Matthew 2:1-12. The Visit of the Magi. Recorded by St Matthew only 1. _Jesus was born_ The year 3 before the Christian Era has been fixed almost beyond a doubt as the date of the Nativity. The present year 1877 is therefore correctly a. d. 1880. The data on which the computation is founded are (1)... [ Continue Reading ]
_King of the Jews_ A title unknown to the earlier history of Israel and applied to no one except the Messiah. It reappears in the inscription over the Cross (ch. Matthew 27:37). _his star in the east_ The simplest explanation of this is that a Star or Meteor appeared in the sky to guide the Magi on... [ Continue Reading ]
_all Jerusalem with him_ Fearing some fresh outbreak of cruelty.... [ Continue Reading ]
_gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together_ i. e. summoned a meeting of the Sanhedrin, a body often indicated in this way. Others contend that this was an irregular meeting of all the chief priests and learned men. The chief priests were those who had served the office of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_by the prophet_ Lit. BY MEANS OF, THROUGH the prophet is regarded as the instrument. In Matthew 2:17 and Matthew 3:3, some MSS. have the preposition signifying personal agency (ὑπό), instead of the instrumental preposition (διά); but the usual formula is as in Matthew 2:15, "by the Lord through the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And thou Bethlehem, &c._ Micah 5:2. The quotation nearly corresponds with the Hebrew text, the literal translation of which is: BUT THOU BETHLEHEM EPHRATAH, THOUGH THOU BE LITTLE TO BE AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF JUDAH, YET OUT OF THEE SHALL COME FORTH UNTO ME HE THAT IS TO BE RULER IN ISRAEL. The LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
_inquired of them diligently_ Rather, HAVING ACCURATELY ASCERTAINED; the word is used of scientific exactness. The reason of this inquiry appears in Matthew 2:16. _what time the star appeared_ Literally, THE TIME OF THE STAR WHICH WAS APPEARING, i. e. when it first appeared and how long it would co... [ Continue Reading ]
_he sent them to Bethlehem_ Up to this point the Magi are not said to have been guided by the Star; they go to Bethlehem in accordance with Herod's directions, which were based on the report of the Sanhedrin; as they went the star again appeared in the East.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the house_ 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... [ Continue Reading ]
The Flight into Egypt 13. _the young child_ Named first, as the most precious charge and the most exposed to danger. _Egypt_ at all times the readiest place of refuge for the Israelites, whether from famine or from political oppression. It had sheltered many thousands of Jews from the tyranny of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_until the death of Herod_ According to the chronology adopted above this would be for a space of less than two years. _that it might be fulfilled_ See note on ch. Matthew 1:22. _Out of Egypt have I called my son_ Better, I CALLED MY SON. The history of Israel is regarded as typical of the Messiah'... [ Continue Reading ]
The Slaying of the Children at Bethlehem 16. _and sent forth, and slew_ i. e. he sent assassins to slay. _all the children_ Lit. ALL THE MALE CHILDREN. _coasts_ i. e. borders or neighbourhood. _from two years old and under_ If we adopt the hypothesis regarding the star mentioned above, a satisfa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then was fulfilled_ This turn of expression may be regarded as identical with the more usual "that it might be fulfilled." _by_ See note Matthew 2:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeremiah 31:15, in LXX. Jeremiah 38:15. In a singularly touching passage, Rachel, the mother of the tribe of Benjamin (whose tomb was close to Bethlehem: Genesis 35:19), is conceived of as weeping for her captive sons at Ramah some of whom were possibly doomed to die; cp. Jeremiah 40:1. The Evangel... [ Continue Reading ]
The Return from Egypt 20. _they_ Plural by a euphemism, the reference being to Herod alone.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Archelaus_ A son of Herod the Great. His mother was Malthaké, a Samaritan. After a cruel and disturbed reign (under the title of Ethnarch) of about eight years he was banished to Vienna in Gaul the modern Vienne. His dominions, including Samaria, Judæa, and Idumæa, then passed into the direct gover... [ Continue Reading ]
_a city called Nazareth_ St Matthew gives no intimation of any previous residence of Mary and Joseph at Nazareth. _Nazareth_ Said to signify "the Protectress" (Hebr. _natsar_), a small town of central Galilee, on the edge of the plain of Esdraelon, beautifully situated on the side of a steep hill w... [ Continue Reading ]