Matthew 2

Wise men come of the East to Jerusalem, 1. Enquire after the new – born King of the Jews, 2 Whom they, being informed of the place of his birth, found at Bethlehem, and whorshipped him, 4. Return again to their own Land, 12. Joseph sleeth with the young children to Egypt, 13 Herod causeth the young children to be killed, 16 Joseph comes again into Judea, 19 but for fear of Arobelous, he turns aside into Galilee, and dwels at Nazareth, 20.

1. Now when Jesus was born at Bethlehem [lying] in Judea, [This is added, because there was yet another Bethlehem, lying in Tribe of Zabulon, or lower Galilee. See Josh.19.15] in the days of Herod the King. [This was the great, firnamed the Ascalonite, an Idumean, the first King that was a foreiner.] Bhold, [certain] Wise men [Gr. Magi so the Persians and Medes called all those that were Learned in all manner of Sciences, and especially of the couple of the course of the Heavens: who were indeed in the great esteem among them; but that they were Kings is not credible, like as the names given them, and all circumstances do make manifest] from the East [These are said to have come from the East, because those Lands were situate East – wards from Juda] came to Jerusalem.

2. Saying, where is (new) born King of the Jews? For we have seen his staree in the East, and are come to worship him.

3. Now Kingg Herod having hheard [this] was troubles, and all Jerusalem with him.

4. And hhaving gathered togethr all the chief Priest [Those were the heads of the Orders of the Priests, of the race of Eleazar and Ithamar, and were twenty four in numbre, 1 Chhron. 24.4. and 2 Chron. 36. 14. of all which the high Priest was the supream] and scribes of the people, [Otherwise Lawyers, as appears by compsring Mat.22. 35. with Mark 12:28. The office of these was to expound the writings of Moses and the Prophets, to the people. See Ezra 7:6. and Matthew 13:52. Of these and chief Priests together consisted the Supream Ecclesiastical assembly of the Jews] he asked of them [i.e. informed himself] where the Christ should be born.

5. And they said unto him, At Bethelehem [situate] in Judea. For so it is written by the Prophet;

6. And [thou] Bethlehem, thou Land of Juda, art in no wise the least [The word is no wise is not in Micah 5:1. but is added thereto from the sense, for howsoever Bethelem in respect of begners was amongst the least Cities, notwithstanding it was not the least in worth and esteem because David sprang rom thence, John 7:42. and Christ was to come out it. And therefore some read in the Original Text of Micah, Art thou the least? but concerning this see more at large the Annotation on Mocah 5.1.] among the Princes of Juda, [i.e. Rules over thousands, Micah 5:1.] for out of thee shall come forth the Leader, which shall feed my people Israel. [i.e. The company of the faithfull; which he shall rule with his Word and Spirit, as an Heavenly King. See Rom.9.6. and Galatians 6:16.]

7. Then Herod privity called the wise men, and enquired diligently of them the time when the star had appeared?

8. And sending them to Bethlehhem, said, Go your ways, and search diligently after that young childe, and when ye shall have found it, bring me word thereof, that i may also come, and worship the same.

9. And they having heard the King, went their ways, and behold, the starre which they had seen in the East, went before them, [from hence it appears, that it was no ordinary Starre of the Heaven; but a Light peculiarly created, like as was the fiery pillars, which led the children of Israel through the wilderness] till that it came and stood over [the place] where the young child was.

10. Now when they saw the Starre, they rejoice with very great joy.

11. And being come into the house, they sound the young childe [Otherwise, they saw] with Mary his Mother and falling they worshipped the same. And having opened their treasures, they brought unto him gifts; Gold, and Frankincense, and Myrrhe. [Thse were the most preciuos thing that were found in their Country.

12. And being warned by divine revalation in a dream, thhat they should not return to Herod, they departed again towards their (own) land by another way.

13. Now when they were departed; Behold, the Angel of the Lord appereth unto Joseph in a dream, saying , Arise, and take to thee that young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and thou there , until i shall tell, thee. For Herod will seek the young child, to kill the same.

14. Then he being risen up, took the young and his mother to him in the night, and departed (into) Egypt.

15. And was there until the death of Herod, that that might he fulfilled which was spoken of thhe LORD by the Prophet, saying; Out of Egypt have called my Son [Although this place, Hosea 11:12. is also understood of the deliverance of the people of Israel out of Egypt; yet must the same likewise be fulfilled in Christ as the head of this people.]

16. When Herod saw that he was deceived by the Wise men[Gr. illuded; namely, according to his thinking; for properly the wise men did neither deceive nor illude him] then was he very wroth, and having sent forth [some] he slew all the children [This searful massacre of insants, is also related by Macrobius an Heathen Writer. Saturn. lib.2.cap.4.] which were within Bethlehem, and in all boarders of the same, from two years [old] and under, according to the time which he had accurately enquired of the Wise men.

17. Then was fulfilled that which is spoken by the Prophet Jeremy, [Some Greek Copies have here also these words, of the Lord.] saying;

18. A voice was heard in Rama, [see the exposition hereof, Jeremiah 31:15] lamentation, weeping, and much groaning : Rachel weeping of her children, [seeing Rachel was buried thereabout] and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19. Now when Herod was dead, Behold, the Angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream in Egypt,

20. Saying, Arise, take the young child and his Mother thee, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead, who sought the young childs soul. [that is, life See Exodus 4:19. that is to say, which lay in wait for his life to take it way. Otherwise this manner of speaking is also taken in a good sense, Prov 29. verse 10.]

21. Then be bring risen up, took unto him the young child and his Mother, and come into the Land of Israel

22. But when he heard tha Archelous was King in Judea, in the room of his Father Herod; he was afraid to go thither. But being warned revelation in a dream; he went into the parts of Galilee.

23. And being come [thither] he made his habitantion in the City of called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet; that he shall be called a Nazarene. [This hath repsect either to the place, Judge 13.5,7. where is said of Sampson as a type of Christ, he shall be Nazarite, that is to say, dedicated to God; Or which is mostly likely, to Isaiah 11:1. and chapter 60.21. where Christ is called Natze, which that to say, a branch; from which word the City Nazareth hath name. It was Gods will that by occasion of his dwelling place, Christ should be called a Nazarene, as a branch that grows up before his father out of his place, Isaiah 53:2. Jeremiah 23:9 chap 33. 15. Zach 6.12.]