This post originally published 12/24/2017
Updated and republished 12/18/2023
Matthew 2:11 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.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
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.
Many suggest that the search and visit by the magi, and the dream by Joseph all happened on the same night. We can be sure it all occurred rather quickly, before Herod became suspicious.
The angel addressed Joseph not as the father and husband, but as the guardian.
Egypt was probably the closest Roman province not under the rule of Herod. It also had a large number of Jews already living there.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Joseph was told to get up and go. He immediately obeyed while it was still night.
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.
This is a reference to Hosea 11:1, and is a perfect example of how prophecies have a duel fulfillment (near/far, literal/symbolic, secular/messianic, etc.). The first fulfillment was when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 4:22-23).
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.
The mocking by the wise men was not open ridicule, but silent deceit.
While the KJV simply says “all the children”, the Greek text specified male children. There is much debate as to the actual age range of the children killed. I don’t suppose that Herod was too demanding on the exactness of their ages. We are told that one of Herod’s own sons was among the slain.
The KJV uses the word “coasts”, but the Greek text literally says boundaries, or borders. While it would not be beyond the limits of Herod’s treachery, the nearest coast would be that of the Dead Sea almost 20 miles away. Verse 18 seems to imply it was quite a large area, rather than just Bethlehem.
There is much debate as to the age of Jesus at this time. Even Herod was not sure, and he had questioned the wise men diligently. While the star had appeared two years before, that doesn’t mean that it appeared at the time Jesus was born.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
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.
This prophecy is from Jeremiah 31:15, and again shows the duel fulfillment of prophecies. The first fulfillment was when Nebuchadnezzar gathered the captured Israelites in Rama, to be sent into captivity in Babylon. There were several cities called Rama, but the one referred to by Jeremiah was about 10-12 miles north of Bethlehem. Rachael’s tomb is about ½ mile from Bethlehem.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Herod died at the age of 70, during the 37th year of his reign. That would place his death in 4 BC. This is a constant reminder that our calendar, which was dated in the sixth century, is incorrect.
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.
There is much debate as to whether “they are dead” refers to only Herod, or includes his apparently evil son, Antipater, whom Herod had killed only five days before his own death. Some go so far as to add Herod’s counselors, and the executioners of the children. The KJV uses the plural form, but the pronoun could also be translated as he, she, it, or the one. Matthew only mentions Herod.
Joseph is not told to go back to Bethlehem, but simply to return to Israel.
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:
I view Joseph as being possibly the best example we have of an earthly father. This is the third time that the Bible says an angel appears to Joseph in a dream. This shows Joseph’s close relationship with God. As always, Joseph immediately obeys. Also, the Bible calls him a “just” man.
Joseph never placed himself in the role of owner, of mother and child, but in the role of guardian. He intended to protect Mary from harm when he thought she must have committed adultery. He protected her reputation, and that of her child, by taking her as his wife. He protected her and the child physically when the need arose.
And yet, we are not told much about Joseph. We are not told a single word he ever said. We don’t know when he died. He simply did his job and slipped silently into the shadows.
(See also-What The Martyr Of The Innocents Teaches Us About The Great Tribulation )
The Christmas Story- (part 1) The angel visits Zacharias
The Christmas Story- (part 2) The angel visits Mary
The Christmas Story- (part 3) Mary visits Elizabeth
The Christmas Story- (part 4) The birth of John the Baptist
The Christmas Story- (part 5) The Birth of Jesus
The Christmas Story- (part 6) Baby Jesus at the Temple
The Christmas Story- (part 7) Matthew’s Account of the Birth of Jesus
the coming tribulation 