Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
VISIT OF THE MAGI TO JERUSALEM AND BETHLEHEM. (Matthew 2:1-12)
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea—so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun, near the Sea of Galilee (Joshua 19:15); called also Beth-lehem-judah, as being in that tribe (Judges 17:7); and Ephrath (Genesis 35:16); and combining both, Beth-lehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2). It lay about six miles southwest of Jerusalem. But how came Joseph and Mary to remove thither from Nazareth, the place of their residence? Not of their own accord, and certainly not with the view of fulfilling the prophecy regarding Messiah's birthplace; nay, they stayed at Nazareth till it was almost too late for Mary to travel with safety; nor would they have stirred from it at all, had not an order which left them no choice forced them to the appointed place. A high hand was in all these movements. (See on Luke 2:1-6).
in the days of Herod the king—styled the Great; son of Antipater, an Edomite, made king by the Romans. Thus was "the sceptre departing from Judah" (Genesis 49:10), a sign that Messiah was now at hand. As Herod is known to have died in the year of Rome 750, in the fourth year before the commencement of our Christian era, the birth of Christ must be dated four years before the date usually assigned to it, even if He was born within the year of Herod's death, as it is next to certain that He was.
there came wise men—literally, "Magi" or "Magians," probably of the learned class who cultivated astrology and kindred sciences. Balaam's prophecy (Numbers 24:17), and perhaps Daniel's (Daniel 9:24, etc.), might have come down to them by tradition; but nothing definite is known of them.
from the east—but whether from Arabia, Persia, or Mesopotamia is uncertain.
to Jerusalem—as the Jewish metropolis.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Matthew 2:1:
Song of Solomon 1:5
Matthew 2:1
Luke 1:5
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