FEATURES
of the law, he asked them where the Mes si ah was to be born. 5“ In Beth le hem in Ju dea,” they re plied,“ for this is what the proph et has writ ten:
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“‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ a” house, they saw the child with his moth er Mary, and they bowed down and wor shiped him. Then they opened their trea sures and pre sent ed him with gifts of gold, frank in cense and myrrh. 12 And hav ing been warned in a dream not to go back to Her od, they re turned to their coun try by anoth er route.
The Escape to Egypt
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When they had gone, an an gel of the Lord ap peared to Jo seph in a dream.“ Get up,” he said,“ take the child and his moth er and es cape to Egypt. Stay there un til I tell you, for Her od is go ing to search for the child to kill him.”
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So he got up, took the child and his moth er dur ing the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed un til the death of Her od. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the proph et:“ Out of Egypt I called my son.” b
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Then Her od called the Magi se cret ly and found out from them the ex act time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Beth le hem and said,“ Go and search care ful ly for the child. As soon as you find him, re port to me, so that I too may go and wor ship him.”
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Af ter they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them un til it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were over joyed. 11 On com ing to the
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a 6 Micah 5:2,4 |
b 15 Hosea 11:1 |
m a TThew 2:15 | 1531
2:4 called together all the people’ s chief priests Herod is not demonstrating piety or respect for the priests in this instance; they functioned as his own cabinet and body of advisers. He requires their expertise to determine the Messiah’ s birthplace. teachers of the law Refers to trained interpreters of the Law of Moses. Their reply in vv. 5 – 6 reflects a tradition stemming from Isa 11:1 – 2; Isa 11:10; and Mic 5:2, where the Messiah is said to originate from the clan of Jesse( David’ s father) in Bethlehem. 2:6 no means least Matthew’ s reading of Mic 5:2 reflects neither the original Hebrew nor the Septuagint( Greek) translation. However, it is likely that multiple Greek translations were available at this time. Despite the variations in the text, the sense is the same: Bethlehem’ s importance comes from its connection to David and the Davidic Messiah. See the table“ Jesus’ Fulfillment of OT Prophecy” on p. 1573. will shepherd Ancient Near Eastern rulers often are portrayed as shepherds. The same imagery is used throughout the OT( see Eze 34:23 and note; Jer 23:1 – 4; note on Jn 10:1 – 42). 2:7 the exact time the star had appeared Indicates that time had already passed since Jesus’ birth. Compare note on 2:16. 2:8 As soon as you find him, report to me The Magi likely came to Herod expecting to find the child in his palace. 2:11 they bowed down and worshiped him This was a common custom in the ancient Near East for honoring kings, who were viewed as divine figures. gold, frankincense and myrrh These were costly luxury items suitable as gifts for the birth of an important or royal figure.
2:13 – 15 Joseph is warned in a dream to flee with his family to Egypt. They hide there until Herod dies, and then return home.
2:15 was fulfilled The ordinary expectations of the Messiah would not have included fleeing into Egypt, but
Shepherds visit Jesus.
Mary and Joseph present Jesus at the temple.
Simon and Anna prophesy about Jesus.
The Magi come to Bethlehem.
Herod kills all male children in Bethlehem.
Angels appear to shepherds.
Jesus is circumcised.
The Magi ask Herod in Jerusalem about the“ king of the Jews.”
Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee to Egypt.
An angel appears to Joseph in Egypt.
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Three detailed life-of-Jesus event timelines chronicling his infancy and early ministry, the journey to Jerusalem, and the passion and resurrection
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