I sort of skim read this chapter a number of times before doing it. I guess because it initially was kind of boring. But, as I'm slowly figuring out, it's often the boring parts that are so JAM PACKED with information....kind of amazing how that works, eh?
So verse 1 talks about Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Pretty boring I guess....obvious at best :P But this was prophesied in the old testament (Micah 5:2). And of course all the skeptics out there might say "OH! Well, any Jew could have just decided to fulfill all of the prophecies! However, it seems that Mary and Joseph didn't CHOOSE to have their baby born in Bethlehem, they were forced there by Ceasar Augustus when he initiated some tax thing that forced Joseph to return to his original birth place....interesting! Verse 1 also talks about Herod the King AND the magi's. So it seems the magi's weren't even Jewish, and so some people wonder how they would have even known what they were looking for. Or why they even cared :P I guess the training had been passed down generation to generation from Daniel, who was in charge of that kind of stuff.....interesting connection. Herod was just a nut in general.
Verse 2 talks more about the magi's and the chapter moves into Herod's insecurities about losing his throne. The magi's get word from God that Herod wants to harm the child, and skip town to avoid getting chopped.
So an angel speaks to Joseph in a dream and basically tells him to flee into Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod. There they raised Jesus until Herod's death. And so it's written in Hosea 11:1 - "And out of Egypt I called my Son". Furthermore, Jeremiah 31:15-17 refers to the murder of male children (2 and under?) by Herod in an effort to protect his status as king (Matthew 2:16), as well as the return of Jesus to Israel.
So God spoke to Joseph and told him it was safe to return with his precious child to Israel, that those that wished to kill Jesus were no longer in power. But when Joseph returned he was still leery of the guy in charge (Herod's son), and so settled in Galilee, and more specifically in Nazareth, which it states also fulfilled a prophecy (verse 23). HOWEVER! In my research I found that there is no written documentation of such a prophecy. And so I will be linking to a website which discusses this because I have no real opinion on the matter :) I believe that it was a real prophecy....just no idea how Matthew came to know about it :)
I'm doing it! One chapter at a time :P I have some energy so maybe I'll do Chapter 3......Maybe ;)
Matthew 2
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11And when they were come into the 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; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20Saying, 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.
21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
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