Matthew 2King James Version
Wise men from the east come to Jerusalem asking, 'Where is he that is born King of the Jews?' Herod is troubled. The chief priests tell him the prophet says Bethlehem. The wise men follow the star, find the child, fall down and worship, and offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Joseph is warned in a dream and flees with the family to Egypt. Herod orders the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem.
Magi from the east arrive in Jerusalem asking for the newborn king. Herod is troubled, the whole city with him. He sends the magi to Bethlehem on pretense of worship. They find the child, offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and are warned in a dream not to return to Herod. Joseph is warned to flee to Egypt. Herod massacres the boys of Bethlehem. After Herod dies, the family returns to Nazareth.
The world's powerful feel threatened by a child in a manger, and God protects the vulnerable through dreams, detours, and exile.
11: "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." Gentile scholars from the far east bow to a Jewish toddler in a village house.
Herod the Great died around 4 BCE, which scholars use to anchor the nativity. He was genuinely feared: he executed his own sons when he suspected threats. A paranoid king killing children in an obscure village would not have made the Roman records. The horror Matthew describes fits precisely what history tells us about this man.
The magi, wise men from the east whose names and number the text never specifies; Herod the Great, politically paranoid and murderous; Joseph, obedient to dreams; Mary and the infant Jesus; the angel who redirects.
Matthew ties this chapter to three prophecies: Bethlehem as the ruler's birthplace, the flight from Egypt recalling Israel's exodus, and Rachel weeping for her children. Jesus is not just born into history but into prophecy. The chapter also places him as king before he can walk.
For when evil seems to have the upper hand, and innocent people are paying the price. Herod wins the short game here: children die. But the child he was hunting gets away, and that changes everything that follows.
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw 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 exceeding great joy.
11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee 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 into Egypt:
15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
17In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
18But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
19Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
20And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
21But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
22And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.