— Herod the king,] This was Herod the Great, the first Jewish king of that name. He had many descendants, who are also called Herods, although they had other names. As the mention of these will frequently occur in different parts of the New Testament, it may be proper here to give a list of them. 1. Archelaus, (ver. 22,) ethnarch or governor of Judea and Samaria. 2. Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, (Matt. xiv. 1, Luke iii. 1,) who caused John the Baptist to be beheaded, (chap. xiv. 10,) and to whom Pilate sent Jesus, (Luke xxiii. 7.) 3. Philip, the tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, (Luke iii. 1.) 4. Herod Philip, (chap. xiv. 3,) his son by Marianne the daughter of the high priest Simon. All these four were the sons of the first Herod. 5. Herod Agrippa the elder, the grandson of the first Herod by Aristobulus: he caused James the Apostle to be beheaded, (Acts xii. 1, 2.) 6. Herod, king of Chakris, who was the brother of the above-mentioned Herod Agrippa. 7. Herod Agrippa the younger, son of the former Agrippa, and king of Chalcis after the death of his uncle; he is the king mentioned in Acts xxv. 13. Bp. Pearce.

— wise men] The name of these “wise men” is, in the Latin language, magi, from whence is derived our English word magicians; a word now used in a bad sense. The magi were a sect of ancient philosophers, living in the Eastern part of the world, collected together in colleges, addicted to the study of astronomy and other parts of natural philosophy, and highly esteemed throughout the East, having juster sentiments of God and His worship than any of the ancient heathens, for they abhorred the adoration of images, and worshipped one only God: they were therefore evidently the fittest of all the ancient heathens to have the first knowledge of the Son of God, and of salvation by Him imparted to them. Bp. Porteus.

— from the east] This country might either be Persia, where the principal residence of the magi was, or else Arabia, to which ancient authors say they did, and undoubtedly they easily might, extend themselves; which, it is well known, abounded in the valuable things of which their presents consisted, and concerning which the 72d Psalm (plainly speaking of the Messiah) says, “the kings of Arabia and Saba (or Sabea, an adjoining region) shall bring gifts:” and again, “unto Him shall be given of the gold of Arabia.” Bp. Porteus.

Herod is alarmed. The wise men worship Christ. The Fourth Year before the Common Account called Anno Domini.

— scribes of the people] The word “scribes” is not the title of any particular sect, distinguished from all others as to any peculiar modes of practice and belief, but it is a general term, applicable to all those of any sect who made the law of Moses and the prophetical and sacred books their peculiar study, so as to become capable of commenting upon them, and thence of publicly instructing the people. It appears from the frequent mention of the scribes and Pharisees in conjunction, throughout the Gospels, that the greatest number of Jewish teachers, or doctors of the law, (which mean the same as scribes,) were of the sect of the Pharisees. Bp. Percy. Being persons employed to write out the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and thus being well versed in them, they were consulted in cases of moment or difficulty, and were the authorized expounders of the law. They insisted much on the necessity of observing traditions, many of which, however, were such as destroyed the force and intent of God’s commands. See chap. xv. 2. Bp. Mann.

— where Christ should be born] Where their expected Messiah and King should be born. Dr. Whitby. 6. — thou Bethlehem, — art not the least] Thou Bethlehem, though small in size, art excelled in dignity by none of the principal cities. Bp. Mann. It is evident from this passage that the chief priests and scribes understood Mic. v. 2. of the birth of the Messiah. The generality of the Jews of that age did the same, as they speak of it as an undoubted truth, that Christ was to come of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was. John vii. 42. The Chaldee agrees with their sentiments, and expressly applies the prophecy to the Messiah. Our Lord was born at Bethlehem by a special act of providence, that this prophecy might be plainly fulfilled in Him. W. South.

Chap. III. ver. 1. In those days] In the days when John the Baptist and Jesus were about to enter on their respective offices. That which is here to be related occurred nearly thirty years after what was mentioned in the former chapter. The time is particularly ascertained at Luke iii. 1. Bp. Pearce.

—the wilderness of Judea.] By a wilderness is meant, not a place wholly void of inhabitants, but a place in which the inhabitants were few, and the habitations more dispersed than in villages. Dr. Whitby. See the note on Jer. ix. 10. This wilderness lay along the river Jordan, and on each side of it; whence St. Mark relates, that John baptized as well as preached in this wilderness, Mark i. 4; and St. Luke expresses it, that “he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance,” Luke iii. 3. Dr. Wells. It appears from Luke i. 80, that John had lived constantly in this wilderness from his birth till the time of his preaching. Bp. Portens.

Matthew 2:2

2. — for we have seen his star in the east.] It is here natural to inquire how these wise men could know this to be His star, or that it signified the birth of a king. It has been supposed by many that they learnt this from the prophecy of Balaam, Numb. xxiv. 17. It is certain, as Suetonius and Tacitus inform us, that an expectation prevailed through the whole East that, about that time, a King should arise out of Judea that should rule over all the world. Dr. Whitby. That the extraordinary Person then generally expected was to have dominion over the whole earth, was part of the prevailing persuasion, founded on predictions of the clearest import, and among others on the text of Ps. lxxii. plainly relating to Christ, “All kings shall fall down before Him, all nations shall do him service.” There were Jews enough even in Persia, and much more in Arabia, to propagate this doctrine, and show it to be contained in their sacred books, from whence therefore the wise men may well be supposed to have received it. Bp. Porteus.

— his star] Probably this star or light was of the nature of what the Jews called the Shechinah or Divine glory, (see note at Exod. xiii. 21,) the appearance of which is mentioned in chap. xvii. 5, and at 2 Pet. i. 17. Bp. Pearce. Perhaps it was the same “glory of the Lord,” or miraculous light which “shove round about the shepherds,” which may have appeared to the magi, on the same night, at a great distance, diminished to the size of a star. Dr. Hales. It was plainly some new appearance, which they, whose profession led them peculiarly to the study of astronomy, had observed in the heavens. Bp. Porteus.

— in the east.] It is not meant that they saw the star to the east of themselves, but that they, being eastward of Judea, saw the star, probably seeming to hang over that country. Bp. Porteus.

2.—Repent ye: for &c.] That is, Renounce those vices and abominations which at present blind your eyes and cloud your understandings, and then you will be able to see the truth and bear the light. Bp. Portens.

—for the kingdom of heaven] Meaning the Christian religion, which is Christ’s spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men, and into which none are worthy to be admitted without sincere repentance and reformation. Bp. Mann.

Matthew 2:3

3. — he was troubled, and all Jerusalem] That is, Herod with fear, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for joy; Herod and his family being much hated by the Jews. Bp. Pearce. Or perhaps it is meant, that the people were alarmed, not knowing what the consequence of so extraordinary a birth might be. Bp. Porteus.

3.—the prophet Esaias,—Prepare ye the way &c.] Here is a plain allusion to the custom that prevailed in Eastern countries of sending messengers and others to make the ways level and straight before kings and princes when they passed through any country with large retinues. In the same manner was John the Baptist, in a spiritual sense, “to go before the Lord,” the Saviour of the world, to prepare His way, to make His paths straight, to remove from the minds of men every thing that opposed the admission of Divine truth, and, above all, to regulate and subdue those depraved

Matthew 2:4

4. — all the chief priests and scribes] It is probably meant, that he assembled the Sanhedrim or chief council of the Jews, consisting of the persons here mentioned. Dr. Lightfoot.

— the chief priests] This title comprehends not only the high priest or high priests then in possession of the office, with all those who had held the office and their deputies, but also all the heads of the twenty-four

of them diligently what time the star appeared.

Matthew 2:7

7. — enquired of them diligently] Procured from them exact information. Dr. Campbell.

— what time the star &c.] It was probably from their answers that Herod fixed the age of the children, whom he caused to be slain, at “two years old and under,” ver. 16. Bp. Pearce.

Matthew 2:8

8. — that I may come and worship him] His intention, however, was not to worship, but to destroy Him. Dr. Whitby.

Matthew 2:11

11. — their treasures.] That is, their bags or sacks, in which they brought what they presented. Bp. Pearce.

— gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.] These were the natural productions of that country from which the

Joseph fleeth into Egypt with Christ. Herod slayeth the children. The Fourth Year before the Common Account called Anno Domini. 10c. offered.

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.

Matthew 2:13

13.—the angel] Rather, an angel. Bp. Pearce.

Matthew 2:16

16.—That it might be fulfilled] “Thus was fulfilled” that prophecy of Hosea, chap. xi. 1. Bp. Mame.

16.—and in all the coasts thereof,] In all the borders or boundaries thereof.

—according to the time] According to the time of the star’s first appearing to the wise men, of which he had got from them an exact account. Bp. Pearce.

This dreadful transaction, the murder of the innocents, exactly corresponds with the character of Herod, who was one of the most cruel and ferocious tyrants that ever disgraced a throne, and amongst other enormities had put to death one of his own sons. No wonder then that his jealousy should prompt him to murder a number of infants not at all related to him. Bp. Porteus.

—from two years old and under,] The extending of the massacre to children of two years old seems to have arisen from an excess of precaution, in order to compass with the greater certainty the death of Christ within this wider limit, by including all that were under it. Dr. Hales.

The behaviour of Herod on this dreadful occasion,

Matthew 2:17

17. Then was fulfilled &c] It should be observed, that it is not here said, as at ver. 15, This was done “that it might be fulfilled,” but then that happened which gave a more full completion to the words of Jeremiah. Dr. Whitby. Then was fulfilled again and more literally the prophecy of Jeremiah. Dr. H. Owen.

Matthew 2:18

18. In Rama — Rachel weeping for her children,] These words at Jer. xxxi. 15, were, in a primary sense, spoken figuratively of the captivity in Babylon, and the slaughter at Jerusalem, which city was in the tribe of Benjamin, the son of Rachel: and as these events occurred long after the death of Rachel, it is not meant that she really wept; but the expression is used to set forth the lamentable nature of the slaughter, and so it receives a secondary completion in this slaughter of the infants at Bethlehem. The Bethlehemites might well be called the children of Rachel, being descended from her husband and her own sister, and she being buried among them, Gen. xxxv. 19; and, as Rama was in the tribe of Benjamin which sprang from Rachel, and not far from Bethlehem, the voice of her weeping might well be said to be heard in Rama. Drs. Hammond and Whitby.

The lamentation at Ramah was made, at first, only for the captivity of an impious people, but was now most grievously repeated for the actual death of harmless children. Dr. H. Owen.

Matthew 2:20

20.—they are dead] Meaning, he, that is, Herod, is dead; a mode of expression not unusual in classical authors. Le Clerc.

Jesus is brought back into Galilee. The preaching of John. The Third Year before the Common Account called Anne Domini. young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Matthew 2:22

22.—that Archelaus did reign.] Archelaus then governed in Judea, but not as king. His father Herod had by will declared him king of the greatest part of his dominions; but the emperor Augustus, not approving of this, appointed him governor of Judea, Idunea, and Samaria, promising at the same time, that if he conducted himself properly, he should have the title of king over those dominions; but, in a few years after, he lost that emperor’s favour by his bad conduct, was deprived of his government, and banished to a city in Gaul, where he ended his days. Bp. Pearce.

—of Galilee.] This province of the Holy Land was not within the government of Archelaus, but in that of his brother Herod Antipas; see chap. xiv. 1. Bp. Mann. Galilee, the country honoured above every other with our Lord’s presence, was bounded on the south by Samaria, on the west and north by “the coasts of Tyre and Sidon,” and on the east by the countries of Abilene and Iturea. See the map. It was the country formerly occupied by the tribes of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and part of Asher. Dr. Wells.

Matthew 2:23

23.—called Nazareth: that it &c.] It appears from Luke i. 26; ii. 39, that Joseph and Mary dwelt at Nazareth before they went to Bethlehem. Nazareth was so called because of its remote and separate situation; and to be a Nazarite, or Nazarene, signifies to be separated from the common employments of life, and dedicated wholly to the service of God. Bp. Mann. See note at Judg. xiii. 4. Nazareth was situated in the southwest part of Galilee, not far from the confines of Samaria to the south. Mr. Maundrell informs us, that it is at present an inconsiderable village, situate in a kind of round concave valley on the top of a high hill. Here is a convent built over what is said to be the place of the Annunciation, or the place where the Blessed Virgin received the joyful message brought to her by the angel, Luke i. 26: they also pretend to shew here the house of Joseph, where our Lord lived thirty years in subjection to His parents, Luke ii. 51. Dr. Wells.

—He shall be called a Nazarene.] These words do not occur in any of the Prophets; but at Judg. xiii. 5. occur the words, “the child shall be a Nazarite,” alluding to Samson; and the book of Judges is placed by St. Jerome among the Prophets. It seems therefore that St. Matthew, applying these words to Jesus, which were originally spoken concerning Samson, who was a type of Christ, says, “He shall be called a Nazarene,” or Nazaren. The expression, “He shall be called,” frequently bears the sense of “He shall be,” in the Sacred and other writers. See Issu. ix. 6. Bp. Pearce, Grotius.

It may be observed in general, with respect to this and some other expressions of the Old Testament, which the Evangelists have applied to Christ, that those applications must necessarily be just, because the Evangelists have made them. For, if the same Spirit

CHAP. III.

Matthew 2:25

25. — her firstborn son:] This expression does not imply that she had afterwards other sons. Since by the Jewish constitution certain privileges belonged to the firstborn, those who were entitled to these prerogatives were invariably denominated “the firstborn,” whether their parents had issue afterwards or not. Dr. Campbell.

The mode of our Saviour’s birth was undoubtedly most wonderful and unexampled. But it was natural to imagine that, when the Son of God was to appear upon the scene, He would enter upon it in a way different from the sons of men. And, in fact, we find Him appearing upon earth in a manner perfectly new and peculiar to Himself; in a manner which united in itself at once the evidence of prophecy and of miracle. He was born of a virgin, and, what is no less wonderful, it was predicted of Him 700 years before, that He should be so born, Iosii. vii. 14. What man, but a Prophet inspired of God, could have foreseen an event so completely improbable and apparently impossible? What less than the power of God could have enabled Jesus to fulfil such a prophecy? By that power He did fulfil it. He only, of the whole human race, did fulfil it, and thus proved Himself to be, at the very moment of His birth, what the whole course of His future life, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension into heaven farther declared Him to be, the Son of God. Bp. Porteus.

The miraculous conception of our Lord evidently implies some higher purpose of His coming than the mere business of a teacher. The business of a teacher might have been performed by a mere man, enlightened by the prophetick spirit. For, whatever instruction men have the capacity to receive, a man might have been made the instrument to convey. Had teaching therefore been the sole purpose of our Saviour’s coming, a mere man might have effected the whole business; and the supernatural conception had been an unnecessary miracle. He therefore, who came in this miraculous way, came upon some higher business, to which a mere man was unequal. He came to be made a sin offering for us, “that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Cor. v. 21. Bp. Horsley.

Chap. II. ver. 1. Now when Jesus was born] That which here follows was not immediately after the birth of Jesus, but some time afterwards. The several particulars of our Lord’s birth are given by St. Luke, chap. ii.

— in Bethlehem of Judea] This town lay to the

Christ by a star. 11 They worship him, and offer their presents. 14 Joseph fleeth into Egypt, with Jesus and his mother. 16 Herod slayeth the children: 20 himself dieth. 23 Christ is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth.

NOW when * Jesus was born in a Luke 2. 6. Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,