The family therefore slipped away in haste, taking the road into exile over a considerable distance, estimated at 400 to 500 kilometres. Depending on their final destination, reaching Egypt would have required one to two months of travel at a normal walking pace, most probably in the cart already used for their journey from Nazareth.
The traditional image of Mary riding a donkey, although recovered from childbirth, seems implausible. A simple cart built by Joseph the carpenter is a more reasonable hypothesis.
The Magi's gifts proved valuable, providing the financial means for both the journey and the stay in Egypt.
The had established an advanced road network, veritable highways of antiquity, making travel easier and safer, including as far as Alexandria in Egypt.
Factual details about the stay in Egypt are lacking, however: neither its precise location, the various places where the family may have lived, nor its exact duration are known with certainty.
Present-day claims about stays of varying lengths in Egyptian cities owe more to speculation and commercial attempts to attract tourists.
King Herod's death, the arrangements for his succession and the establishment of political stability determined the right time to end this exile.
Night travel was rare and dangerous because of bandits, but the urgency of the situation drove the family to take this risk.
Joseph took the angel's warning very seriously. He probably knew of the Magi's precautions in changing their route to avoid passing through Jerusalem again. Thus the dream announcing imminent danger probably did not take Joseph and Mary entirely by surprise.