Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 2:4

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;" — Luke 2:4 (ASV)

The city of David. Bethlehem, called the city of David because it was the place of his birth (See Barnes on Matthew 2:2).

Because he Was of the house. Of the family.

And lineage. The lineage denotes that he was descended from David as his father or ancestor. In taking a Jewish census, families were kept distinct; hence all went to the place where their family had resided. Joseph was of the family of David, and hence he went up to the city of David. It is not improbable that he might also have had a small paternal estate in Bethlehem that rendered his presence there more desirable.