Chapter 2
The wise men are
directed by a star to Jesus—Joseph takes the child to Egypt—Herod slays the
children in Bethlehem—Jesus is taken to Nazareth to dwell.
Sometime after Christ’s birth, “there came wise men from the
east to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1). We don’t know how long it was after His birth
when the wise men arrived. We also don’t know how many were in the party.
The asked him, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew
2:2).[1]
Herod was troubled by this information. He was a brutal man.
“He was tyrannical and merciless, sparing neither foe nor friend who came under
suspicion of being a possible hindrance to his ambitious designs. He had his
wife and several of his sons, as well as others of his blood kindred, cruelly
murdered; and he put to death nearly all of the great national council, the
Sanhedrin. His reign was one of revolting cruelty and unbridled oppression.”[2]
He gathered the religious leaders together, demanding to
know where Christ was born. They responded in Bethlehem as was written by the
prophet.[3]
“But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of
Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in
Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah
5:2).
Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, telling them, after
they found Him, return and let him know where the child could be found. He
claimed he wanted to worship Him. “The truth, however, is that Herod himself
wishes to be so reverenced and thus attempts to eliminate the child.”[4]
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and S. Kent Brown explains Herod’s
actions. “Far from being capricious acts based on anger – certainly deep
emotions were involved – his ruthless actions were calculated to preserve the
stability of the regions. Among matters, his actions were also based on a kinship
system deeply rooted in customs of honor and shame. Betrayal by family members
– real or imagined – brought shame on the king and undermined his authority.
Additionally, Jewish tradition empowered him to condemn rebellious sons.”[5]
With that, the wiseman departed, following the star. They came to
Joseph and Mary’s home. Seeing Mary and her child, they “fell down, and
worshipped him.” (Matthew 2:11). “Their ‘coming,’ ‘falling down,’ and
‘worshipping’ constitutes a prostration formula similar to those found in the
Hebrew Bible.”[6]
They presented theirs gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
When they were ready to depart, they were warned in a dream
they should not return to Herod. They left along a different route.
After the wise men left, an angel appeared to Joseph in a
dream. He was warned Herod wanted to kill the child. He was to take his family
and flee to safety into Egypt. They were to stay until he was told it was safe
to return.
Matthew tells us this was a fulfillment of a prophecy by the
prophet. “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of
Egypt” (Hosea 11:1).
[1] Where is the child that is born, the
Messiah of the Jews? (JST Matthew 2:2).
[2] Jesus the Christ, Chapter 8, James Talmage.
[3] 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests, and
scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, saying, Where is the place that
is written of by the prophets, in which Christ should be born? For
he greatly feared, yet he believed not the prophets.
5 And they said unto him, It is
written by the prophets, that he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus have they said,
6 The word of the Lord came unto
us, saying, And thou Bethlehem, which lieth in the land of Judea, in
thee shall be born a prince, which art not the least among the princes
of Judea; for out of thee shall come the Messiah, who shall save
my people Israel. (JST Matthew 3:4-6).
[4] “They Came and Held Him by the Feet and Worshipped
Him”: Proskynesis before Jesus in Its Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern
Context, Matthew L. Bowen, Studies in the
Bible and Antiquity 5 (2013): 73.
[5] The Lost 500 Years: What Happened Between the Old and
New Testaments, Herod Rules, Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and S. Kent Brown.
[6] Ibid.,
74.
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