II and Herod Antipas.

When Herod the Great croaked, Archaleus became ethnarch.  The best translation of this is 'provincial governor', but (especially to religious fanatics with delusions of persecution, e.g., the author of Luke) would have been indistinguishable from a 'king', especially as one King Herod was replaced with another Herod (the mix up seems excusable). When Archaleus was banished by Augustus in 6 CE, he was replaced by Quirinius (Cyrenius, same guy).

Thus, Mary and Elisabeth were knocked up (if at all) while Herod Archaleus was in charge, but delivered while Quirinius was in charge.  Both sometime in 6 CE.

Boru