Matthew 2:11

εἶδον for εὗρον, with all the leading MSS. and versions. εὗρον influenced by Matthew 2:8.

11. εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. St Matthew gives no hint that ‘the house’ was an inn, or that the babe was lying in a manger. Perhaps here as in other places we are misled by the ideas suggested by great pictures; and in truth the visit of the Magi should be placed at least some days after the events recorded in Luke 2:1-38.

τοὺς θησαυρούς. ‘Caskets’ or ‘chests’ in which treasures were placed. Such offerings to kings were quite in accordance with Eastern usage: Reges Parthos non potest quisquam salutare sine munere. Sen. Ep. XVII. Cp. Psalms 68:29; Psalms 72:10.

λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν. Frankincense and myrrh were products of Arabia, and, according to Herodotus, of that country only. They were both used for medicinal purposes and for embalming; cp. John 19:39.