Matthew 2 (WEB)

Matthew 2:1–12

Visitors from the east

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet, ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to 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 you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.
Micah 5:2 · WEB

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

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”

He arose and 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 by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”

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 · WEB

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

The LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”
Jeremiah 31:15 · WEB

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 appeared 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 those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”

He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will 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.