Bethlehem. Hebrew, House of Bread, probably from its fertility. The birthplace of him who calls himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35), and identified with the history of his human ancestry through Ruth, who was here married to Boaz, and was the ancestress of David (i. 5, 6), and through David himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
The east [α ν α τ ο λ η]. Literally, the rising. Some commentators prefer to render at its rising, or when it rose. In Luke 1:78, the word is translated dayspring, or dawn. The kindred verb occurs in Matthew 4:16, "light did spring up" [α ν ε τ ε ι λ ε ν].... [ Continue Reading ]
All the chief priests. We should expect only one chief priest to be mentioned; but the office had become a lucrative one, and frequently changed hands. A rabbit is quoted as saying that the first temple, which stood about four hundred and ten years, had only eighteen high - priests from first to las... [ Continue Reading ]
Land of Judah. To distinguish it from Bethlehem in the territory of Zebulon. Shall be shepherd of [π ο ι μ α ν ε ι], from poimhn, a shepherd. So Rev., rightly, instead of shall rule. The word involves the whole office of the shepherd - guiding, guarding, folding, as well as feeding. Hence appropriat... [ Continue Reading ]
Being warned [χ ρ η μ α τ ι σ θ ε ν τ ε ς]. The verb means to give a response to one who asks or consults : hence, in the passive, as here, to receive an answer. The word therefore implies that the wise men had sought counsel of God; and so Wycliffe, "And answer taken in sleep.... [ Continue Reading ]
The children [τ ο υ ς π α ι δ α ς]. Male children, as is indicated by the masculine form of the article, and so Rev.... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophets. Note the plural, as indicating not any one prediction in particular, but a summary of the import of several prophetic statements, such as Psalms 22:6; Psalms 22:8; Psalms 69:11; Psalms 69:19; Isaiah 53:2; Isaiah 53:3; Isaiah 53:4. A Nazarene. A term of contempt (compare John 1:46, and... [ Continue Reading ]