[Matthew 2]

 

             {Mat 2:1-12 Jerusalem & Bethlehem 4 BC; no parallel.}

             ^2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise-men {Persian Magi; v1, v7 & v16} from the east came^* into Jerusalem, ^2:2 saying, Where is he who was born the King of the Jews? For^* we saw his star in the east and came to worship him. ^2:3 Now after Herod the king heard it, he was disturbed and everyone in Jerusalem with him. ^2:4 And he gathered together all the high-priests and scribes of the people, and was inquiring with them where the Christ should be born.

             ^2:5 Now they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for^* thus it has been written through the prophet, ^2:6 ‘And Bethlehem, a land of Judah, you are by no means least among the governors of Judah; for^* a leader will be coming forth from you, who will be shepherding my people Israel.’ {Mic 5:2, 2Sam 5:2}

 

             ^2:7 Then Herod called the wise-men secretly, and ascertained accurately with them the time of the star’s appearing. ^2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, While traveling on, probe^° out accurately the things concerning the young child. And whenever you^° find him, report^° to me, in order that after I have gone there, I may also worship him. ^2:9 Now after they heard the king, they traveled away. And behold, the star, which they saw in the east, was preceding them until it came and stood above where the young child was. ^2:10 Now they saw the star, and rejoiced with extremely great joy. ^2:11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother. They fell down and worshiped him. After they opened their treasures, they brought gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh to him. {Isa 60:6, Psa 72:10, 15} ^2:12 And after they were divinely-warned in a dream not to revisit Herod, they departed into their own region through another way.

 

             {Mat 2:13-18 Leaving for Egypt 4 BC; no parallel.}

             ^2:13 Now after they themselves departed, behold, a messenger of the Lord appears to Joseph according-to a dream, saying, After you have raised yourself up, take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt and be there until I would speak to you! For^* Herod is about to seek the young child to destroy him. {i.e., destroy vs. kill might mean the child and his legacy} ^2:14 Now after he raised himself up, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; ^2:15 and he was there until the end of Herod; in-order-that what was said by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ‘I called my son out-of Egypt.’ {Hos. 11:1} ^2:16 Then Herod saw that he was mocked by the wise-men, he was exceedingly furious, and sent forth men who assassinated all the boys who were in Bethlehem, and in all her borders, from two years and downward, according-to the time which he had ascertained accurately with the wise-men. ^2:17 Then what was said by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, ^2:18 ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, mourning, and weeping, and much anguish, Rachel weeping for her children. And she was not wishing to be comforted, because they are not there.’ {Jer 31:15}

 

             {Mat 2:19-23 & Luk 2:39b Egypt & Nazareth 4 BC.}

             ^2:19 But after Herod died^*, behold, a messenger of the Lord appears according-to a dream to Joseph in Egypt, ^2:20 saying, After you have raised yourself up, take the young child and his mother, and travel into the land of Israel, for^* the ones seeking the young child’s life have died. ^2:21 Now he raised himself up and took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel. ^2:22 But after he heard that Archelaus is reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and was divinely-warned according-to a dream, he departed into the parts of Galilee, ^2:23 and he came and dwelt in a city called^* Nazareth; ^*that what was said through the prophets might be fulfilled, that he will be called a Nazarene.