Matthew 2:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 2:22

But when he heard that Archelaus . Until his murder five days before Herod's own death in the spring of A.U.C. 750, Antipater, Herod's eldest son, might naturally have been regarded as the successor, though in fact Antipas had been named as such in the will. But after Antipater's death Herod altered his will; and appointing Antipas Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, and Philip Tetrarch of Gaulonitis, Traehonitis, and Paneas, he granted the kingdom to Archelaus. Further, even after Herod's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 2:22

Fears qualifying faith. Joseph was a good, God-fearing, obedient man. Fie had clear intimations of the will of God concerning him and his. And yet the directions were not so explicit as to interfere with the exercise of his own judgment. He was to return, with the Child and his mother, into the "land of Israel;" but where in the land of Israel, he was not told. It might seem as if he was expected to return to Bethlehem, and this appears to have been taken into consideration. He had faith... 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

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:19-23

12. Return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:39-40)Upon hearing of Herod’s death, Joseph and Mary returned with the infant Jesus to Palestine (Matthew 2:19-21). Since the new king Archelaus was as unjust and cruel as his father Herod, they considered it unsafe to stay in Judea, so went north to their home town of Nazareth. As the years of Jesus’ childhood passed, he developed in body, mind and spirit (Matthew 2:22-23; Luke 2:39-40). read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 2:22

Archelaus. See App-109 . in = over. Greek. epi. See App-104 . L T [Tr. ] [A] WH omit epi. in the room of = instead of. Greek. anti. App-104 . turned aside = departed, as in verses: Matthew 2:12 , Matthew 2:13 . Galilee. The region north of Samaria, including the Plain of Esdraelon and mountains north of it. App-169 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 2:22

Matthew 2:22. Archelaus— He was the sixth son of Herod, and the most cruel of all those who survived him. He caused three thousand citizens to be murdered at one time in the temple. Herod in his will appointed him his successor, and bestowed upon him the regal authority; but Augustus gave him only the title of Ethnarch, or prince of the nation; of which, however, he deprived him afterwards, and sent him into banishment for his tyranny and cruelty. Galilee belonged to the jurisdiction of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 2:22

22. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod—Archelaus succeeded to Judea, Samaria, and Idumea; but Augustus refused him the title of king till it should be seen how he conducted himself; giving him only the title of ethnarch [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 17.11,4]. Above this, however, he never rose. The people, indeed, recognized him as his father's successor; and so it is here said that he "reigned in the room of his father Herod." But, after ten years'... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 2:1-23

C. The King’s childhood ch. 2There is nothing in chapter 2 that describes Jesus Himself. Therefore Matthew’s purpose was not simply to give the reader information about Jesus’ childhood. Rather he stressed the reception that the Messiah received having entered the world. The rulers were hostile, the Jewish religious leaders were indifferent, but the Gentiles welcomed and worshipped Him. These proved to be typical responses throughout Jesus’ ministry, as Matthew’s Gospel reveals. This literary... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 2:19-23

3. The prophecies about Nazareth 2:19-23 (cf. Luke 2:39)Matthew concluded his selective account of the events in Jesus’ childhood that demonstrated His messiahship and illustrated various reactions to Him with Jesus’ return to Israel. read more

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