Matthew 2 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - Matthew) Free Bible Online

Matthew 2

1 - Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

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They saw His star in the east, not necessarily followed the star.

2 - "Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him."

3 - When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

The LORD said to Moses, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob saying, 'I will give it to your offspring.' I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to The LORD's word. He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor,but no man knows where his tomb is to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his strength gone." Deuteronomy 34:4-6

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4 - Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.

5 - They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

6 - 'You Bethlehem, land of Judah,are in no way least among the princes of Judah:for out of you shall come a governor,who shall shepherd my people, Israel.'"Micah 5:2

7 - Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.

8 - He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."

9 - They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.

They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.

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10 - When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11 - They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

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12 - Being warned in a dream that they shouldn't return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

13 - Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

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14 - He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,

15 - and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called my son."Hosea 11:1

16 - Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

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17 - Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 - "A voice was heard in Ramah,lamentation, weeping and great mourning,Rachel weeping for her children;she wouldn't be comforted,because they are no more."Jeremiah 31:15

19 - But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

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20 - "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child's life are dead."

21 - He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 - But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,

23 - and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

Brief Summary: Matthew chapter two covers the visit of the Wise Men, Joseph and Mary's flight to Egypt with Jesus, the slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem, and Joseph and Mary's return from Egypt to Nazareth.

Detailed Summary: Matthew chapter two confirms the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judaea, and that it was during the time that Herod the Great was ruling as king in Jerusalem. Wise Men (Magi) came from the east to Jerusalem inquiring about where the king of the Jews was who had just been born in Jerusalem. Herod was very troubled by this statement and so was the city of Jerusalem. He called in the chief priests and scribes demanding to know where the Messiah was to be born according to the Jewish beliefs. They responded Bethlehem and quoted to him the prophecy of Micah 5:2 in the Jewish Scriptures. Herod called the wise men in asking exactly when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and told them to let him know when they find him so he can come worship him also. When they left Jerusalem they came to Bethlehem and once again saw the star which they had seen in the east and they became very excited and rejoiced. The star went before them and guided them to the house where the child was and stood over the child. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him. They opened their treasures and presented to him gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. When they departed they left for their own country another way because they were warned in a dream not to return to king Herod. The angel of the Lord also warned Joseph to depart for Egypt until it is safe because Herod will seek out the child to kill Him. They departed that very night for Egypt, and they remained there in Egypt until Herod had died. Matthew attributes this temporary sojourn in Egypt as a direct fulfillment of prophecy. When Herod found out that the wise men had departed secretly he was enraged, and he ordered the slaughter of all infants 2 years and under in Bethlehem and along the coasts. Matthew also attributes this event to the words of the prophet Jeremiah. Once king Herod had finally died the Lord revealed to Joseph that it was safe to return to the land of Israel. The Lord also warned Joseph about Herod's son Archelaus and they brought Jesus to a city in the area of Galilee called Nazareth. Matthew also attributes this to the word of the prophets.

Key Concept: Jesus was the virgin born king by royal descent and Son of God with no human father by blood (Matthew 1:18)

Key Verses:
Matthew 2:1-2 Now 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, Saying, 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.
Matthew 2:9 When 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.
Matthew 2:11 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.
Matthew 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth.

Important Related Verses:
Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Isaiah 11:1-2 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.
Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Interesting Notes:
Of the Gospel writers only Matthew records the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph, the visit of the Magi, the flight into Egypt, and the murder of the infants.
Matthew mentions the wise men but does not mention how many, and out of their treasures they gave to him three gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Jesus could have been anywhere from 40 days to 2 years old when the magi came to worship Him.
The meaning of the gold, and frankincense, and myrrh is reasonably certain. In the ancient Hebrew traditions gold spoke of deity, incense was associated with worship, and myrrh was associated with death. 
Matthew records that the wise men presented the gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh out of their treasures.
The wise men fell down and worshipped Jesus as deity. The Bible is clear that you shall worship the LORD your God only and Him only shall you serve.
The wise men did not follow a star but the star that appeared to them in the east reappeared in Bethlehem and led them to the house and stood over where the child was.
Matthew records that Jesus was no longer in a manger but in a house.
Matthew does not indicate that the Magi were kings or where they were from, it only says, "the east."
It is interesting that after the 70 year Babylonian captivity when the Persian leader Cyrus gave the decree for the Jews to return and rebuild their Temple that only few Jews actually returned from Babylon.
Many in Israel were expecting the Messiah to come because of the prophecy of Daniel about the 70 weeks.
There is no indication where they journeyed to in the land of Egypt.
There is no historical evidence whatsoever of Jesus in Egypt or what happened while Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were there.

37 BC Coins Mentioning King Herod
These coins are among the proof that the Biblical King Herod the Great was a factual person in history.

Adoration of the Magi, by Rembrandt

4 AD Coin of Archelaus
This is an image of a Jerusalem minted coin of Archelaus, the Herodian king of Judea.
See Wikipedia Article

The Flight Into Egypt Painting by Gustave Dore

Painting of the Massacre of the Innocents by Nicolas Poussin.

Map of Ancient Israel - Bethlehem