Matthew 2:22-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 2:19-23

We have here Christ's return out of Egypt into the land of Israel again. Egypt may serve to sojourn in, or take shelter in, for a while, but not to abide in. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and therefore to them he must return. Observe, I. What it was that made way for his return?the death of Herod, which happened not long after the murder of the infants; some think not above three months. Such quick work did divine vengeance make! Note, Herods must die; proud... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 2:19-23

2:19-23 When Herod died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. "Rise," he said, "and take the little child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For those who seek the little child's life are dead." So he rose and took the little child and his mother, and went into the land of Israel. When he heard that Archelaus was king in Judaea instead of Herod, his father, he was afraid to go there. So, when, he had received a message from God in a dream, he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:22

But when he heard that Archelaus ,.... This Archelaus was a son of Herod the great by Malthace Samaritan, and was appointed by him for his successor a little before his death, and was upon it declared king by the populace, the soldiers, and those that were in power; all which is affirmed by Josephus F1 Ib. c. 28. sect. 7. &c.; 33. sect. 1. & l. 2. c. 1. sect. 1. , and confirms the account given by the Evangelist; with whose account agrees what the Jewish chronologer says F2 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 2:23

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth ,.... Which was a city of Galilee, and where Joseph and Mary had both dwelt before, Luke 1:26 here they came and fixed their habitation, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet . This affair of going into Galilee, and settling at Nazareth, was brought about with this view, to accomplish what had been foretold by the prophets, or prophet, the plural number being used for the singular, as in John 6:45 . And indeed it is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 2:22

When he heard that Archelaus did reign - Herod, having put Antipater his eldest son to death, altered his will, and thus disposed of his dominions: he gave the tetrarchy of Galilee and Petrea to his son Antipas; the tetrarchy of Gaulonitis, Trachonitis, Batanea, and Paneadis, to his son Philip; and left the kingdom of Judea to his eldest remaining son, Archelaus. This son partook of the cruel and blood-thirsty disposition of his father: at one of the passovers, he caused three thousand of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 2:23

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets - It is difficult to ascertain by what prophets this was spoken. The margin usually refers to Judges 13:5 , where the angel, foretelling the birth of Samson, says, No razor shall come upon his head; for the child shall be a Nazarite ( נזיר nezir ) unto God from the womb. The second passage usually referred to is Isaiah 11:1 ; : There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch ( נצר netser ) shall grow... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 2:23

Verse 23 23.He shall be called a Nazarene Matthew does not derive Nazarene from Nazareth, as if this were its strict and proper etymology, but only makes an allusion. The word נזיר, or Nazarite, signifies holy and devoted to God, and is derived from נזר, to separate. The noun נזר, indeed, signifies a flower: (221) but Matthew refers, beyond all doubt, to the former meaning. For we nowhere read that Nazarites meant blooming or flourishing, but persons who were consecrated to God, according to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 2:1-23

Of these naturally the first is the most important, and it may indeed be that the chief object of the evangelist was to show that Jesus satisfied the conditions of prophecy with respect to his birth. He was only driven from Bethlehem to Egypt and subsequently to Nazareth by the jealousy of the ruler of the Jews. While, however, the fulfilment of prophecy by Jesus the Christ was doubtless the most prominent thought in the evangelist's mind, the typical character of the treatment received... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 2:1-23

Childhood of Jesus. I. HEROD AND JESUS . The king and the Babe; earthly might and spiritual power. This contrast comes continually in view throughout the life of Christ, but never more strikingly than here. Depict the apparent helplessness of the young Child when confronted with the relentless and crafty hostility of Herod. The restless, suspicious jealousy of the old king, and the guileless, unconscious innocence of the Child. The selfish cruelty of the despot, and his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 2:13-22

The providence that befriended the earliest life of Jesus. Three times in this chapter, as well as once in the preceding ( Matthew 1:20 ), do we thus read of the intervention of particular Divine directions given to Joseph in the interest of the infant Jesus. The grand head under which events of this kind must seek and find their classification is that of providence. The next greatest fact to creation is providence, without which creation itself would soon have proved a still-born thing,... read more

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