Matthew 2:22

When he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea.

Archelaus is one of the four sons of Herod who are named in the New Testament. He was excluded by will from any part in the kingdom, but subsequently, shortly before Herod's death, was made his heir. He was removed. few years later by the Romans, and banished to Gaul. He was. cruel monster, and in the very beginning of his reign butchered 3,000 Jews at once in the temple.

Was afraid to go thither.

This implies that he had designed to return thither.. study of all the facts renders it probable that after the birth of Christ Joseph designed to make Bethlehem his home. It was the city of David, the place where the Lord was to come from, while Nazareth was. contemptible place with. bad name. As he knew the high mission of the child, he thought it due that Bethlehem should be his home. But God sent him away, first to Egypt, and then refused to let him settle in Judea at all, but sent him back to Nazareth, or at least into Galilee.