Matthew · Chapter 2
Matthew 2
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain · Source credits
The Pilgrimage of the Magi
(Micah 5:1–6)
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”*
3When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,for out of you will come a rulerwho will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”*
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”
9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight.
11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
The Flight to Egypt
(Hosea 11:1–7)
13When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
14So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,
15where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”*
Weeping and Great Mourning
(Jeremiah 31:1–25)
16When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
17Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18“A voice is heard in Ramah,weeping and great mourning,Rachel weeping for her children,and refusing to be comforted,because they are no more.”*
The Return to Nazareth
(Luke 2:39–40)
19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
20“Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”
21So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel.
22But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Source notes
- 2:2 Or as it rose
- 2:6 Micah 5:2; see also 2 Samuel 5:2. Read Micah 5:2 Read 2 Samuel 5:2
- 2:15 Hosea 11:1 Read Hosea 11:1
- 2:18 Jeremiah 31:15 Read Jeremiah 31:15
Old Testament references
References from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Text from the Berean Standard Bible.
Micah 5:2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel — One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
2 Samuel 5:2Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
Hosea 11:1When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
Jeremiah 31:15This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Genesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
Daniel 9:24Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
Daniel 9:25Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
Haggai 2:6For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
Haggai 2:7I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.
Haggai 2:8The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of Hosts.
Haggai 2:9The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of Hosts. And in this place I will provide peace, declares the LORD of Hosts.”
Genesis 10:30Their territory extended from Mesha to Sephar, in the eastern hill country.
Genesis 25:6But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.
1 Kings 4:30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
Job 1:3and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.