Matthew 2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:14

When he arose - Having arisen; that is, he arose immediately after awaking from his dream, and prepared at once to obey the command,By night - Thus he showed his prompt obedience to the command, and at the same time so concealed his departure as to render himself and Mary and the child safe from pursuit. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:15

The death of Herod - Herod died in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. It is not certainly known in what year he began his reign, and hence it is impossible to determine the time that Joseph remained in Egypt. The best chronologers have supposed that he died somewhere between two and four years after the birth of Christ, but at what particular time cannot now be determined. Nor can it be ascertained at what age Jesus was taken into Egypt. It seems probable that he was supposed to be a year... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:16

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men - When he saw that he had been deceived by them; that is, that they did not return as he had expected. It does not mean that they did it for the purpose of mocking or deriding him, but that he was disappointed in their not returning, or that he had been trifled with.Exceeding wroth - Very angry. He had been disappointed and deceived. He expected to send an executioner and kill Jesus alone. But, since he was disappointed in this, he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:17

Then was fulfilled - The word “fulfilled,” here. is used evidently in the sense that the words in Jeremiah aptly express the event which Matthew was recording. Compare the notes at Matthew 1:22.That which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet - Jeremiah. This quotation is taken from Jeremiah 31:15. The original design of the prophecy was to describe the sorrowful departure of the people of Israel into captivity after the conquest of Jerusalem by Nebuzaradan. The captives were assembled at Rama,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:18

In Rama was there a voice heard - Rama was a small town in the tribe of Benjamin. Rachel was the mother of Benjamin, and was buried near to Bethlehem, Genesis 35:16-19. Rama was about 6 miles northwest of Jerusalem, near Bethel, and was some 10 or 12 miles from Bethlehem. The name Rama signifies an eminence, and was given to the town because it was situated on a hill. Rama is commonly supposed to be the same as the Arimarthea of the New Testament the place where Joseph lived who begged the body... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:19

Herod was dead - See the notes at Matthew 2:15. Herod left three sons, and the kingdom was at his death divided between them. To Archelaus was given Judea, Idumea, and Samaria; to Philip, Batanea and Trachonitis; to Antipas, Galilee and Perea.Each of these was also called Herod, and these are the individuals who are so frequently referred to in the New Testament during the ministry. of the Saviour and the labors of the apostles. The above table will show at a glance the chief connections of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:20

They are dead who sought ... - This either refers to Herod alone, as is not uncommon, using the plural number for the singular; or it may refer to Herod and his son Antipater. He was of the same cruel disposition as his father, and was put to death by his father about five days before his own death. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:22

He heard that Archelaus did reign - Archelaus possessed a cruel and tyrannical disposition similar to his father. At one of the Passovers he caused 3,000 of the people to be put to death in the temple and city. For his crimes, after he had reigned 9 years, he was banished by Augustus, the Roman emperor, to Gaul, where he died. Knowing his character, and fearing that he would not be safe, Joseph hesitated about going there, and was directed by God to go to Galilee, a place of safety.The parts of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:23

And he came and dwelt - That is, he made it his permanent residence. The Lord Jesus, in fact, resided there until he entered on the work of his ministry until he was about 30 years of age.In a city called Nazareth - This was a small town, situated in Galilee, west of Capernaum, and not far from Cana. It was built partly in a valley and partly on the declivity of a hill, Luke 4:29. A hill is yet pointed out, to the south of Nazareth, as the one from which the people of the place attempted to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2

A.M. 4000. This chapter represents, (1,) The solicitous inquiry of some wise Gentiles after Christ, with the information and direction given them by King Herod, Matthew 2:1-8 . (2,) Their guidance to him at Bethlehem by a star; their worship of and liberal donations to him, and their return homeward, Matthew 2:9-12 . (3,) The divinely-directed flight of Christ and his parents into Egypt, to avoid the intended cruelty of Herod, Matthew 2:13-15 . (4,) Herod’s barbarous murder of... read more

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