Matthew 2:14

When he arose, he took the young child.

The message came while he was sleeping; as soon as he arose from his bed he took the Child and his mother and departed at once. There was prompt obedience, as there should always be, to the divine commands. It was also important that he should flee at once to escape the impending danger, and that he should flee under the concealment of the night that his route should be unknown, lest he should be pursued. The residence in Egypt was to continue until he was divinely directed to return, and those directions would not be given until after Herod's death.