Matthew Chapter 2 {1~~ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came Magi from the east to Jerusalem 2~~saying, "Where is He that is BORN King of the Jews? For we have seen {calculated - made aware of} His star in the east, and are come to worship Him." {Note: Unlike the Christmas story, there were numerous Magi who traveled to see the Messiah that had been prophesied. The Magi were a mixture of Meads (sp), Persians, and had a relationship with the Babylonians. We also know that the group was almost all Gentiles, but the prophet Daniel was made a high potentate in this ancient of fraternities (Daniel 2:48). The Magi were scholars and experts in astrologers, math, chemistry, and astronomy. Few peoples messed with them. When they showed up in force, they caused quite a concern in Jerusalem. We also know their three leaders of the day: Casper, Bal-tha-sar, and Mel-kee-or (sp)} {Note: There were four cities called Bethlehem so the one in Judaea is added. Herod is Herod the Great. Herod was the son of Antipater. He was a friend of the Romans and was 'appointed king'. He was NOT born king! In his early life, he was a very great man even going bankrupt buying grain for the Jews to survive in two years of famine. But they continually tried to revolt against him and with disease and old age, but was becoming mentally deranged. He saw the new child (Jesus) 'born king of the Jews' as one more attempt to have the kingdom taken from him. Herod died in circa 4 BC. We now estimate that Jesus was more likely born what we would call today circa 5 BC and with the 'sheep in the open fields' it was more likely the springtime.} 3~~When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. {Note: These 'wise men' coming in mass certainly bothered the King and the rest of the Jews. Of course, Herod the Great was already becoming mentally ill so this would not have helped.} 4~~ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he constantly inquired of {cross-examined} them where The Christ {Messiah} should be born. {Note: We may not have appreciated the genealogy of Chapter 1, but Herod did! He all of a sudden wanted a great Bible lesson! Where was this Messiah prophesized to be born and to whom!} 5-6~~And they said unto him, "In Bethlehem of Judaea . . . for thus it is written by the prophet {Micah in Micah 5:2}, 6~~'And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are not the least among the princes of Juda . . . for out of you shall come a Sovereign Ruler, who shall shepherd My people Israel.' " {Note: Shepherd is used here because after 70 AD the people/sheep are scattered.} {Verses 7-9 The deception of Herod} 7~~Then Herod, when he had secretly called the Magi and inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8~~ And he {Herod} sent them {Magi} to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child {a year to 18months old}. And when you have found him, bring me word again, for the purpose that I may come and worship {really assassinate} him." 9~~When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they had previously seen in the east {other side of the Tigress and Euphrates rivers}, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was {located}. 10~~When they saw {figured it out mathematically} the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11~~And when they were come into the house {not a manger or stable - large house}, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts {trunk loads of many, many gifts}: gold {artifacts, coins, etc. - good for travel to Egypt!}, and frankincense {perfume for Nobility Only - speaks of the Person of Christ - no showers yet were used}, and myrrh {perfume used in burials of Nobility -emphasizing His death on the cross}. 12~~And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. {Note: King Herod had the first and most extensive signal and look-out system in the world. How they avoided the Calvary patrols and outlooks we do not know, but it is quite something.} 13~~ And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be you there until I bring you word . . . for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him." {Note: Joseph was not really a carpenter, but a contractor instead. Also, Herod the Great started many construction projects that Joseph actually worked on. These projects lasted many years past Herod's death . . . so instead of killing Jesus, Herod provided the income for Joseph to provide for Jesus' up bringing. Also, Joseph was a direct descendent from David. So legally, Jesus was entitled to be King of the Jews. But Joseph was descended through Jehoiakim and from Jeremiah 36:30 we know that Joseph was under the curse of Lord that none of Jehoiakim's sons or descendents would be King of the Jews. But this ended with Joseph. Mary also was descended directly from David. Jesus biologically is only from Mary so the curse does not apply to Him.} 14~~When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night {before dawn}, and departed into Egypt. 15~~ And was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet {Hosea 11:1} saying, "Out of Egypt have I called My Son." 16~~ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deluded of the wise men {Magi}, he threw a tantrum {part of the mental illness problems he now had}, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the areas thereof . . . from two years old and under . . . according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. {Note: Herod thought this would kill the 'born King of the Jews'.} 17-18~~ Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying {Jeremiah 31:15}, 18~~" In Rama {a little town on hill near Jerusalem and outside of Bethlehem} was there a voice heard . . . lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning . . . Rachel {idiom for Jewish Mothers - name of one of Jacob's wives} weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they no longer existed." {Note: The soldiers just cut the throats of all the young children and Jeremiah prophesized this 500 years earlier.} 19-20~~But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20~~ saying, "Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel . . . for they are dead which sought the young child's life." {Note: At least 4 people wanted Jesus killed. Herod, Alexander and Antipater his oldest sons . . . and when they died, Archelaus the heir wanted Him killed.} 21~~And he arose, and took the young child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22~~ But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid {understood the situation - common sense} to go there . . . notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee. {Note: Archelaus was a very cruel man and was one of two sons Herod had by a Samaritan woman (a younger of his nine wives) called Mall-thaaa-kay was made his heir. Archelaus' young brother Herod Phillip ruled over Galilee and was continuing Herod's building works in Galilee.} 23~~And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth {lots of construction going on} that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet {Isaiah 11:1}, "He shall be called 'a Branch' {"Nazarene' means a branch}." ************************************************ This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. Please call Ken for high quality, low cost CPA services in Orange County California. This includes audit, review, compilation, tax returns, Quickbooks, and business consulting services. This page is sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. Moxxor is a highly concentrated Omega 3 product that has reduced inflammation in this writer. Please go to this website to read more about Moxxor.