No Room in the Inns / Paul Thomas Smith

Excerpt from Birth of the Messiah by Paul Thomas Smith. 
(reading only)

Passing through Jerusalem and going on to Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary applied in vain for space in local caravansaries, or khans, which catered to caravans as well as pilgrims. Courtyards provided space for camels and donkeys to rest and to refresh with water. Rooms were simple roofed enclosures with little privacy; travelers competed for space to spread their blankets on the floors. Because there was no room for Joseph and Mary, even in one of these inns, they took shelter in a stable. Possibly it could have been in one of the limestone caves commonly used for that purpose.

Did anyone assist Mary at the birth of her first baby—a nearby midwife, or perhaps a female member of her family? The record is silent on this point. We can be assured, however, that she was watched over by angels as the Messiah entered into mortal life.

Generally, once an infant was delivered in those times, his skin was washed and cleansed with water, then gently rubbed with salt to guard against infection. Then the infant was "placed in a folded square of cloth, and then wrapped in swaddling bands that restricted movement."¹⁸ Likewise, the baby Jesus was "wrapped in swaddling clothes" and placed in a manger for his bed (see Luke 2:12).