Matthew 2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:13

Matthew 2:13. And when they were departed Probably very soon after; for Bethlehem being only about two hours’ journey from Jerusalem, no doubt Herod would have speedy intelligence of the motions of the wise men: the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, take the young child, &c. How watchful was the providence of God over this holy child and his righteous parents: while Joseph and Mary slept secure, enriched by the presents of the wise men, God watches for... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:14-15

Matthew 2:14-15. When he arose Viz., from his bed, he took the young child, &c. He immediately obeyed the heavenly vision, and departed into Egypt With as hasty a flight as their circumstances would allow. And was there until the death of Herod Which happened a few months after. That it might be fulfilled That is, fulfilled again, which was spoken by the prophet Viz., Hosea, on another occasion, Out of Egypt have I called my son These words of Hosea, without doubt, were... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:16

Matthew 2:16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men The word ενεπαιχθη , here rendered, was mocked, “properly signifies was played with, and well expresses the view in which the pride of Herod taught him to regard this action, as if it were intended to expose him to the derision of his subjects, and to treat him as a child, rather than as a prince of so great experience and renown.” Dr. Campbell reads, deceived, observing, that, “in the Jewish style, any... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:17

Matthew 2:17. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy The words of Jeremiah here referred to (Jeremiah 31:15, where see the notes) were primarily meant of the Jews carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar, Ramah being the place where they were assembled to be led away to Babylon. But, as this cruel execution here related by the evangelist, extended itself to all the neighbouring places, and in particular to this same Ramah, a town of Benjamin, which lay near to Bethlehem, the prophet’s... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:18

Matthew 2:18. In Rama was a voice heard Rachel weeping for her children Benjamin, it is well known, was the son of Rachel: his posterity, therefore, who inhabited Ramah and the parts adjacent, sprung from her, and, according to the Scripture language, were her children. The slaughter of the inhabitants of Bethlehem, also, might with propriety enough be termed the slaughter of her children; she being buried there, Genesis 35:19, and the Bethlehemites being the offspring of her husband and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:19

Matthew 2:19. When Herod was dead His death, of which Josephus has given us a very affecting account, happened, according to some, within three or four months of his perpetrating the above-mentioned bloody act, and was a fearful instance of that vengeance which God, even in this world, sometimes takes on his enemies, and those of his people. He died eaten with worms, at the age of seventy-one, after a reign of forty years, having endured such excruciating, lingering, and loathsome diseases,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:20

Matthew 2:20. They are dead which sought the young child’s life It has been conjectured by some, that Antipater, the son of Herod, who died but five days before his father, might also be referred to in these words, They are dead, &c. At the time when Christ was born, he was heir apparent to the crown, and was a prince so cruel and ambitious, that he had procured the death of his two elder brothers, to clear his way to the succession, and no doubt he would be an active counsellor and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:21-22

Matthew 2:21-22. And he arose Joseph obeyed the angel, and, it appears, would gladly have gone to Judea, probably to Bethlehem, because from his own knowledge of the prophecies, as well as from the decision of the scribes, an account of which he might have received from the magi, he fancied his son’s education in Bethlehem was as necessary to his being acknowledged the Messiah, as his birth, which had been so providentially ordered to happen there. Nevertheless, when he heard that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 2:23

Matthew 2:23. He dwelt in a city called Nazareth Where he had formerly resided before he went to Bethlehem. Nazareth, as appears from Luke 4:29, was built upon a rock, not far from mount Tabor. The country about it, according to Antoninus the martyr, was like a paradise, abounding in wheat and fruits of all kinds. Wine, oil, and honey, of the best kind, were produced there: but it was a place so very contemptible among the Jews, that it was grown into a proverb with them, That no good... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:1-18

11. Herod and the Magi (Matthew 2:1-18)It seems that after the ceremonies in Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary returned with Jesus to Bethlehem. Because most of the travellers had now gone, they were able to move into the house (see Matthew 2:11). Meanwhile, in a country to the east, men known as Magi (people who study the stars) had worked out that a new king was born in Judea and they came to Jerusalem looking for him (Matthew 2:1-2).Herod the Great was ruler of Judea at the time, and he had no... read more

Group of Brands