Bible no tell us the reason. But Bible tell us some things wey fit help us know why them choose to stay for Bethlehem.

Jehovah angel tell Mary say e go get belle and born pikin. The time wey the angel tell Mary this one, Mary and Joseph de live for Nazareth, one city wey dey Galilee. (Luke 1:26-31; 2:4) Later, when they come back from Egypt, they go back to Nazareth. Na there Jesus grow and this one make people de call-am Nazareth person. (Matt. 2:19-23) So them de call Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, people from Nazareth.

Mary get one family person for Judah, e name na Elizabeth. Elizabeth na Zechariah wife and John the Baptist mama. (Luke 1:5, 9, 13, 36) Mary don visit Elizabeth before for Judah and stay with-am for three months. After, Mary go back to Nazareth. (Luke 1:39, 40, 56) So, Mary know Judah.

After, Joseph obey the law wey say make everybody go register for e own town. So Joseph travel from Nazareth go Bethlehem to go register and Jehovah don talk before say them go born the Messiah for Bethlehem. (Luke 2:3, 4; 1 Sam. 17:15; 20:6; Mic. 5:2) After Mary born Jesus for Bethlehem, Joseph no expect say Mary go travel far go back to Nazareth with small pikin wey e just born. Instead, they stay for Bethlehem wey be around nine kilometers or six miles from Jerusalem. This one go make-am easy for them to fit carry their pikin go temple, go make sacrifice wey person wey just born pikin for Israel suppose make, as the Law wey Jehovah give Moses, talk.—Lev. 12:2, 6-8; Luke 2:22-24.

Jehovah angel don tell Mary before say e son go sitdown for “the throne of David” and e go “rule as King.” E fit be say Joseph and Mary think say e dey important to born Jesus for David city. (Luke 1:32, 33; 2:11, 17) This one fit don make them think say e go good make them continue to stay there until them get other message from God.

We no know how many years them stay for Bethlehem before the people wey de use star talk wetin go happen, visit them. But by that time, them don comot from the place wey them born Jesus and Jesus don grow, no be small baby again. (Matt. 2:11) But e be like say instead for them to go back to Nazareth after Mary born Jesus, them choose to stay for Bethlehem for some time.

After some time, Herod tell e soldiers say make them kill all the boys for Bethlehem wey dey from two years go down. (Matt. 2:16) But Jehovah use e angel warn Joseph about Herod plan, so Joseph and Mary carry Jesus run go Egypt and stay there until Herod die. After, Joseph carry e family go Nazareth. But why them no go back to Bethlehem? Na because that time, na Herod pikin wey e name na Archelaus, de rule Judea and e really wicked, even self, Jehovah angel don warn Joseph about the danger wey e fit enter if e go back to Bethlehem. So for Nazareth, Joseph go fit train Jesus to fit worship Jehovah well.—Matt. 2:19-22; 13:55; Luke 2:39, 52.

E fit be say before Jesus die and make-am possible for people to go heaven, Joseph don already die. This one mean say when Jehovah go bring-am back to life, na this earth e go dey. Many people go fit see-am and ask-am why them choose to stay for Bethlehem after Mary born Jesus.