The story in Matthew of Joseph being told in a dream to take Mary and the infant Jesus to Egypt illustrates the deeply patriarchal context of the time and raises important questions about agency, risk, and narrative purpose.
In the account, only Joseph receives divine guidance. And Mary, a young child herself, a vulnerable mother who likely gave birth earlier than was socially typical, is expected to heed him. She is silent and passive. This absence of Mary’s perspective emphasizes male authority, casting Joseph as the primary decision-maker and protector, and reflecting societal norms in which men were often depicted as intermediaries of divine will.
The text gives no practical details about the journey, which would have been long, dangerous, and uncertain, and offers no assurance that Egypt would be a safe refuge. Banditry and crime in remote areas were real dangers. Food, water, and shelter would be uncertain for travelers. Political control by Rome meant some stability in cities, but rural areas could be risky. This omission underscores the story’s focus on obedience to divine instruction rather than historical or logistical realism.
Moreover, in patriarchal societies, men frequently claimed divine inspiration to justify decisions and assert control over women and family matters, so Joseph’s dream functions both as a narrative device and as a culturally intelligible explanation for his authority and actions. Mary’s lack of agency and the absence of any family support further highlight her dependence on Joseph and reinforce the story’s emphasis on his righteousness and faithfulness. While the narrative serves a theological purpose—demonstrating Joseph’s obedience, protection, and responsiveness to God’s will—it also exposes the gendered assumptions of the society in which it was written, where women’s voices and experiences were often minimized or mediated through male authority. The story raises enduring questions about risk, safety, and the ways divine instruction is portrayed to reinforce social hierarchies, particularly the centrality of male leadership in both family and religious contexts.