So well illustrated by various artists, from Tissot to Copping to Barret! I am partial also to #10 by the Portuguese 17th c. painter Bento Coelho da Silveira. Now to look at previous pages to see what I have missed.
I really like Tissot’s painting because it looks just like Old Jerusalem today.
The word for ‘inn’ in this verse is ‘kataluma’ which can be translated ‘guest room’. The standard housing design had a guest room. Basically, none of Joseph’s relatives would let them into their homes, perhaps because they were considered ‘unclean’ because of Mary’s ‘illegitimate pregnancy.
When I was in Israel, the speculation was that they were in a shepherd’s cave or barn. Another possibility is they were in someone’s home in the barn portion which would be under the main living portion of the house.
It’ll be fun to get all these details straightened out after Jesus’ return.