Matthew 2

Visitors from the East

1Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men#2:1 Or royal astrologers; Greek reads magi; also in 2:7, 16. from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,#2:2 Or star in the east. and we have come to worship him.”

3King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

6‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

are not least among the ruling cities#2:6a Greek the rulers. of Judah,

for a ruler will come from you

who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’#2:6b Mic 5:2; 2 Sam 5:2.”

7Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

9After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

The Escape to Egypt

13After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”#2:15 Hos 11:1.

16Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 17Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

18“A cry was heard in Ramah—

weeping and great mourning.

Rachel weeps for her children,

refusing to be comforted,

for they are dead.”#2:18 Jer 31:15.

The Return to Nazareth

19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20“Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”

21So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. 22But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 23So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

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Matthew 2

Wise Men from the East

1Now after #Mic. 5:2; Luke 2:4–7Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men #Gen. 25:6; 1 Kin. 4:30from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, #Luke 2:11“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen #(Num. 24:17; Is. 60:3)His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all #2 Chr. 36:14the chief priests and #2 Chr. 34:13scribes of the people together, #Mal. 2:7he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6‘But#Mic. 5:2; John 7:42 you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler

#Gen. 49:10; (Rev. 2:27)Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

7Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the #Num. 24:17star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, #Ps. 72:10; Is. 60:6they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12Then, being divinely warned #(Job 33:15, 16); Matt. 1:20in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Flight into Egypt

13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

14When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, #Num. 24:8; Hos. 11:1“Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Massacre of the Innocents

16Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18“A #Jer. 31:15voice was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children,

Refusing to be comforted,

Because they are no more.”

The Home in Nazareth

19Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20#Luke 2:39saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who #Matt. 2:16sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a #Matt. 2:12, 13, 19dream, he turned aside #Matt. 3:13; Luke 2:39into the region of Galilee. 23And he came and dwelt in a city called #Luke 1:26; 2:39; John 1:45, 46Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled #Judg. 13:5which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

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