Matthew 2:1-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:3

When Herod the king had heard these things ,.... That is, the report made by the wise men of the appearance of an unusual star, and of the birth of the king of the Jews, which they affirmed with all certainty, without any hesitation, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him . Herod was troubled, his mind was disturbed and made uneasy, fearing he should be deposed, and lose his kingdom, to which he knew he had no just right and claim, being a foreigner; and "all Jerusalem", i.e. all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:4

And when he had gathered all the chief priests ,.... Here we have an account of Herod's conduct at this juncture; he calls a council, assembles the sanhedrim, gathers together the more learned persons in the city to consult with them upon this matter, the chief priests , all of which he gathered together, and which seem to be many; and were not only the then present high priest and his substitutes, but all the principal persons of the priesthood, who were chosen from the rest, into the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:5

And they said unto him ,.... They answer without any hesitation, it being a generally received notion, and a thing well known among them, in Bethlehem of Judea ; and give their reason for it; for thus it is written by the prophet , that is, the prophet Micah, in whose prophecy, Micah 5:2 it stands, and is as follows: read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:6

And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda ,.... This prophecy, which the chief priests and scribes produced, as pointing at the place of Christ's birth, is owned by both ancient and later Jews F25 Targum Jon. Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi & Abendana in loc. Abarbinel Mashmia Jeshua, fol. 62. 2. R. Isaac Chizuk Emuna, p. 279. to be a prophecy of the Messiah. The difference between Micah and Matthew is easily reconciled. Bethlehem is called by Micah, Bethlehem Ephratah, and by Matthew,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:7

Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men ,.... As soon as he had got the intelligence of the place of the Messiah's birth, he called, or ordered the wise men to be brought into his presence, and that in a very private manner; lest the Jews, who knew his hypocrisy and deceit, should perceive his views, and enter into his designs, and so give the wise men some instructions, which would be prejudicial to the scheme he was forming in his own mind to destroy the young king; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:8

And he sent them to Bethlehem ,.... Having got out of them all that he could, and was for his purpose, he informs them of the place where they might find the person they came to inquire after, according to the account of it which the chief priests and scribes had given him; and then sends them away to Bethlehem, where Christ, according to prophecy, was to be born, and now was born. It may seem strange that neither any of the Jews, nor Herod, or any of his ministers and courtiers, should go... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:9

When they had heard the king ,.... With great care and attention, what he had told them of the birth place of the young child; the strict charge he had given them to search diligently for him, and then return to him with an account of the whole affair; and his expressions of respect to the new born prince, which they took to be said in great sincerity, they departed ; took their leave of Herod and his court, and set forward on their journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem: and lo , to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:10

When they saw the star ,.... Which by its appearance, size, brightness, &c.; they knew to be the same with that which they had seen, when in their own country; they rejoiced with exceeding great joy ; a "pleonasm" or a redundancy of expression frequently used by the Hebrews, see John 4:6 and the Septuagint there; setting forth the rapture, the excess of joy they were in upon the sight of the star. Very probably before this, their hearts were sad, their countenances dejected, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:11

And when they were come into the house ,.... Which they entered without making any inquiry, being fully assured by the star's standing right over it, that this was the house, and here was the king of the Jews, whom they were come to worship; and having entered in "they saw" some copies read ευρον , they found the young child, with Mary his mother ; in her lap, or arms, or in the house with her, for by this time he might go alone. Joseph perhaps was not at home, but about his business;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:12

Being warned of God in a dream ,.... It is likely they made a short stay at Bethlehem, might lodge there a night; at least laid themselves down a while to take some refreshment in sleep, after they had paid their respects to him that was born king of the Jews, and performed the whole business they came about; when in a dream they received a divine oracle, were admonished and counselled by God, that they should not return to Herod : which would have been going back again, and out of their... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:12

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