_Now when Jesus was born_ It is matter of great doubt when the following remarkable occurrence happened. The received time of celebrating the Epiphany imports that it was within thirteen days of the birth of Christ. But as it is not likely that the star made its appearance till he was born, so it do... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews_ That is, their lawful and hereditary sovereign, Herod not being such. The wise men are under no kind of doubts in their inquiry; but being fully persuaded that he was born, and believing that this was known to all there, they only inquire where he... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Herod heard_, &c. _he was troubled_ Or, _alarmed_, as Dr. Waterland renders εταραχθη. The word properly signifies a great emotion of mind, whatever the cause thereof be. Being a prince of a very suspicious temper, and his cruelties having rendered him obnoxious to his subjects, he feared losin... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when he had gathered all the chief priests_ This expression must be intended to comprehend not only the high priest for the time being, and his deputy, with those who had formerly borne that office, but also the heads of the twenty-four courses, as well as any other persons of peculiar eminence... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou Bethlehem_, &c., _art not the least among the princes of Juda_ It is justly observed by Dr. Doddridge, after Erasmus, here, that “when this and several other quotations from the Old Testament, which we find in the New, come to be compared with the original, and even with the Septuagint, it pla... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men_, &c. He thought it prudent to keep the matter as close as possible, lest the Jews, understanding the time of the birth of the Messiah, should, from thence, take occasion to rebel: for not having an hereditary right to the kingdom, and having been... [ Continue Reading ]
_When ye have found him, bring me word again_ Viz., concerning the young child, his condition, and that of his parents, and all circumstances. It seems probable that Herod did not believe he was born, otherwise it is amazing that so suspicious and artful a prince as he was should put this important... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they had heard the king, they departed_ Viz., from Jerusalem, without the least suspicion, it seems, of his treacherous and cruel designs. As these sages came from a distant country into Judea upon such an important discovery, and Bethlehem was so near, it is matter of wonder that none of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they saw the star_ Thus standing over where the child was, _they rejoiced with exceeding great joy_ The original expression, εχαρησαν χαραν μεγαλην σφοδρα, is remarkably emphatical, and might be rendered, _They joyed a great joy, very much_, a translation which, though very bad English, as Dr.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod_ Which, it is probable, in the simplicity of their hearts, they were preparing to do, _they departed into their own country another_ way Not at all solicitous as to the consequences of Herod's resentment. Thus did the providen... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when they were departed_ Probably very soon after; for Bethlehem being only about two hours' journey from Jerusalem, no doubt Herod would have speedy intelligence of the motions of the wise men: _the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, take the young child_, &c. How... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he arose_ Viz., from his bed, _he took the young child_, &c. He immediately obeyed the heavenly vision, _and departed into Egypt_ With as hasty a flight as their circumstances would allow. _And was there until the death of Herod_ Which happened a few months after. _That it might be fulfilled_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men_ The word ενεπαιχθη, here rendered, _was mocked_, “properly signifies _was played with_, and well expresses the view in which the pride of Herod taught him to regard this action, as if it were intended to expose him to the derision of his s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy_ The words of Jeremiah here referred to (Jeremiah 31:15, where see the notes) were primarily meant of the Jews carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar, Ramah being the place where they were assembled to be led away to Babylon. But, as this cruel executio... [ Continue Reading ]
_In Rama was a voice heard Rachel weeping for her children_ Benjamin, it is well known, was the son of Rachel: his posterity, therefore, who inhabited Ramah and the parts adjacent, sprung from her, and, according to the Scripture language, were _her children._ The slaughter of the inhabitants of Bet... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Herod was dead_ His death, of which Josephus has given us a very affecting account, happened, according to some, within three or four months of his perpetrating the above-mentioned bloody act, and was a fearful instance of that vengeance which God, even in this world, sometimes takes on his en... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are dead which sought the young child's life_ It has been conjectured by some, that Antipater, the son of Herod, who died but five days before his father, might also be referred to in these words, _They are dead_, &c. At the time when Christ was born, he was heir apparent to the crown, and was... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he arose_ Joseph obeyed the angel, and, it appears, would gladly have gone to Judea, probably to Bethlehem, because from his own knowledge of the prophecies, as well as from the decision of the scribes, an account of which he might have received from the magi, he fancied his son's education in... [ Continue Reading ]
_He dwelt in a city called Nazareth_ Where he had formerly resided before he went to Bethlehem. Nazareth, as appears from Luke 4:29, was built upon a rock, not far from mount Tabor. The country about it, according to Antoninus the martyr, was like a paradise, abounding in wheat and fruits of all kin... [ Continue Reading ]