Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 7

Matthew 2:19-23
The Return to Nazareth

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."

21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

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

23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

The Death of King Herod (v.19-20)

As you remember, Joseph was warned by an angel in a dream to take his family and flee to Egypt, for Jesus' life was in danger. Probably using the gifts of the wise men to finance the trip, Joseph, Mary, and the baby came to the African nation and settled into their temporary Home. At this time there were many Jews in Egypt - Alexander the Great had allotted land specifically for them when he planned his city Alexandria - and they even had their own temple there. Joseph may have attempted to earn some income using his carpentry skills, or doing odd jobs for other Jews. The wait in Egypt was not a long one, however, for in just a few months King Herod had died.

The disease that afflicted King Herod at the end of his life was awful and fitting for such a cruel man:

"But now Herod's distemper greatly increased upon him after a severe manner, and this by God's judgment upon him for his sins: for a fire glowed in him slowly, which did not so much appear to the touch outwardly, as it augmented his pains inwardly; for it brought upon him a vehement appetite to eating, which he could not avoid to supply with one sort of food or other. His entrails were also exulcerated, and the chief violence of his pain lay on his colon; an aqueous and transparent liquor also had settled itself about his feet, and a like matter afflicted him at the bottom of his belly. Nay, further, his privy-member was putrified, and produced worms; and when he sat upright, he had a difficulty of breathing, which was very loathsome, on account of the stench of his breath and the quickness of its return; he had also convulsions in all parts of his body?"

King Herod's son Antipater would have been the rightful heir to the throne, but Herod, in a maliciousness that was typical of his life, ordered that he be killed. Five days after the death of this son, King Herod himself died. Thus, the angel could say to Joseph, "those who sought the child's life are dead."

The Return to Israel (v.21-22)

After Antipater had been slain, and shortly before dying, King Herod ordered that his kingdom should be divided and placed under his remaining three sons. Idumea, Samaria, and Judea were given to Archelaus, Galilee and Berea were given to Antipas, and the northern lands of Gaulonitis, Trachonitis, and Paneas were given to Philip.

Joseph's original plan seems to have been to return to Bethlehem, where he and Mary both had family. Yet upon hearing that Archelaus, who was known to have inherited the evil nature of his father, was ruling over Judea (which included Bethlehem and Jerusalem), Joseph heeded a warning from God and passed through Archelaus' lands to the region of Galilee. The ruler in Galilee - Herod Antipas - was not exactly a model of integrity and moral soundness, but at least he was not the type that would likely pursue the death of Jesus as his father did.

Thus, Joseph returned to his former Home of Nazareth, this time with a family in tow.

The Sixth Fulfilled Prophecy (v.23)

As you might suspect by now, even this part of Jesus' life fulfilled a Messianic prophecy. Unlike the other prophecies that we have seen fulfilled, however, this particular prophecy is not recorded in our Bibles. Certainly many of the prophecies spoken in Israel were not included in the Scriptures, and this seems to be one of them. However, it appears that this prediction was made by mo