The texts by which it is sought to prove that some of the operations for statistics and tribute commanded by Augustus ought to extend to the dominion of the Herods, either do not mean what they have been made to say, or are from Christian authors who have borrowed this statement from the Gospel of Luke.

That which proves, besides, that the journey of the family of Jesus to Bethlehem is not historical, is the motive attributed to it.
Jesus was not of the family of David (see Chap.

XV.), and if he had been, we should still not imagine that his parents should have been forced, for an operation purely registrative and financial, to come to enrol themselves in the place whence their ancestors had proceeded a thousand years before.

In imposing such an obligation, the Roman authority would have sanctioned pretensions threatening her safety.] [Footnote 5: Chap.

XIV.] [Footnote 6: Matt.ii.1, and following; Luke ii.