Matthew 2 (KJV)

Matthew 2:1–12

Visitors from the east

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, 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. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 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. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 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. 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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

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. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Magi from the east arrive in Jerusalem looking for the newborn 'King of the Jews', having seen his star. Herod learns that the Messiah is expected in Bethlehem and sends them there, asking them to report back. They find the child, worship him, give gifts and, warned in a dream, go home another way.

Scripture connection · Quotation · presented as fulfilled

Matthew 2:5–6 quotes Micah 5:2

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2 · KJV

The chief priests and scribes cite Micah's promise of a ruler from Bethlehem, David's hometown. Matthew's wording also echoes 2 Samuel 5:2 ('shepherd my people Israel').

What does this mean?

The KJV's 'wise men' translates magi, a term for Persian priestly scholars and, more loosely, astrologers and dream interpreters. The text does not say there were three (an inference from the three gifts) or that they were kings, which is later tradition. Frankincense and myrrh were costly aromatic resins.

Historical context

Herod the Great ruled Judea as a Roman client king from 37 to 4 BC; since Jesus was born in his reign, historians usually date the birth to about 6–4 BC. Herod was notoriously suspicious of rivals and executed members of his own family. Proposals for the star include a planetary conjunction, a comet or a nova; interpreters differ on whether it can be identified at all.

Why does it matter?

Foreigners seek and worship Jesus while Jerusalem's king plots against him, a pattern of outsiders and insiders that recurs through the Gospel.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 2:13–18

Flight to Egypt and the killing of the children

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. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 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.

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 enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 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.

Warned in a dream, Joseph takes Mary and the child by night to Egypt. Herod, realising the magi have not returned, orders all boys aged two and under in and around Bethlehem to be killed.

Scripture connection · Quotation · presented as fulfilled

Matthew 2:15 quotes Hosea 11:1

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Hosea 11:1 · KJV

In Hosea the line looks back on Israel's exodus from Egypt. Many interpreters read Matthew as seeing Israel's story repeated in Jesus' coming out of Egypt, rather than treating Hosea as a prediction.
Scripture connection · Quotation · presented as fulfilled

Matthew 2:17–18 quotes Jeremiah 31:15

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
Jeremiah 31:15 · KJV

Jeremiah pictures Rachel, an ancestral mother of Israel, mourning her children taken into exile. The next verses in Jeremiah promise their return.

Historical context

Egypt was a natural refuge: it lay outside Herod's rule and had large Jewish communities, notably in Alexandria. No other ancient source mentions the killing at Bethlehem, a small village where the number of infants would have been modest. Historians note that it fits what is known of Herod's brutality but cannot be confirmed independently.

Why does it matter?

The account echoes the story of Moses, whom Pharaoh tried to kill as a baby by ordering the death of Hebrew boys (Exodus 1–2). Many interpreters see Matthew presenting Jesus as a new Moses, and as one who relives Israel's history, from going down into Egypt to being called out of it.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 2:19–23

The family settles in Nazareth

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 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: 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.

After Herod's death an angel tells Joseph it is safe to return. Hearing that Herod's son Archelaus rules Judea, Joseph is afraid to go there and, after another dream, settles the family in Nazareth in Galilee.

What does this mean?

No Old Testament passage says the Messiah would be called a 'Nazarene', and Matthew refers only vaguely to 'the prophets'. Interpreters suggest a wordplay on the Hebrew netzer, 'branch', used of a future king from David's line (Isaiah 11:1), or a link with Nazirites, people under a special vow (Numbers 6); no explanation is certain.

Historical context

When Herod died in 4 BC, Rome divided his kingdom: Archelaus received Judea, Samaria and Idumea, and Herod Antipas received Galilee and Perea. Archelaus ruled so harshly that Rome removed him in AD 6 and put Judea under a Roman governor. Nazareth was a small, obscure village in the hills of lower Galilee.

Why does it matter?

Unlike Luke, Matthew gives no sign that the family lived in Nazareth before Jesus' birth; he explains why the Messiah, expected from Bethlehem, became known as a man from Nazareth.

Editorial notes, not scripture.