But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,

“(Eccles. Hist. i. 8.) For the sacrilege which Herod had committed against the Saviour, and his wicked slaughter of the infants of the same age, the Divine vengeance hastened his end; and his body, as Josephus relates, was attacked by a strange disease; so that the prophets declared that they were not human ailments, but visitations of Divine vengeance. Filled with mad fury, he gives command to seize and imprison the heads and nobles out of all parts of Judæa; ordering that as soon as ever he should breathe his last, they should be all put to death, that so Judæa though unwillingly might mourn at his decease. Just before he died he murdered his son Antipater, (besides two boys put to death before, Alexander and Aristobulus.) Such was the end of Herod, noticed in those words of the Evangelist, when Herod was dead, and such the punishment inflicted.”

“Many here err from ignorance of history, supposing the Herod who mocked our Lord on the day of His passion, and the Herod whose death is here related, were the same. But the Herod who was then made friends with Pilate was son of this Herod and brother to Archelaus; for Archelaus was banished to Lyons in Gaul, and his father Herod made king in his room, as we read in Josephus.”

“(De Cæl. Hierarch. 4.) See how Jesus Himself, though far above all celestial beings, and coming unchanged to our nature, shunned not that ordinance of humanity which He had taken on Him, but was obedient to the dispositions of His Father made known by Angels. For even by Angels is declared to Joseph the retreat of the Son into Egypt, so ordained of the Father, and His return again to Judæa.”

“Above it was shown how the Magi bore witness to Christ at his birth; now, however, it is treated how the innocents bear witness, not by speaking but by dying. And concerning this the Evangelist does three things. First the hiding of Christ is set forth; second, the killing of the children, at the words "Then Herod"; third, the return of Christ himself is set forth, at the words "Herod being dead." Concerning the first he does three things. First the warning of the Angel is set forth; second, the obedience of Joseph is shown; third, the fulfillment of prophecy. The second is at "that it might be fulfilled." Concerning the first, three things are touched upon. First the time of the apparition is set forth; second, the apparition itself and the manner of the apparition is described, at "behold, an Angel"; third, the warning itself made through the Angel is set forth, at "arise, and take the child." The time is described at "who, when they had departed." And it must be understood that this apparition did not occur immediately after the departure of the Magi, because the whole of what is said in Luke 2:6 must be interposed, namely concerning the purification: "after the days were fulfilled," and so on. For Herod did not immediately think of killing the children. Hence when it says "who, when they had departed," the whole history of the purification must be interposed. Next the apparition itself is set forth; hence, "behold, an Angel appeared in sleep," and so on. He is said to appear in sleep, because then men cease from external acts, and to such the revelation is made through Angels; Psalm 4:9: "In peace, in the very same, I will sleep and I will rest"; Proverbs 3:24: "You shall rest, and your sleep shall be sweet." In this warning three things are set forth. First the Angel urges flight; second, he determines the length of the stay; third, he assigns the cause. He says therefore, "Arise." And note that, as Hilary says, the Blessed Virgin before the nativity is called "wife" by the Angel, above (I, 5), but after the nativity she is not. And this for two reasons. First, for the commendation of the virgin; for as she conceived a virgin, so she gave birth a virgin. Second, on account of her dignity: for she was the Mother of God, than which dignity none is greater, and the naming is done from the more worthy. Likewise, as Chrysostom says, the child had not come for the sake of the mother, but rather the reverse; and therefore he says, "take the child and his mother," and so on. But why flee into Egypt? Does not the Psalm say (Psalm 18:15): "The Lord is my helper, and my redeemer"? But it must be known that he fled for three reasons. First, to manifest his humanity; for as his divinity appeared in the star, so his humanity appeared in the flight. Philippians 2:7: "made in the likeness of men." Second, for the sake of example; for he showed by example what he taught by word. Below, 10:23: "But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another." Third, on account of the mystery: for as he willed to die, that he might call us back from death, so he willed to flee, that he might call back those fleeing from his face on account of sin. Psalm 138:7: "Whither shall I go from your spirit?" And, "be there." But why rather into Egypt, than elsewhere into another region? It must be said, for two reasons. The first is, because it is proper to God to be mindful of mercy in wrath, Habakkuk 3:8. For the Lord was angry against the Egyptians who persecuted the sons of Israel, because the sons of Israel were the firstborn of God. And therefore it was granted to Egypt to render service to the Only-begotten; Isaiah 19:1: "Behold, the Lord will ascend upon a swift cloud, and will enter into Egypt," etc.; the same, 9:2: "The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light has arisen"; John 1:14: "We saw his glory, glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." The second, because he himself had brought darkness upon Egypt, therefore he willed to illumine it first; and therefore he fittingly fled there; Isaiah 9:2: "The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light has arisen." Note that when someone wishes to flee sin, he must first shake off laziness; Ephesians 5:14: "Arise, you who sleep, and rise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you." Second, he must take confidence from the Mother and the Son, namely Christ; Ecclesiasticus 24:25: "In me is all hope of life and of virtue." Third, he must flee from sin aided by the help of the mother and the child; Psalm 54:8: "Behold, I have gone far off fleeing, and I abode in the wilderness." He adds the cause of this flight: "for it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him." Herod was deceived, because he wished to destroy him who had come to share his kingdom; Luke 22:29: "And I dispose to you, as my Father has disposed to me, a kingdom." Second, because he sought to destroy him who did not seek worldly glory; Hebrews 12:2: "Who, the joy being set before him, endured the cross." "Who, arising." Here the execution of the angelic command is set forth, and he sets it forth as to the flight, and as to the stay. Hence, "who, arising, took the child and his mother." And mention is made of the time, hence he says "by night," on account of fear and tribulation, according to that of Isaiah 26:9: "My soul has desired you in the night," that is, in tribulation; for in tribulations one must have recourse to God: Hosea 6:1: "In their tribulation they will rise early to me." "Who, arising." Then was fulfilled that word of Isaiah 19:1: "Behold, the Lord will ascend upon a swift cloud, and will enter into Egypt"; which was fulfilled according to the letter. "And he was there." It is said that he was there for seven years, and dwelt in the city of Heliopolis. As to the mystery, however, by Joseph are signified the preachers, that is, the apostles, who are set forth for driving out darkness through doctrine, who, departing from the Jews, were turned to the gentiles; Acts 13:16: "To you it was necessary to speak the word of God first; but because you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the gentiles." "And be there until I tell you," that is, until the unbelief of the Jews is ended. Romans 2:25: "Blindness has happened in part in Israel." Next he adduces the testimony of prophecy; hence he says, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet." This is, according to the translation of Jerome, Hosea 11:1. But in the translation of the Seventy it is not so, but "out of Egypt I have called his son." There seems here to be a question: because this does not seem to serve the purpose, because it is prefaced there, "the child Israel," etc., and thus it seems to speak of the calling of Israel out of Egypt. But it must be said that in all the authoritative texts which are set down in the Gospels or in the epistles concerning Christ, a certain distinction must be noted; for some are said specially of Christ, as that of Isaiah 53:7: "As a sheep he shall be led to the slaughter"; but others are said of certain persons insofar as they bore the figure of Christ. And such is this text: for these were not sons of Israel, except insofar as they bore the likeness of the true Only-begotten Son. And this is: "out of Egypt I have called my son," namely, the special one. "Then Herod." Here the killing of the children is treated; and concerning this he does two things. First the occasion of the killing is set forth; second, the killing itself is set forth, at "and sending, he killed all the children"; third, prophecies are adduced, at "then was fulfilled." The occasion was the wrath of Herod: hence, "then Herod was angry." James 1:20: "The wrath of man does not work the justice of God." And it must be noted that when any king suspects the loss of his kingdom, he quickly grows angry and is inflamed. "Seeing that he had been deluded by the Magi, he was exceedingly angry." And he is said to be "exceedingly angry" for two reasons: because when someone is already angry, he is strongly inflamed by a slight occasion. Hence, because he was already in suspicion of the loss of his kingdom, and had been deluded by the Magi, he was exceedingly angry. Ecclesiasticus 11:34: "From one spark a fire is increased." "And sending." In this wrath there was cruelty as to three things: as to the place, as to the multitude, and as to the time. As to the multitude: that, seeking one, he killed all. Hence it is said, "and sending, he killed all the children." And note that Augustine says that this man would never have profited so much by homage as he profited by hatred. But it is asked, since they did not have free will, how they are said to have died for Christ. But, as it is said in John 3:17, "God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him." For God would never have permitted them to be killed, unless it had been useful for them. Hence Augustine says that it is the same thing to doubt whether this killing profited them, as to doubt whether Baptism profits children: for they suffered as martyrs and confessed Christ by dying, although not by speaking. Revelation 6:9: "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God." The second cruelty is, that he killed in all the borders, for he feared lest he should flee, namely to some city. And it happened to him as to a wounded beast, which does not heed whom it ought to wound; Proverbs 28:15: "A roaring lion, and a hungry bear, is a wicked prince over a poor people." The third, as to the time. Hence, "from two years old," that is, of two years. And note that Augustine says that in that very year in which Christ was born, the innocents were killed. But why does it say "from two years old and under"? Some say that the star had appeared for two years before; hence Herod was in doubt whether he had been born from the time of the star. And therefore it says, "according to the time which he had learned from the Magi." Others, however, say that these were not killed in the same year, but after two years. But why did he delay so long? A threefold reason is given by different authors. One is, that at first he thought that the Magi had been deceived and that they had found nothing, but after he heard many words about Christ from Zechariah and Simeon and Anna, then he was moved to seek him. Others say that he did this out of caution: for he feared lest the parents had hidden the child whom he was seeking; hence he first wished to reassure them. Others, that he was hindered by preoccupation, because he sent after the Magi as far as Tarsus of Cilicia and had their ships burned. Likewise he was occupied, because he was summoned to Rome, accused by his sons. And thus after his return he began to rage. And it says "and under," etc., because he thought him to be of such power, that he could change his appearance. By this killing is signified the killing of the martyrs, because children signify through humility and innocence; below, 19:14: "Suffer the little ones, and forbid them not to come to me"; likewise below, 18:3: "Unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." "In Bethlehem, and in all its borders"; because throughout the whole world they are killed: Acts 1:8: "You shall be my witnesses," namely, by dying. The two years are the twofold charity, of God and of neighbor, because faith without works is dead, James 2:20. And note that when Christ was born, persecution immediately raged, because as soon as someone is converted to Christ, he begins to be tempted. Ecclesiasticus 2:1: "Son, when you come to the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare your soul for temptation." "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet." The killing of the children having been set down, here, according to his custom, the Evangelist sets forth the prophecy announcing it, which is Jeremiah 31:15: "A voice was heard in Rama, of lamentation, mourning and weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted for them, because they are not." And it must be noted that, as Jerome says, wherever any authoritative text of the Old Testament is introduced by the apostles and Evangelists, it is not necessary always to render word for word, but as the Holy Spirit gave it to them, sometimes sense for sense, according to our usage. Thus we have Jeremiah 31:15: "A voice was heard on high, of lamentation, mourning and weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted for them, because they are not." And the sense is the same. And it must be considered that, as far as this text is concerned, this is one of those which are introduced in the Gospel, which nevertheless has a literal sense that is a figure of that which was in the New Testament. Hence for its understanding a certain history must be considered, which is read in Judges 19, where it is said that on account of the sin committed regarding the wife of the Levite, almost the whole tribe of Benjamin was destroyed; and it is said that there was the greatest lamentation there, so great that it was heard from Gibeah as far as Rama, twelve miles distant from Bethlehem. This is called Rachel weeping, because she was the mother of Benjamin; and it is a figurative expression, namely, to express the greatness of the sorrow. But this is prophecy concerning the past. In another way it is concerning the future, in two ways. For in one way it can be referred to the captivity of Israel, who, when they were being led into captivity, are said to have wept on the road near Bethlehem; and then Rachel is said to have wept, because she was buried there, Genesis 35:19. And this is said in the same manner of speaking by which a place is said to weep for the evils that happen in that place. The prophet therefore means to say that just as there was the greatest sorrow and mourning when the tribe of Benjamin was destroyed, so another equally great sorrow would come at the time of the captivity. In a third way it is explained thus. The Evangelist takes up the fact of the killing of the innocents and magnifies this sorrow in four ways: from the diffusion of the sorrow, from the multitude of the sorrow, from the matter, and from its inconsolability. He says therefore: "a voice in Rama." There is a certain city in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25, and it can be taken for the city of Leah. Here, however, it is taken for "on high"; and it can be explained in two ways. First thus: "a voice," uttered on high, "was heard," because a voice that is in a high place is spread far and wide; Isaiah 40:9: "Get up upon a high mountain, you who bring good tidings to Zion, lift up your voice with strength." Or, it was heard on high, that is, in heaven with God; Ecclesiasticus 35:21: "The prayer of him that humbles himself shall pierce the clouds, and till it come near he will not be comforted, and he will not depart till the Most High regard him." And again: "Do not the tears of the widow run down the cheek, and her cry against him that causes them to fall?" "Weeping": this can be referred to the crying of the slain infants. And "much wailing": this to the weeping of the mothers. Or both to the children: "weeping" insofar as they were snatched up by the soldiers, "wailing" insofar as they were being slain. Greater is the sorrow of the mothers than of the children. Likewise the sorrow of the mothers was persistent, that of the children was brief: on account of which Zechariah 12:10 says: "They shall mourn for him as for an only son, and they shall grieve over him, as the manner is to grieve for the death of a firstborn." Likewise from the matter of the sorrow, because it concerns the death of children. Hence Rachel weeps. But an objection is raised, that Bethlehem was not in the tribe of Benjamin, but in the tribe of Judah, who was the son of Leah. And it is resolved in three ways. First, because Rachel was buried near Bethlehem, Genesis 35:19. And so she wept for the children in the manner by which a place is said to weep; Jeremiah 2:12: "Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and you gates thereof, be very desolate, says the Lord." Or otherwise. Above it was said that Herod killed the children in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, and so on. Now Bethlehem was on the border of two tribes, namely Judah and Benjamin; hence some of the children of Benjamin were killed: and thus the objection ceases, as Jerome explains. Augustine, however, explains it differently and says that it is customary that when someone has had good fortune, he grieves more when adversities come. Leah and Rachel were sisters, and those who were killed were of the sons of Leah. And thus they were killed bodily, lest they be punished eternally, as in the affair of Gibeah. She is said therefore to weep, seeing her sister's sons being killed and damned. Or by Rachel the Church is signified, because her name is interpreted "seeing God," and the Church sees through faith: she weeps for her children slain, not because they were slain, but because through them she could have acquired others. Or she does not weep on account of the slain, but on account of the slayers. There follows the point concerning the inconsolability of the sorrow: "and she would not." And this is explained in many ways. First, so that it is referred to the people who then were. For comfort is owed as long as some remedy is hoped for; but when it is not hoped for, there is no comfort, as is clear in the case of one despaired of in sickness; and therefore it says, so that it is referred to the opinion of the mothers, "because they are not," that is, because they do not appear; Genesis 37:30: "The child does not appear." Or, she would not be comforted, "because they are not," that is, as if they did not exist: for comfort is owed only concerning evils. Hence according to this it is referred to the opinion of the Church, which holds them as though they reigned; hence, as of those reigning, she rejoices over them, 1 Thessalonians 4:12: "We would not have you ignorant concerning them that sleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope"; or, she would not be comforted concerning the present, but awaits comfort in the future; below, 5:5: "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Next the recalling of Christ is treated; hence, "Herod being dead, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph." And first the apparition of the Angel is set forth; second, the command of the Angel; third, the execution of the Angel's command. Concerning the first, three things are set forth. First the time is described; second, the person; third, the manner of the apparition. He says therefore, "Herod being dead": not that Herod who was present at Christ's death, because that one was the son of this one. "Behold, an Angel appeared." It must be noted that every disturbance of the Church, according to the mystery, is ended by the death of persecutors, because "in the perishing of the wicked there shall be praise," Proverbs 11:10. Likewise note that, the unbelief of the Jews being ended, Christ will return to them. Romans 11:26: "And then all Israel shall be saved." "Behold ... appeared." It must be noted that such is the order of Angels and men, that divine illuminations do not come to us except through Angels; Hebrews 1:14: "They are all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation." Hence even Christ, according as he was man, willed to be announced through Angels. The manner, at "in sleep, to Joseph in Egypt." The command, at "arise, and take the child." He does not say "son," nor "wife," but "the child," that the dignity of the child might be designated, and the integrity of the mother. In this it is signified that Joseph was not given to her for carnal union, but for service and guardianship. Next he assigns the cause: "for they are dead who sought the life of the child." But it is asked, why does it say "are dead"? For only Herod had died. This is resolved in two ways. First, because this man had done so much evil that the Jews rejoiced at his death: who, foreseeing this, commanded, still living, his sister, that she should have the nobler men among the Jews killed at his death; and these had sought the life of the child along with Herod; and this is "for they are dead who sought the life of the child." Or otherwise: it is the custom of Sacred Scripture to put the plural for the singular: hence "they are dead," that is, "he is dead," and so on. Hence in this, that it says "who sought the life of the child," the error of Apollinaris is destroyed, who said that the divinity was in Christ in place of a soul. The execution of this command is set forth: "who, arising, took the child and his mother"; and concerning this he does two things: first he shows how he returned into the land of Israel; second, which part he avoided; third, to which part he turned aside, at "and being warned in sleep, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee." He says therefore, "who arising." It must be noted that the Angel did not say, "go into the land of Judah," or "into Jerusalem," but universally, "into the land of Israel," under which Galilee too can be comprehended. Hence it can be said that Joseph entered the borders of the land which Judah inhabited. Next is set forth which part he avoided, at "but hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea." And here the history of Herod must be noted. This Herod had six sons, and before his death he killed Alexander and Aristobulus; but at his death he ordered that Antipater be killed. Hence three remained, among whom Archelaus was the firstborn, and he usurped the kingdom for himself; but at length, accused by the Jews before Caesar Augustus, the kingdom was taken away from him and was divided into four parts, and Archelaus had two, the other two others divided among themselves, so that Herod had one tetrarchy, Philip another, as is found in Luke 3:1. This Archelaus was sent into exile after nine years of his reign. "And being warned in sleep." The Angel had first said that he should go to the land of Israel; but because Joseph had not yet understood, therefore the Angel, who had before revealed it indeterminately, now determines it. And this is: "and being warned ... he withdrew into the parts of Galilee." But to the contrary: just as Archelaus reigned in Judea, so Herod reigned in Galilee. But it must be said that this was immediately after the death of Herod, when Archelaus held the whole, because afterward the division was made. But then it is also asked, why he did not fear Archelaus. It must be said that the seat of the kingdom was in Jerusalem; hence he dwelt there almost always. But it is asked, why in Luke 2:41 it is said that every year they took the child into Jerusalem. And Augustine resolves this, that they went safely on account of the great crowd which then went up; but there would have been danger if he had remained there long. Likewise it is asked, why the Evangelist implies that Joseph came to Nazareth as though by accident, whereas in Luke 2:39 it is said that he had his own dwelling in Nazareth. But it must be said that the Angel had told him to go into the land of Israel, which, strictly taken, did not contain Galilee, nor Nazareth: and thus Joseph understood it; and therefore he was not intending to go to Nazareth. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: that he shall be called a Nazarene." This is not found written, but it can be said that it is gathered from many places. "Nazarene," therefore, is interpreted "holy": and because Christ is called holy; Daniel 9:24: "Until the Holy One be anointed"; therefore it is significantly said "through the prophet." Or it can be said that by "Nazarene" is interpreted "flourishing"; and this is had in Isaiah 11:1: "A rod shall come forth from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up from his root," etc.; and this agrees with what is said in Song of Songs 2:1: "I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys."”

“We have here Christ's return out of Egypt into the land of Israel again. Egypt may serve to sojourn in, or take shelter in, for a while, but not to abide in. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and therefore to them he must return. Observe, I. What it was that made way for his return - the death of Herod, which happened not long after the murder of the infants; some think not above three months. Such quick work did divine vengeance make! Note, Herods must die; proud tyrants, that were the terror of the mighty, and the oppressors of the godly, in the land of the living, their day must come to fall, and down to the pit they must go. Who art thou then, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die? (Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13) especially considering that at death, not only their envy and hatred are perished (Ecc 9:6), and they cease from troubling (Job 3:17), but they are punished. Of all sins, the guilt of innocent blood fills the measure soonest. It is a dreadful account which Josephus gives of the death of this same Herod (Antiq. 17.146-199), that he was seized with a disease which burned him inwardly with an inexpressible torture; that he was insatiably greedy of meat; had the colic, and gout, and dropsy; such an intolerable stench attended his disease, that none could come near him: and so passionate and impatient was he, that he was a torment to himself, and a terror to all that attended him: his innate cruelty, being thus exasperated, made him more barbarous than ever; having ordered his own son to be put to death, he imprisoned many of the nobility and gentry, and ordered that as soon as he was dead they should be killed; but that execution was prevented. See what kind of men have been the enemies and persecutors of Christ and his followers! Few have opposed Christianity but such as have first divested themselves of humanity, as Nero and Domitian. II. The orders given from heaven concerning their return, and Joseph's obedience to those orders, Mat 2:19-21. God had sent Joseph into Egypt, and there he staid till the same that brought him thither ordered him thence. Note, In all our removes, it is good to see our way plain, and God going before us; we should not move either one way or the other without order. These orders were sent him by an angel. Note, Our intercourse with God, if it be kept up on our part, shall be kept up on his, wherever we are. No place can exclude God's gracious visits. Angels come to Joseph in Egypt, to Ezekiel in Babylon, and to John in Patmos. Now, 1. The angel informs him of the death of Herod and his accomplices: They are dead, which sought the young Child's life. They are dead, but the young Child lives. Persecuted saints sometimes live to tread upon the graves of their persecutors. Thus did the church's King weather the storm, and many a one has the church in like manner weathered. They are dead, to wit, Herod and his son Antipater, who, though there were mutual jealousies between them, yet, probably, concurred in seeking the destruction of this new King. If Herod first kill Antipater, and then die himself, the coasts are cleared, and the Lord is known by the judgments which he executes, when one wicked instrument is in the ruin of another. 2. He directs him what to do. He must go and return to the land of Israel; and he did so without delay; not pleading the tolerably good settlement he had in Egypt, or the inconveniences of the journey, especially if, as is supposed, it was in the beginning of winter that Herod died. God's people follow his direction whithersoever he leads them, wherever he lodges them. Did we but look upon the world as our Egypt, the place of our bondage and banishment, and heaven only as our Canaan, our home, our rest, we should as readily arise, and depart thither, when we are called for, as Joseph did out of Egypt. III. The further direction he had from God, which way to steer, and where to fix in the land of Israel, Mat 2:22, Mat 2:23. God could have given him these instructions with the former, but God reveals his mind to his people by degrees, to keep them still waiting on him, and expecting to hear further from him. These orders Joseph received in a dream, probably, as those before, by the ministration of an angel. God could have signified his will to Joseph by the Child Jesus, but we do not find that in those removes he either takes notice, or gives notice, of any thing that occurred; surely it was because in all things it behoved him to be made like his brethren; being a Child, he spake as a child, and did as a child, and drew a veil over his infinite knowledge and power; as a child he increased in wisdom. Now the direction given this holy, royal family, is, 1. That it might not settle in Judea, Mat 2:22. Joseph might think that Jesus, being born in Bethlehem, must be brought up there; yet he is prudently afraid for the young Child, because he hears that Archelaus reigns in Herod's stead, not over all the kingdom as his father did, but only over Judea, the other provinces being put into other hands. See what a succession of enemies there is to fight against Christ and his church! If one drop off, another presently appears, to keep up the old enmity. But for this reason Joseph must not take the young Child into Judea. Note, God will not thrust his children into the mouth of danger, but when it is for his own glory and their trial; for precious in the sight of the Lord are the life and the death of his saints; precious is their blood to him. 2. That it must settle in Galilee, Mat 2:22. There Philip now ruled, who was a mild, quiet, man. Note, The providence of God commonly so orders it, that his people shall not want a quiet retreat from the storm and from the tempest; when one climate becomes hot and scorching, another shall be kept more cool and temperate. Galilee lay far north; Samaria lay between it and Judea; thither they were sent, to Nazareth, a city upon a hill, in the centre of the lot of Zebulun; there the mother of our Lord lived, when she conceived that holy thing; and, probably, Joseph lived there too, Luk 1:26, Luk 1:27. Thither they were sent, and there they were well known, and were among their relations; the most proper place for them to be in. There they continued, and from thence our Saviour was called Jesus of Nazareth, which was to the Jews a stumbling-block, for, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? In this is said to be fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Which may be looked upon, (1.) As a man of honour and dignity, though primarily it signifies no more than a man of Nazareth; there is an allusion or mystery in speaking it, speaking Christ to be, [1.] The Man, the Branch, spoken of, Isa 11:1. The word there is Netzar, which signifies either a branch, or the city of Nazareth; in being denominated from that city, he is declared to be that Branch. [2.] It speaks him to be the great Nazarite; of whom the legal Nazarites were a type and figure (especially Samson, Jdg 13:5), and Joseph, who is called a Nazarite among his brethren (Gen 49:26), and to whom that which was prescribed concerning the Nazarites, has reference, Num 6:2, etc. Not that Christ was, strictly, a Nazarite, for he drank wine, and touched dead bodies; but he was eminently so, both as he was singularly holy, and as he was by a solemn designation and dedication set apart to the honour of God in the work of our redemption, as Samson was to save Israel. And it is a name we have all reason to rejoice in, and to know him by. Or, (2.) As a name of reproach and contempt. To be called a Nazarene, was to be called a despicable man, a man from whom no good was to be expected, and to whom no respect was to be paid. The devil first fastened this name upon Christ, to render him mean, and prejudice people against him, and it stuck as a nickname to him and his followers. Now this was not particularly foretold by any one prophet, but, in general, it was spoken by the prophets, that he should be despised and rejected of men (Isa 53:2, Isa 53:3), a Worm, and no man (Psa 22:6, Psa 22:7), that he should be an Alien to his brethren Psa 69:7, Psa 69:8. Let no name of reproach for religion's sake seem hard to us, when our Master was himself called a Nazarene.”

“But when Herod was dead,.... Who died, as before observed, a few months after this tragedy was acted; and, according to the (w) Jewish writers, on the seventh day of the month Cisleu, and which answers to the twenty fifth of our November: and was afterwards observed as a day of rejoicing by the Jews. The account which Josephus (x), and from him Eusebius (y), gives of his miserable death, is as follows; a burning fever seized him, with an intolerable itching all over his body, and continual pains of the colic; his feet swelled with a dropsy; he had an inflammation in the lower part of his belly: a putrefaction in his privy parts, which bred worms; a frequency and difficulty of breathing, and convulsions in all his members; he had a voracious appetite, a stinking breath, and his intestines abounded with ulcers; when he found that all means made use of were ineffectual, and that he must die, he attempted to lay violent hands upon himself, but was prevented, and soon after expired in a very miserable manner. Now some time after his death, behold an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. It may be the same angel who appeared in the same manner, and ordered him to go into Egypt, with the young child and his mother; and who now brings him news of the death of Herod, and bids him return to the land of Israel; which shows the watchful providence of God, and the useful ministry of angels, concerned in the preservation of the infant Jesus. (w) Megillah Taanith apud Van Till. de anno, &c. Christ. Nat. p. 122. (x) De Bello Judaic. l. 1. c. 33. sect. 5. 7. & Antiq. l. 17. c. 9. (y) Eccl. Hist. l. 1. c. 8. p. 25, 26.”

“But when Herod was dead--Miserable Herod! Thou thoughtest thyself safe from a dreaded Rival; but it was He only that was safe from thee; and thou hast not long enjoyed even this fancied security. See on Mat 2:15. behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt--Our translators, somewhat capriciously, render the same expression "the angel of the Lord," Mat 1:20; Mat 2:13; and "an angel of the Lord," as here. As the same angel appears to have been employed on all these high occasions--and most likely he to whom in Luke is given the name of "Gabriel," Luk 1:19, Luk 1:26 --perhaps it should in every instance except the first, be rendered "the angel."”