Bethlehem of Judea — There was another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulon. In the days of Herod — commonly called Herod the Great, born at Ascalon. The sceptre was now on the point of departing from Judah. Among his sons were Archelaus, mentioned Matthew 2:22; Herod Antipas, mentioned Matthew 14:1; &... [ Continue Reading ]
To do him homage — To pay him that honour, by bowing to the earth before him, which the eastern nations used to pay to their monarchs.... [ Continue Reading ]
The chief priests — That is, not only the high priest and his deputy, with those who formerly had borne that office: but also the chief man in each of those twenty — four courses, into which the body of priests were divided, 1 Chronicles 24:6. The scribes were those whose peculiar business it was to... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou art in nowise the least among the princes of Judah — That is, among the cities belonging to the princes or heads of thousands in Judah. When this and several other quotations from the Old Testament are compared with the original, it plainly appears, the apostles did not always think it necessar... [ Continue Reading ]
And if ye find him, bring me word — Probably Herod did not believe he was born; otherwise would not so suspicious a prince have tried to make sure work at once?... [ Continue Reading ]
Seeing the star — Standing over where the child was.... [ Continue Reading ]
They presented to him gifts — It was customary to offer some present to any eminent person whom they visited. And so it is, as travellers observe, in the eastern countries to this day. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh — Probably these were the best things their country afforded; and the presents ordina... [ Continue Reading ]
That it might be fulfilled — That is, whereby was fulfilled. The original word frequently signifies, not the design of an action, but barely the consequence or event of it. Which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet — on another occasion: Out of Egypt have I called my Son — which was now fulfilled... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Herod, seeing that he was deluded by the wise men — So did his pride teach him to regard this action, as if it were intended to expose him to the derision of his subjects. Sending forth — a party of soldiers: In all the confines thereof — In all the neighbouring places, of which Rama was one.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then was fulfilled — A passage of Scripture, whether prophetic, historical, or poetical, is in the language of the New Testament fulfilled, when an event happens to which it may with great propriety be accommodated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rachel weeping for her children — The Benjamites, who inhabited Rama, sprung from her. She was buried near this place; and is here beautifully represented risen, as it were out of her grave, and bewailing her lost children. Because they are not — that is, are dead. The preservation of Jesus from thi... [ Continue Reading ]
He was afraid to go thither — into Judea; and so turned aside into the region of Galilee — a part of the land of Israel not under the jurisdiction of Archelaus.... [ Continue Reading ]
He came and dwelt in Nazareth — (where he had dwelt before he went to Bethlehem) a place contemptible to a proverb. So that hereby was fulfilled what has been spoken in effect by several of the prophets, (though by none of them in express words,) He shall be called a Nazarene — that is, he shall be... [ Continue Reading ]