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foretold by the Prophet Isarah.

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with A. M. 4000. child, and shall bring forth a son,

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and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

4 Or, his name shall be called.

should believe in him, are included. All these, it is came to pass, not because of the prophecies which here said, he should save from their sins, i. e., from || predicted them, but the prophecies predicted them the guilt, power, and pollution of them, by procuring,|| because they would come to pass. Thus, in other through his death, and receiving, in consequence of || places, what was merely a consequence of things his ascension into heaven, an ample pardon for them, || being done, is represented as the chief end of doing and the Holy Spirit to write that pardon on their || them, as Rom. v. 20, The law came in (viz., between hearts, and renew them after the divine image, that, || Adam and Christ,) that the offence might abound. in consequence of a life of holiness on earth, they Certainly God did not give the law with a design to might be raised to a state of complete perfection || make men's sins abound; but this was the conseand felicity in heaven. How plain it is from hence || quence of its being given. For, like a dam placed that, although the gospel offers us salvation by faith, || in the way of a stream, it made the corruption of and not by works, yet it effectually secures the mankind rise the higher and spread the wider. To practice of holiness, since holiness is a part of that this may be added, however, that he who had foresalvation wherewith Christ came to save sinners; told these things because he had determined to do for he came to save them from their sins. It is them, in due time actually did them, that he might worth observing, on this occasion, what an excellent show himself true to his word and promise. example of gentleness and prudence is here set us Verse 23. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and by Joseph! In an affair which appeared dubious, shall bring forth, &c.—Some have unhappily suphe chose, as we should always do, rather to err on posed that this famous prophecy immediately rethe favourable than on the severe extreme. He is lated to the birth of a child of Isaiah's in a natural careful to avoid any precipitate steps; and, in the way; and that it only referred to Christ in a secondmoment of deliberation, God interposes to guide || ary sense. But surely a son's being born of one and determine his resolves. Let us reflect, with || then a virgin, when she was married, was no such what wonder and pleasure he would receive the extraordinary event as to answer such a pompous important message from the angel, which not only introduction as we meet with in the viith of Isaiah. assured him of the unstained virtue and eminent || Had this been all, what need was there of these piety of her he loved, and confirmed his choice of words, The Lord himself shall give you a sign? her, as the partner of his future life, but brought|| What need of that solemn notice, Behold! there him tidings of a divine Saviour, a Jesus, an Em- being nothing new or strange in all this. Besides, manuel, who should be God with men, and should || the promise, A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, save his people from their sins; and assured him, and shall call his name Emmanuel, is made as a moreover, that the object of his affections, his be- sign or miracle, to confirm the house of David in loved, espoused Mary, should, by a miraculous con- God's promise made to him, respecting the perpeception, be the happy mother of this heavenly off-tuity of his kingdom. But what sign or miracle spring, and should therefore through all generations || could it be, that a woman should be with child after be entitled blessed. Let us also receive these glad the ordinary manner? what wonder was there in tidings of great joy, designed for the consolation of this? As to Isaiah, ch. vii. 16, Before the child (or, all people, with suitable humility and gratitude, and as it is in the Hebrew, this child,) shall know to reseek unto this Jesus that he may answer his divine fuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou name in us, and save us, his people, from our sins. abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings, it Let our souls bow to this Emmanuel, our incarnate seems most reasonable to interpret it as referring to God, and, while with holy wonder we survey the Shear-jashub, whom Isaiah was ordered to take in various scenes of his humiliation, let us remember, his hand for no other imaginable reason but that too, his native dignity and divine glory, and pay something remarkable was to be said of him. So him the worship and service which are his undoubt that their deliverance from the two kings of Syria ed due. and Israel, before Isaiah's son, (whom he had taken Verse 22. Now all this was done that it might be in his hand,) should be able to distinguish between fulfilled-That is, by the doing of all this was ful- good and evil, was to be considered by them as tyfiled the following prophecy. For we are not to pical of a much greater deliverance by the Messiah, suppose that the bare accomplishment of an ancient || in due time to be born of a future virgin. See prediction was the end God had in view in sending notes on Isa. vii. 11-16. Thus, according to the his Son into the world; which would imply that, if || usual manner of the prophets, the people of God, in no such prediction had been given, God would not their present distress, are comforted with the prohave sent his Son. No: God's design was the sal- mise of the Messiah hereafter to appear. They shall vation of mankind, and the prophecy was fulfilled, || call his name-That is, his name shall be called; as it were, by the way, without being primarily in- a personal verb being put for an impersonal, as is tended. For the events foretold by the prophets || frequently the case; or, as some copies read it, Thou

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Joseph obeys the

CHAPTER II.

command of the angel.

A. M. 4000. which, being interpreted, is, God || him, and took unto him his wife: A. M. 4000. with us. 25 And knew her not till she had 24 Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, brought forth her firstborn son: and he did as the angel of the Lord had bidden || called his name Jesus.

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shalt call, or, he shall be owned and accounted; with recording this, without affirming any thing Emmanuel, God with us-God in our nature, by|| further, either way, on this delicate subject." We whose incarnation, God is united to our nature; and must observe, however, that the expression, Till by whose mediation, God is reconciled to us and is || she had brought forth her firstborn son, does not present with us. The names of Christ, it must be necessarily imply that he knew her afterward, any observed, are of two kinds: 1st, proper and distin- more than the Lord's words to Jacob, Gen. xxviii. guishing, pointing out his person; 2dly, descriptive, || 15, I will not leave thee till I have done all that either of his person or offices, such as there are ma- || which I have spoken to thee of, imply that the Lord ny in Scripture, as David, the Branch, Wonderful, || left Jacob after he had fulfilled his promises to him; Counsellor. It is to be observed, that in the Scrip- or what is said, 2 Sam. vi. 23, of Michal, Saul's ture language, to be called, and to be, are the same || daughter, that she had no child till the day of her thing. It is, therefore, no objection against the ap- || death, that she bore a child or children afterward; plication of these words to Christ, that he did not nor will the expression, her firstborn son, prove bear the name Emmanuel, if he really was God that she had afterward any more children, being in with us, which is the import of it. And that he Scripture applied continually to the person that first was, is sufficiently proved from his being entitled opened the womb, as the phrase is, whether there the mighty God by Isaiah, ch. ix. 6. Now, he who were any more children or not. Indeed, the Greek is properly called El, God, and is also emmanu, here, Tov viov aνтNS, тоν прWтотоKOV, is literally, her with us, must infallibly be that Emmanuel, who is|| son, the firstborn, or that firstborn, viz., that person God with us. eminent and dear to God above others that were the Verses 24, 25. Joseph did as the angel had bidden || firstborn, whom all the firstborn in the Old Testahim—This sudden change of his resolution, shows ||ment prefigured, whom the angels adore, Heb. i. 6, his great faith and ready obedience to God. When || and in whom those that believe become the firstGod speaks to our hearts, we speedily and cheer- || born, and the first fruits of God's creatures. Neverfully do what before we not only scrupled, but theless, when it is considered what is the great thought, perhaps, most inconvenient and unpleasing, || end of marriage, that Joseph .took Mary to wife by and even contrary to the dictates of reason. And the command of God himself, and that his law not took unto him his wife-That is, he took her home || only permits, but even enjoins husbands to perform to his house. Nevertheless, in expectation of this || the marriage duty, it is, as Dr. Whitby observes, wonderful event, and out of reverence to this sacred not easy to be conceived, that he should live twelve birth, he knew her not as his wife, though she dwelt || years with her he loved so well, and all that time under his roof; but she continued a pure virgin till || deny that duty which was not to be diminished when at least Jesus was born. "On what terms they af- the wife was less beloved:" especially as no just terward lived," says an eminent divine, "is of so reason whatever can be assigned for such conduct. little importance to us, that one cannot but wonder Be this as it may, we may safely conclude with St. it should have been the subject of so much debate. Basil, an ancient father of the Church, that till she It is sufficient for us to know that she was a virgin, || had brought forth her firstborn her virginity was not only at the time of Christ's conception, but at necessary: "but what she was afterward let us his birth, as the prophecy foretold she should be. leave undiscussed, as being of small concern to the The evangelist, therefore, wisely contented himself || mystery."

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CHAPTER II.

l'his chapter represents, (1,) The solicitous inquiry of some wise Gentiles after Christ, with the information and direction given them by King Herod, 1-8. (2,) Their guidance to him at Bethlehem by a star; their worship of and liberal donations to him, and their return homeward, 9–12. (3,) The divinely-directed flight of Christ and his parents into Egypt, to avoid the intended cruelty of Herod, 13-15. (4,) Herod's barbarous murder of the infants about Bethlehem, in order to murder Christ among them, 16–18. (5,) Christ and his parents, divinely inspired, return from Egypt to the land of Israel, and retire to Nazareth in Galilee, 19–23.

At the birth of Christ,

ST. MATTHEW.

wise men come from the East.

A. M. 4000. NOW* when Jesus was born in || Herod the king, behold, there came wise A. M. 4000. Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of men from the east to Jerusalem,

* The Fourth year before the common account called Anno Domini.

NOTES ON CHAPTER II.

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a Luke ii. 4, 6, 7.- + Epiphany, gospel, verse 1 to verse 13. b Gen. x. 30; xxv. 6; 1 Kings iv. 30.

Acts xii., was his grandson. It is to be observed, that the history of the New Testament begins with Herod the Great, and ends with Agrippa, the last king of the Jews. Behold! The evangelist calls our attention by this word to the following very memorable occurrence. There came wise menProbably Chaldean or Arabian astronomers, who, by divine grace, had been led from the knowledge of nature, to that of nature's God. Although they are termed in the original, μayoı, magi, we must not

sorcerers; for the appellation was by no means appropriated in ancient times to such as practised wicked arts, but was frequently given to philoso

Verse 1. Now when Jesus was born-It is matter of great doubt when the following remarkable oc- || currence happened. The received time of celebrating the Epiphany imports that it was within thirteen days of the birth of Christ. But as it is not likely that the star made its appearance till he was born, so it does not seem at all probable that the wise men could have prepared for and accomplished so long a journey in so short a space of time, especially as they tarried some days, at the least, at Je-imagine that they were what we call magicians, or rusalem, on their way to Bethlehem. Add to this, that immediately after their departure, (verse 13,) Joseph, with his wife and the child, are sent away into|| Egypt, which could not have been before the end of phers, or men of learning, particularly those that the forty days of Mary's purification. But although || were curious in examining the works of nature, and this visit of the wise men did not happen so soon observing the motions of the heavenly bodies. Came after the birth of Christ as the calendar supposes, it || from the east-It is impossible to determine absomight happen before Jesus was presented in the || lutely from what part of the East they came; altemple. For it is certain, when they came to Beth- though it is probable it was from Arabia, rather than lehem they found Jesus and his mother there; but, || Chaldea, for it lay east of Judea, and is mentioned according to Luke, ch. ii. 22, when the days of Ma- || by Tacitus as its boundary eastward, and certainly ry's purification were ended, they brought the child || was famous for gold, frankincense, and myrrh, comJesus to present him to the Lord; and we never modities which (see verse 11) they brought with read of their returning with him to Bethlehem. On || them. Myrrh, according to Grotius, is not produced the contrary, we are told, when they had performed all things according to the law, they returned together to their own city Nazareth. 'According to this hypothesis, Jesus was brought to Jerusalem while Herod was waiting for the return of the wise men, and the angel appeared to Joseph there to command him to flee into Egypt with the young child and his mother, which they might do the very night after Jesus was presented in the temple.

save in Arabia, where, if we may believe Pliny, it is found in such abundance, with other spices, that no other kinds of wood are in use, not even to make fires of, but such as are odoriferous. Neither is frankincense found save among the Sabæans, a part of Arabia. And as to gold, another commodity which they brought, this is well known to be produced in such great abundance in Arabia Felix, that the furniture of the whole nation shines with it. In Bethlehem of Judea―Judea here means the David and Solomon, to whom the promise of the district so named from the tribe of Judah, under || land of Canaan was fully made good, extended their which, however, the tribe of Benjamin was compre- dominions over those countries, even to the Euphrahended; and it is distinguished from Samaria, Peræa, tes, and the inhabitants of them were chiefly the Trachonitis, and both Galilees. It must be observed, seed of Abraham. Now it is more likely that these there was another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zabu- first fruits of the Gentiles should be brought to do lon, in the lower Galilee. In the days of Herod the|| homage to the King of the Jews, from a country king—Viz., Herod the Great, the son of Antipater, || that had done as much to David and Solomon, the born at Ascalon, about 70 years before Christ. Ac- types of Christ, than from a foreign and more recording to some, he was a native Jew; according to mote nation; and that they should be of the seed others, an Idumean by the father's side, and by the of Abraham rather than of another race. Add to mother's an Arabian. The most probable opinion || this, that Arabia abounded with magi, and was anis, that he was originally an Idumean; but that his ciently so famous for wisdom, that, according to ancestors had, for some ages, been proselytes to the Porphyry, Pythagoras himself travelled thither to Jewish religion. The Jews being at that time in acquire it. Nay, if we may credit the learned Dr. subjection to the Romans, he was made king of Ju-|| Alix, the Jews were of opinion that there were dea by the Roman senate. At his death, which prophets in the kingdoms of Saba and Arabia, and happened soon after this, he divided his dominions that they prophesied or taught successively, in the by his last will among his sons, appointing Arche- name of God, what they had received by tradition laus, mentioned verse 22, to succeed him as king of from the mouth of Abraham, of whose posterity Judea; Herod Antipas, mentioned chap. xiv., to be they were, by Keturah. In the Old Testament it is || tetrarch of Galilee and Peræa; and Philip, men- || frequently called the East, as Judg. vi. 3; Job i. 3 ; tioned Luke iii., to be tetrarch of Trachonitis and the whereas Chaldea lay not so properly to the east neighbouring countries. Herod Agrippa, mentioned || as to the north of Judea, and is often spoken of in

The wise men from the East

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2 Saying, Where is he that is born [["his star in the east, and are come to A. M. 4000. King of the Jews? for we have seen worship him.

* Luke ii. 11.

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d Num. xxiv. 17; Isa. lx. 3.

Scripture in that light. See Jer. i. 14, 15; vi. 22; being also skilled in astronomy, and seeing this star Joel ii. 20. Had these wise men been, as some have or light appearing in Judea, might reasonably consupposed, a deputation from all the magi in Persia, jecture that it signified the completion of that celeMedia, Arabia, and Chaldea; or had they been brated prophecy touching the king of the Jews, kings, as the papists fancy; so grand a circumstance over the centre of whose land, they, being in the as either of these would, in all probability, have || east, saw it hang. For it is not at all probable that been expressly recorded. To Jerusalem-The cap- this star appeared to the eastward of them, in which ital of the kingdom, and the seat of learning. For || case it would have denoted something among the it seems these wise men did not suppose that so || Indians, or other eastern nations, rather than among illustrious a king would be born in an ignoble vil- the Jews; but that it was seen to the west of themlage, but that he must be sought for in the royal selves, and over the very place where the king was city, in the palace itself, and in the family which to be born. then reigned. It was, however, no doubt, by the We have seen his star-Which points him out, divine providence that they were directed to Jeru- and is the token of his nativity. These wise men, salem, as well that the Jews might be left without learned in astronomy, and curious in marking the excuse, as that the birth of Christ the King might || rising and setting and other phenomena of the heabe announced by the Gentiles before he was ac- || venly bodies, observed at this time a star which they knowledged by the Jews, lest the testimony of the had never seen before, and were amazed at it as at Jews concerning their own King should come under || a new, portentous appearance which did certainly suspicion. forebode something of great consequence to the Verse 2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of || world, and the Jews in particular, over whose counthe Jews—That is, their lawful and hereditary sove- try it seemed to hang. But how could they know reign, Herod not being such. The wise men are that this was his star, or that it signified the birth under no kind of doubts in their inquiry; but being || of a king? Many of the ancient fathers answer, that fully persuaded that he was born, and believing that they learned this from the words of Balaam, Num. this was known to all there, they only inquire || xxiv. 17, There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and where he was born. By this inquiry the birth of a Sceptre, &c. And though, it is certain, these Christ was more publicly declared to the Jews, and words properly speak not of a star that should arise more fully attested; the coming of these grave and at any prince's birth, but of a king who should be understanding persons from a distant country in || glorious and resplendent in his dominions, as stars consequence of what they believed to be superna- || are in the firmament, and should vanquish and postural direction, being a very extraordinary occur- sess these nations; yet considering that, according rence. It is to be observed, that, according to Taci- to the hieroglyphics of the East, and the figurative tus and Suetonius, historians of undoubted credit, || language of prophecy, stars are emblems of princes, it was expected through the whole East that a out it was very natural for them to consider the rising that time a king was to arise in Judea who shoud of a new star as foretelling the rise of a new king. rule all the world. What gave birth to that expect- And as Balaam's prophecy signified that the king ation might be this: From the time of the Baby- should arise in Judea, and the new and extraordilonish captivity, the Jews were dispersed through nary star they had seen appeared over that country, all the provinces of the Persian monarchy: and that it was quite natural for them to conclude, that the in such numbers, that they were able to gather to- || king whose rise was foretold, was now born there. gether and defend themselves against their enemies | And though we know of no record in which this in those provinces. See Esther iii. 8; viii. 17; ix. 2, 16;|| prophecy was preserved but the books of Moses, and many of the people of the land became Jews. yet are we not sure there was no other; nor is it After their return into their own land they increased certain the books of Moses were unknown in Araso mightily that they were soon dispersed over bia. It seems more probable, considering its borderAsia, Africa, and many parts of Europe, and, as Jo- ing upon Judea, and David and Solomon's extending sephus assures us, wherever they came they made || their dominions over, at least, a part of it, as well proselytes to their religion. Now it was one prin- as from the intercourse the Arabians had with the cipal article of their faith, and branch of their reli- || Jews, certainly greater than the Ethiopians had with gion, to believe in and expect the appearance of the them, to whom, nevertheless, it appears from Acts promised Messiah. Wherever they came, there- || viii. 26, &c. that the Old Testament was not unfore, they would spread this faith and expectation; || known; it seems likely, from these considerations, so that it is no wonder it became so general. Now that they were not unacquainted with the divine these wise men, living at no very great distance || Oracles, and particularly with this delivered by one from Judea, the seat of this prophecy, and conversing with the Jews among them, who were everywhere expecting the completion of it at that time;

of their own country. But if, after all, this should seem improbable, then we need make no scruple at all of believing that they were favoured by a divine

The fulfilment of the prophecy

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3 ¶ When Herod the king had || demanded of them where Christ should A. M. 4000. heard these things, he was troubled, || be born.

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revelation touching this matter, by which it is plain knowledge of them, it does not appear that any they were guided in their return. To worship|| fixed and legal council was summoned; but only him-Or to do him homage by prostrating ourselves that an extraordinary meeting of learned men was before him, an honour which the Eastern nations || called by the king, that they might judge of the were accustomed to pay their monarchs.

question of the wise men. He demanded of them Verse 3. When Herod heard, &c.—he was troubled where Christ, i. e., the promised Messiah, was to be —Or, alarmed, as Dr. Waterland renders ɛrapaxon. born. The wise men had said nothing about Christ, The word properly signifies a great emotion of or the Messiah, but only about a king, or, the king mind, whatever the cause thereof be. Being a prince of the Jews. But Herod presently conceived that of a very suspicious temper, and his cruelties having this king of the Jews that was born must be the rendered him obnoxious to his subjects, he feared || Messiah promised Psa. ii.; Dan. ix.; and therefore losing his kingdom, especially as he had taken Je- || desired to know of them the place of his birth, acrusalem by force, and was settled on his throne by || cording to their received traditions, and sense of the the aid of the Romans. Hence it is no wonder that || prophecies of Scripture. But it is to be well obhe was concerned to hear of the birth of one that served, that we must understand Herod as inquirwas to be king, and especially to have such an ex-ing, not concerning an event considered by him as traordinary confirmation of it, as that of persons || already come to pass, but concerning a matter yet coming from a far country, directed by an extraor- || future and uncertain. For although he understood dinary impulse upon the sight of a new star, which from the wise men that the birth of the Messiah had pointed to Judea as the seat of his empire. And even now taken place, yet he concealed his knowal. Jerusalem with him—Fearing he should make || ledge of this, and his whole design, from the Jews. it an occasion of renewing some of those tyrannical || It is easy to observe how strongly all this story imactions which had lately filled them with so much || plies that a general expectation of the Messiah now horror, as is related at large by Josephus. They || prevailed: and it is plain Herod, in a sense, both dreaded likewise, it seems, a change of government, believed the Jewish Scriptures, and that the birth as knowing it does not usually happen without of the Messiah was foretold in them. And yet, bloodshed, and that the Romans had great power, which discovered the height of madness, as well as and would oppose any change in their affairs. of impiety and cruelty, he was contriving to destroy him! to destroy him whose birth, and reign, and glory, God in his word, he believed, had infallibly foretold!

Verse 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests-This expression must be intended to comprehend not only the high priest for the time being,|| and his deputy, with those who had formerly borne Verse 6. Thou Bethlehem, &c., art not the least that office, but also the heads of the twenty-four among the princes of Juda-It is justly observed courses, as well as any other persons of peculiar emi-by Dr. Doddridge, after Erasmus, here, that "when nence in the priesthood, in which sense Josephus this and several other quotations from the Old Tesuses the word, Antiq. lib. xx. cap. viii. (al. 6,) § 8, || tament, which we find in the New, come to be comp. 973. The scribes of the people-It would seem, pared with the original, and even with the Septuafrom Ezra vii. 11, 12; 1 Chron. xxiv. 6; 2 Chron. || gint, it plainly appears that the apostles did not alxxxiv. 13, that they were of the tribe of Levi only, ways think it necessary to transcribe the passages and so were either priests or Levites. As their of- they cited, but sometimes contented themselves fice was to transcribe and prepare fair copies of the with giving the general sense in some little diversity law of Moses, and other parts of the Old Testament, of language." The words of Micah, which we ren(a very necessary work before printing was invent- der, Though thou be little, may be rendered, Art ed,) they became, of course, well acquainted with thou little? And his expression, thousands of Judah; the Scriptures, and were ordinarily employed in and that of the evangelist here, princes, or governexplaining them to the people: whence the chief of ors of Judah, are in sense the same, the word them were called doctors of the law. They, or at thousands being used by the prophet, in allusion least some of them, together with the chief priests to the first division of the tribes of Israel into and elders, constituted the sanhedrim, or great coun- thousands, hundreds, and other subordinate divicil of the nation. But in this place, when no pub- sions, over every one of which thousands was lic business was to be done, but only the predictions a prince or chief. But for a full explanation of of the ancient prophets were to be searched into by both passages the reader is referred to the note on those who were thought to excel others in the Micah v. 2.

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