The Gospels provide very few concrete details about Mary, but historians can use archaeology and other sources to say what a typical life for a Jewish peasant girl would have been: what she ate, what she wore, where she lived, how she worked, and what marriage and childbirth might have been like for her.
Selected Sources
In the Footsteps of Jesus by Jean-Pierre Isbouts is a beautiful book with background, social details, and many gorgeous photographs about the time and place of Jesus. It does focus on Jesus, so a great deal of it was not about Mary, but it was a major source for this episode. I also referenced Reza Aslan’s book ZEALOT: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. There is an interesting NBC news article on tekhelet blue. The quote about Mary as the ideal woman is from Amy-Jill Levine, quoted in “The Virgin Mary” in National Geographic, Dec 2015, p. 37.
Her Half of History 
When the innkeeper told Mary and Joseph, “There is no room in this inn,” they were probably talking to a relative who was the head of a family compound in Jerusalem. But he also had that central courtyard in which they kept all of the family animals. It was a relatively quiet and private place to labor and give birth because everywhere else was crammed full of relatives.
Mary was probably assisted by female relatives who had lots of birthing experience, or midwives, and she would have brought the swaddling cloths that are passed down through generations of women with her to Jerusalem in anticipation of the birth.
Some artistic depictions I’ve seen show the stable as a cave instead.
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Yes! One of the Catholic shrines near where I live sets up a manger scene in a natural grotto.
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[…] from him (Genesis 31:19-35). It is quite difficult to imagine later Biblical women like Ruth or Mary behaving quite like […]
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I think we should never mention Mary age cause we don’t know. We do know base on all the sources I’ve read Jewish girls typically married at mid teen years (some sources say late teens). Most Jewish girls during Mary time married at mid to late teens then that means Mary was most likely between 14 and 18. She could’ve been slightly younger, but the fact that it didn’t mention her age tells us she wasn’t. If most girls married at 15-17 and ancient listeners know that, then they assume Mary was most likely 14-17/18. Mary being younger would’ve been mentioned because most didn’t married at 12. If most girls married at mid/late teens and Mary was 14 or older than why mention her age? Also the Bible said Mary was a woman. Of course 14-17 year olds are girls to us, but adults to them. But Mary could be 18-20 since I’ve read sources do say some ancient Jewish women married after 20, showing us 18-20 wasn’t too old nor atypical age of marriage. Mary’s age could be up to 18-20. I’ve read by 12-12.5 years Jewish law forbid fathers marrying off daughters without their consent.
Mary made the choice to go to her Elizabeth house. Maybe she did have parents or guardians. However why couldn’t it say she ask permission to go? If Mary was a minor or a maiden then surely they should let the ancient listeners and readers know. What I’m saying is they probably didn’t mention that to show Mary was a woman. Her parents could’ve dead but a minor and maiden would’ve have some adult taking care of her. Also minors and maidens under Jewish law are under their father’s control.
ps. maiden was a girl between minor hood and womenhood.
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[…] Mary, and I’ve already done two episodes on the Historical Mary. Check out episodes 5.1 and 5.2, plus a bonus episode available on Patreon. The big man behind the secular side of the holiday is […]
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