Luke 2:1-7 records the intersection of the work of God with secular governments and history. It was no problem for God to arrange for the promise of Micah 5:2 to be fulfilled. Joseph and Mary did not live in Bethlehem but in Nazareth, so the entire Roman Empire had to be taxed, with consequent visits to ancestral homes, to get Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem at the right time for Jesus to be born there. As noted earlier, Joseph could have had a claim to the throne of David, except that the curse on Jeconiah precluded him ever actually ruling.

            Of course the Roman Empire needed money. During the reign of Augustus from 27 BC to 14 AD, the Roman Empire expanded significantly, but also initiated the Pax Romana. How were all of these things accomplished? Through the force of arms. But armies cost money. Hence the decree that all the world (at least, the world that was under the control of Rome at that time) was to be taxed.

            No room in the Inn! How did the Romans expect people to travel to their ancestral homes? In that day, probably it would have been expected that they would stay with relatives or camp in tents. At least ordinary people. Those few who were in the late stages of pregnancy were just out of luck. But the innkeeper must have had some inkling of the Mosaic concept of hospitality and compassion for the poor.

            Perhaps it seems odd that Joseph would be traveling with his fiancee, but they had no doubt by that time already endured all of the abuse and shame that 'proper society' would inflict on an unwed couple with a child on the way. And she was doubtless already legally his wife permanently since, in the spirit of Deuteronomy 22:29, he would not be allowed to ever divorce her.

            Who was the midwife? Most likely the Holy Spirit should be accounted as the midwife. Joseph probably had to perform the physical actions associated with assisting in childbirth, or perhaps he engaged a local midwife in Bethlehem.