What kept Joseph and Mary going to Bethlehem?

A:In Luke's Gospel, Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem once only, for the census under Quirinius. They lived in Nazareth, Galilee and did go the Jerusalem each year for the Passover, but had no reason to go to Bethlehem and are never depicted as doing so.

In Matthew's Gospel, Mary and Joseph already lived in Bethlehem, their home town. They thus had no reason to travel to Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus, but had to flee to Egypt after his birth, for fear of King Herod. Presumably some years later, after Word reached them that Herod had died, they began the return journey to their home in Bethlehem but never arrived. On the way, Joseph was warned in a dream of further danger from Herod's son and Successor, Archelaus, so they turned aside and travelled to Galilee, where they settled in a city called Galilee. Although they planned to do so, Joseph and Mary never went to Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus and the flight to Egypt.