Census of Bethlehem

Several things have often puzzled me about the census in which we
presume one Christ J was first enumerated. I wonder if any listers
can elaborate?

Graeme Wall...

Wasn't there something about this on R4 a day or two ago?

1) Did it take place in the Year 0 AD or the Year 1 AD? According to

Graeme Wall...

There was no year 0, the calendar goes from 1BC to 1AD

Brad Rogers...

There was never a year 0. It goes .....2BC, 1BC, 1AD, 2AD.....

It's for that reason there's confusion over whether 2000 or 2001 was the
start of the "new century".

As for the rest of your post, I won't be drawn. ;-)

actually a census in the year 7 BC, but in those days a census could
take up to five years to complete because people were hard to trace.
Presumably, the census year as given today was altered many years
later when the significance of who Christ J was was realised?

Steve Hayes...

Are you serious?

I'm sure you know there was no "Year 0" AD.

Graeme Wall...

The best guess as to the probable birth of Christ J, Unmarried, Messiah
(working on own account) is about 4BC

2) Though Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem to be counted as part of
the census, we know they came from elsewhere and were not natives of
that place. The census must have given occupations because we know
Joseph was a carpenter, but did the census also give ages and birth
places? Was their birth place given as Nazareth or just the
county of Galilee?

Graeme Wall...

Unfortunately the enumerators books don't appear to have survived.

3) If there was no room at the inn, who put them down on the
schedules as being in the stable with their infant son? It seems
unlikely it would have been the landlord, since he must have turned
them away without knowing their names.

Graeme Wall...

Gossipy barmaid I suspect.

4) Could it be the Three Wise Men were really chief enumerators
called Mr Gold, Mr Frank Incense and Mr Myrrh who were sent from Rome
to oversee the census? One imagines the basic enumeration was done by
the Scribes and Pharisees but, as we know, some of them were dodgy
and open to bribery.

Graeme Wall...

My learned friends would like words with you about those allegations.

5) Has anyone found either King Herod or Mary Magdalene on the same
census?

Graeme Wall...

I've found a Mrs Herod in Kentucky, any relation?

There are several Herods in the 1881 Census.

Also a Mary Magdalen in Old Fish street in London.

6) Has it been published on CD-ROM or is it online anywhere?

Graeme Wall...

Merry Christmas and a Happy Saturnalia.

Roy Stockdill

"Familiarity breeds contempt - and children."

Mark Twain