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Matthew 2:12 (NLT)
When it was time to leave, they [the wise men] returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

DRAWING NOTES:

TIME OF DAY:
I have set this scene in the early morning.

LIGHTING NOTES:
The glow in the sky to the right shows that the sun has not yet risen above the horizon. Shadows fall away from the pre-dawn sun, to the left & below figures & objects.

CHARACTERS PRESENT:
From left to right: the wise men and their camels, Jesus, (carried in Mary’s arms) & Joseph.

RESEARCH/ADDITIONAL NOTES:
01) (Previous page) Matthew 02 – The Nativity SET 02 – Scene 10 – Wise men return home (Baby version). This version shows Jesus as a baby (in the arms of Mary his mother).

02) (This page) Matthew 02 – The Nativity SET 02 – 10 – Wise men return home (Toddler version). This version shows Jesus as a toddler of approximately 2 years old.

This picture was requested by a customer, who wanted Jesus depicted as a 2 year old.

This version of the scene shows the wise men leading their camels away from Jesus, Mary & Joseph, heading up out of Bethlehem on a different road out of the village than the one they came in from Jerusalem on. Verse 12 above informs us that the Lord God had warned the wise men not to return to to king Herod (in Jerusalem) in a dream, hence them leaving Bethlehem on a different road.
The wise man in blue robes is waving farewell to Jesus, Mary & Joseph. Notice that the toddler Jesus is waving back too!

Here is the scene without the figures.

Background of Matthew 02 – The Nativity SET 02 – Scene 10 – Wise men return home (Toddler version)

Click on the colour bar below to view/buy this Background:
Background of Matthew 02 – The Nativity SET 02 – Scene 10 – Wise men return home (Toddler version)

This scene is set in the town of Bethlehem. My research regarding this town tells me Bethlehem is located at an elevation of about 72,543 ft (75 meters) above sea level, which is 98 ft (30 meters) higher than nearby Jerusalem. The town is situated on the Judean Mountains. In Bible times, Bethlehem was a farming area with grain fields, and sheep and goats grazed the hillsides. Amazingly, little has changed over the past 3,000 years.

The town sits atop steep sided valleys, with deep ravines in the north, east, and south. I found a painting online, “Bethlehem in 1839 as seen by British artist David Roberts” which certainly suggests these deep ravines. I also used a photograph “View of Bethlehem from the mountains above David’s Well. Photograph by Félix Bonfils” which forms the basis of my own scene. In the distance we can see the tall, shear foundation blocks that hold up the town at that point, high above the ground. Our view looks up from within the settlement, with the figures on the outskirts of the town.