[A_perfect_lady]

Which in St. Joseph's case was Jerusalem, since he was a descendant of King David.

I thought Joseph wasn't his real dad.

[wrench]

“I thought Joseph wasn’t his real dad.”

I remember reading that in a book somewhere........

[SamuraiScot]

I thought Joseph wasn't his real dad.

Head of the household and foster father. In mere human terms, the same rules have applied in traditional law anywhere in the Western world since forever, I believe. An adoptive, or even illegitimate kid is considered your kid in every way, just as if you had fathered him yourself--and you had total authority over him.