1.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Jesus. See App-98 .
in. Greek. en. App-104 .
Bethlehem = house of bread. Five miles south of Jerusalem. One of the fenced cities of Rehoboam, originally called Ephrath (Genesis 35:16 , Genesis 35:19 ).
Herod the king. To distinguish him from other Herods. See App-109 .
wise men . Greek. magoi. It nowhere says they were Gentiles, or that there were only three, or whether they were priests or kings. The "adoration of the Magi" must have taken place at Nazareth, for the Lord was presented in the Temple forty-one days after His birth (8+ 33 days. Leviticus 12:3 , Leviticus 12:4 . Compare Luke 2:21-24 ), and thence returned to Nazareth (Luke 2:39 ). App-169 . There, in "the house" (Matthew 2:11 ), not "in a stable" at Bethlehem, they found the Lord. They did not return to Jerusalem from Nazareth (Matthew 2:12 ); but, being well on their way home, easily escaped from Herod. Herod, having enquired accurately as to the time, fixed on "two years" (Matthew 2:16 ), which would have thus been about the age of the Lord. After the flight to Egypt, He returned once more to Nazareth (Matthew 2:23 . This chapter (Matthew 2 ) comes between Luke 2:39 and Luke 2:40 .
east. North and south are always in Greek only in singular. East and west are relative to the north and therefore occur in the plural also to Jerusalem. The most likely place.
2.
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Where . . . ? This is the first question in the N.T. See note on the first question in the O.T. (Genesis 3:9 ).
is born = has been brought forth: see note on Matthew 1:2 .
we have seen = we saw: i.e. we being in the east saw.
His star. All questions are settled if we regard this as miraculous. Compare Numbers 24:15-19 .
are come = we came.
worship = do homage. Greek. proskuneo. See App-137 .
3.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
When = But.
had heard = on hearing.
was troubled. The enemy used this for another attempt to prevent the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 . See App-23 .
all Jerusalem. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), App-6 . = most of the people at Jerusalem at that time.
4.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
chief priests, &c.: i.e. the high priest and other priests who were members of the Sanhedrin, or National Council.
scribes of the People = the Sopherim, denoting the learned men of the People; learned in the Scriptures, and elders of the Sanhedrin. This incident shows that intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures without experimental delight in them is useless. Here it was used by Herod to compass Christ's death (compare Luke 22:66 ). The scribes had no desire toward the person of the "Governor", whereas the wise men were truly wise, in that they sought the person of Him of Whom the Scriptures spoke and were soon found at His feet. Head-knowledge without heart-love may be used against Christ.
demanded = kept enquiring.
where, &c. This was the first of the two important questions: the other being "what time", &c, Matthew 2:7 .
Christ = the Messiah. See App-98 .
5.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
written = standeth written. Not spoken, as in Matthew 2:23 . Quoted from Micah 6:2 . See App-107 .
by = by means of. Greek. dia. App-104 .Matthew 2:1 .
6.
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Juda = Judah.
art not the least. Figure of speech Tapeinosis , in order to magnify the place.
not = by no means. Greek. oudamos. Occurs only here.
among. See App-104 .
princes. Put by the Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the "thousands" (or divisions) which they led.
out. Greek. ek. App-104 . See note on Micah 5:2 .
come = come forth, not "come unto", as in Zechariah 9:9 .
rule = shepherd. Rulers were so called because this was their office.
7.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
privily = secretly. enquired . . . diligently = enquired . . . accurately Compare Deuteronomy 19:18 . Greek. akriboo. Occurs only here and in Matthew 2:16 .
what time, &c. This was the second of the two important questions: the other being "where" (Matthew 2:4 ).
the star appeared = the time of the appearing star.
appeared = shone forth. See App-106 .
8.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
for = concerning.
young Child. Greek. paidion. App-108 .
that I may come = that I also may come. Not "Him also" as well as others, but "I also" as well as you.
9.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
had heard = having heard.
departed: to Nazareth (not to Bethlehem). App-169 .
they saw. When in the east. See Matthew 2:2 .
went before = kept going before (Imperfect). Therefore not an astronomical phenomenon, but a miraculous and Divine act.
till. Implying both distance and time.
came = went: i.e. to Nazareth. See Matthew 2:1 .
10.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
saw the star. Supply the Ellipsis from Matthew 2:9 ( App-6 ) = "having seen the star [standing over where the young child was], they rejoiced", &c.
rejoiced with . . . joy. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
11.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
into. Greek. eis. App-104 .
into the house. Not therefore at Bethlehem, for that would have been into the stable. See note Matthew 2:1 . There is no "discrepancy" here.
Child. Greek. paidion. See App-108 .
Mary. See App-100 .
Him. Not Mary. treasures = receptacles or treasure cases. gold, &c. From three gifts being mentioned tradition concluded that there were three men. But it does not say so, nor that they were kings. These presents supplied their immediate needs.
12.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
warned of God = oracularly answered, implying a preceding question. Compare Matthew 2:22 .
in. Greek. kata. App-104 .
a dream. Greek. onar. See note on Matthew 1:20 .
not. Greek. me. App-105 .
to = unto. Greek. pros. App-104 .
departed = returned.
another = by another, as in Matthew 2:5 .
13.
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
were departed = had withdrawn or retired.
the angel. See note on Matthew 1:20 .
the LORD. Here denotes Jehovah. See App-98 . Divine interposition was needed to defeat the designs of the enemy; and guidance was given only as and when needed. Compare: Matthew 2:20 , Matthew 2:22 . See App-23 .
take = take with [thee].
will seek = is on the point of seeking.
14.
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
took = took with [him].
15.
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
death = end. Greek. teleute. Occurs only here.
that = in order that.
spoken. As well as written. Compare Matthew 2:5 and Matthew 2:23 .
of = by. Greek. hupo. See App-104 .
Out of Egypt, &c. Quoted from Hosea 11:1 . See App-107 .
have I called = did I call.
16.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
saw. App-133 .
mocked = deceived.
wroth. Greek. thumoomai. Occurs only here.
all. The number could not have been great.
children = boys. Plural of pais. App-108 .
coasts = borders.
two years. Greek. dietes. Occurs only in Matthew. It was now nearly two years since the birth at Bethlehem. Herod had inquired very accurately, Matthew 2:7 . See notes on Matthew 2:1 and Matthew 2:11 . The wise men found a pais, not a brephos (see App-108 . ), as the shepherds did (Luke 2:16 ).
of = from. Greek. p'ara. App-104 .
17.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
spoken. As well as written.
by = by means of. Greek. hupo ( App-104 .), but all the critical texts read dia.
Jeremy = Jeremiah. Quoted from Jeremiah 31:15 . See App-107 .
18.
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Rama = Ramah in O.T.
lamentation. Greek. threnos. Occurs only here.
children. Greek plural of teknon. App-108 .
19.
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20.
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
they. Note the Figure of speech Heterosis (of Number), App-6 , by which the plural is put for the singular.: i.e. Herod.
life = the soul. Greek. e psuche.
21.
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22.
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
Archelaus. See App-109 .
in = over. Greek. epi. See App-104 . L T [Tr. ] [A] WH omit epi.
in the room of = instead of. Greek. anti. App-104 .
turned aside = departed, as in verses: Matthew 2:12 , Matthew 2:13 .
Galilee. The region north of Samaria, including the Plain of Esdraelon and mountains north of it. App-169 .
23.
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
dwelt = settled.
in. Greek. eis.
Nazareth. His former residence. App-169 . TheAramaic name. See App-94 . See note on verses: Matthew 2:1 , Matthew 2:11 , in, and Luke 2:39 .
that = so that.
spoken. It does not say "written". It is not "an unsolved difficulty", as alleged. The prophecy had been uttered by more than one prophet; therefore the reference to the Hebrew nezer ( = a branch) is useless, as it is used of Christ only by Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1 ; Isaiah 60:21 ), and it was "spoken" by "the prophets" (plural) Note the Figure of speech Hysteresis. App-6 .