The Myth of the two-year-old Jesus is caused by not understanding Herod's mistake in calculation

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Some people believe that Jesus was 2 years old when the Magi arrived, but scripture and history clearly refute such a mistake. Since Joseph and Mary only traveled to Bethlehem, leaving home and work temporarily behind, to participate in a census, it is totally illogical to believe they would remain in the town for 2 years.

The whole misunderstanding results from the fact that Herod killed all the male children 2 years and under. Notice it doesn't say 2 years old but 2 years and under?

The answer is found in Herod's question to the Magi.

Matthew 2:7: Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared;

Based on the information Herod ascertained from the wise men, he knew the star had begun rising 15 months before, in September of 3 BC, roughly coinciding with Gabriel's appearance to Zechariah. What Herod could not know was at what point of that star's journey the Savior was born at. It was when the star rested over Bethlehem (verse 9). That occurred on December 25th, 2 BC. The wise men fled before Herod's death which occurred 17 days later on January 10th, 1 BC.

Thus, on or about the traditional date of the Magi- January 6th- Jesus was only about 2 weeks old.