Matthew 2:3

Wise Men from the East

1 Now after ^aJesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men ^bfrom the East came to Jerusalem,

2 saying, ^a“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen ^bHis star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all ^athe chief priests and ^bscribes of the people together, ^che inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 ‘But^a you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
^bWho will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the¹ wise men, determined from them what time the ^astar appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, ^athey presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned ^ain a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Flight into Egypt

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Matthew 2:4 >>

Matthew 2:3

When Herod - heard these things, he was troubled - Herod' s consternation was probably occasioned by the agreement of the account of the magi, with an opinion predominant throughout the east, and particularly in Judea, that some great personage would soon make his appearance, for the deliverance of Israel from their enemies; and would take upon himself universal empire.

Suetonius and Tacitus, two Roman historians, mention this. Their words are very remarkable: -

\ri720 Percrebuerat Oriente toto, vetus et constans opinio, esse in fatis, ut eo tempore Judaea profecti rerum potirentur. Id de imperatare Romano, quantum eventu postea predictum patuit, Judaei AD se trahentes, rebellarunt .

Sueton. Vesp.

\ri720 "An ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the east, that the fates had decreed some to proceed from Judea, who should attain universal empire. This persuasion, which the event proved to respect the Roman emperor, the Jews applied to themselves, and therefore rebelled."

The words of Tacitus are nearly similar: -

\ri720 Pluribus persuasio inerat, antiquis sacerdotum literis contineri, eo ipso tempore fore, ut valesceret Oriens, profectique Judaea rerum potirentur. Quae ambages Vespasianum ac Titum praedixerant .

\ri720 "Many were persuaded, that it was contained in the ancient books of their priests, that at that very time the east should prevail: and that some should proceed from Judea and possess the dominion. It was Vespasian and Titus that these ambiguous prophecies predicted."

Histor. v.

Other Adam Clarke entries containing Matthew 2:3:
Matthew 27:47

<< Matthew 2:2 Matthew 2:4 >>

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Wise Men from the East

The Flight into Egypt

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning