of them where Christ should be born. all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded suasion prevailed throughout the East, does not mean that they had seen the that the Fates had decreed some one to star to the east of themselves, but that, proceed from Judea, who should attain when they were in the East, they had universal empire."* Tacitus, another seen this star. As this star was in the Roman historian, says: Many were direction of Jerusalem, it must have persuaded that it was contained in the been west of them. It might be transancient books of their priests, that at lated, We, being in the East, have that very time the East should prevail, seen his star.' It is called his star, beand that some one should proceed from cause they supposed it to be intended Judea, and possess the dominion."+ to indicate the time and place of his Josephus, also, and Philo, two Jewish birth. To worship him. This does historians, make mention of the same not mean that they had come to pay expectation. The fact that such a per- him religious homage, or to adore him. son was expected is clearly attested. They regarded him as the king of the Under this expectation these wise men Jews. There is no evidence that they came to do him homage, and inquired supposed he would be divine. They anxiously where he was born? His came to honor him as a Prince, or a star. Among the ancients, the appear- king, not as God. The original word appear-king, ance of a star or comet was regarded implies no more than this. It meant to as an omen of some remarkable event. prostrate one's self before another; to Many such appearances are recorded fall down and pay homage to another. by the Roman historians at the birth or This was the mode in which homage death of distinguished men. Thus, was paid to earthly kings, and this they they say, that at the death of Julius wished to pay to the new-born king of Cæsar a comet appeared in the heavens, the Jews. See the same meaning of and shone seven days. These wise men the word in Matt. xx. 20, xviii. 26; also considered this as an evidence that Acts x. 25; Luke xiv. 10. The Eng. the long-expected Prince was born. It lish word worship also meant formerly, is possible that they had been led to this" to respect, to honor, to treat with civil belief by the prophecy of Balaam. reverence. (Webster.) Num. xxiv. 17. "There shall come a 3. Had heard these things. Had star out of Jacob," &c. What this heard of their coming, and of the star, star was, is not known. There have and of the design of their coming. He been many conjectures respecting it, was troubled. Herod had obtained the but nothing is revealed concerning it. kingdom by great crimes, and by shedWe are not to suppose that it was what ding much blood. He was, therefore, we commonly mean by a star. The easily alarmed by any remarkable apstars are vast bodies fixed in the hea-pearances; and the fact that this star vens, and it is absurd to suppose that one of them was sent to guide the wise men. It is most probable that it was a luminous appearance, or meteor, such as we now see sometimes shoot from the sky, or such as appear stationary, which the wise men saw, and which directed them to Jerusalem. It is possible that the same thing is meant which is mentioned by Luke, ii. 9: "The glory of the Lord shone round about them," i. e. (see Note on this place,) a great light appeared shining around them. That light might have been visible from afar, and have been seen by the wise men in the East. T In the East. This appeared, and that it was regarded as proof that the King of the Jews was born, alarmed him. Besides, it was a common expectation that the Messiah was about to appear, and he feared that his reign was about to come to an end. He, therefore, began to inquire in what way he might secure his own safety, and the permanency of his government. All Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem, and particularly the friends of Herod. There were many waiting for the consolation of Israel, to whom the coming of the Messiah would be a matter of joy; but all of Herod's friends would doubtless be alarmed at his coming. 4. The chief priests. By the chief priests here are meant not only the high priest and his deputy, but also the heads or chiefs of the twenty-four classes into which David had divided the sacerdotal families. 1 Chron. xxiii. 6, xxiv. ; 2 Chron. viii. 14, xxxvi. 14; Ezra viii. 24. Scribes. By the scribes, in the New Testament, are meant learned men, men skilled in the law, and members of the great council. They were probably the learned men, or the lawyers of the nation. They kept the records of the court of justice, the registers of the synagogues, wrote their articles of contract and sale, their bills of divorce, &c. They were also called lawyers, Matt. xxii. 35, and doctors of the law, Luke v. 17. They were called scribes from the fact of their writing the public records. They were not, however, a eligious sect, but might be either Pharisees or Sadducees.-By the chief priests and scribes here mentioned, is lenoted the sanhedrim or great council of the nation. This was composed of seventy-two men, who had the charge of the civil and religious affairs of the Jews. On this occasion, Herod, in alarm, called them together, professedly to make inquiry respecting the birth of the Messiah. Demanded of them. Inquired, or asked of them. As they were the learned men of the nation, and as it was their business to study and explain the Old Testament, they were presumed to know what the prophecies had declared on that point. His object was to ascertain from prophecy where he was born, that he might strike an effectual blow. He seems not to have had any doubt about the time when he should be born. He was satisfied that the time had come. privily called the wise men, inquir ed of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem; and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. c Pro.26.24. prophecy, both the place of his birth and the character of the Messiah are so clearly set forth, that there was no room to doubt. It will be observed that there is a considerable difference between the passage as quoted by the sanhedrim, and as it stands in Micah. The main point, however, is retainedthe place of his birth. We are not concerned, therefore, in showing how these passages can be reconciled. Matthew is not responsible for the correctness of the quotation. He affirms only that they gave this answer to Herod, and that Herod was satisfied. Admitting that they did not quote the passage correctly it does not prove that Matthew has not reported their answer as they gave it and this is all that he pretends to give Art not the least. In Micah, "though thou be little." Though a small place so far as population is concerned, yet it shall not be small, or least, in honor; for the Messiah shall be born there. His birth gave the place an honor which could not be conferred on the larger cities by all their numbers, their splendor, and their wealth. The birth of a distinguished personage was always supposed to give honor and importance to a city or country. Thus seven cities contended for the honor of giving birth to Homer; Stratford-upon-Avon is dis. tinguished as the birth-place of Shakspeare; and Corsica as the birth-place of Napoleon. TA Governor. A Ruler, This is one of the characters of the Messiah, who is the King of his people. John xviii. 37. The word rule hers means to rule as a shepherd does his flock, in faithfulness and tenderness. Compare John x. 11, Isa. xl. 10, 11. 5, 6. By the prophet. The sanhe-ix. 7. drim answered without hesitation. It 7. Privily. Secretly, privately. He was settled by prophecy. This pro- did this to ascertain the time when Jesus phecy is found in Micah, v. 2. In that was born. ¶ Diligently. Accurately, 9 When they had heard the king, | they departed: and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. a ver.2. exactly. He took pains to learn the precise time that the star appeared. He did this because he naturally concluded that the star appeared just at the time of his birth, and he wished to know precisely how old the child was. 8. Go, and search diligently, &c. Herod took all possible means to obtain accurate information respecting the child, that he might be sure of destroying him. He not only ascertained the probable time of his birth, and the place where he would be born, but he sent the wise men that they might actually see him, and bring him word. All this might have looked suspicious if he had not clothed it with the appearance of religion. He said to them, therefore, that he did it that he might go and worship him also. From this we may learn, 1. That wicked men often cloak their evil designs under the appearance of religion. They attempt to deceive those who are really good, and to make them suppose that they have the same design. But God cannot be deceived, and he will bring them to punishment. Wicked men often attempt to make use of the pious to advance their evil purposes. Men like Herod will stop at nothing if they can carry their ends. They endeavor to deceive the simple, allure the unsuspecting, and to beguile the weak, to answer their purposes of wickedness. 3. The plans of wicked men are often well laid. They occupy a long time. They make diligent inquiry. And all of it has the appearance of religion. But God sees the design; and though men are deceived, yet God cannot be. Prov. xv. 3. 2. 9, 10. The star-went before them. From this it appears that the star was a luminous meteor, perhaps at no great distance from the ground. It is not unlikely that they lost sight of the star after they had commenced their journey from the East. It is probable that it appeared to them first in the direction of Jerusalem. They concluded that the expected King had been born, and inimeiately commenced their journey to Jerusalem. When they arrived there, it was important that they should be directed to the very place where he was, and the star again appeared. It was for this reason that they rejoiced. They felt assured that they were under a heavenly guidance, and would be conducted to the new-born King of the Jews. And this shows, 1. That the birth of Jesus was an affair of great moment, worthy of the divine direction of these men to find the place of his nativity. 2. God will guide those who are disposed to find the Saviour. Even if for a time the light should be withdrawn, yet it will again appear, and direct us in the way to the Redeemer. 3. Direction to Christ should fill us with joy. He is the way, the truth, and the life; the Saviour, the friend, the all in all; there is no other way of life, and there is no peace to the soul till he is found. When we are guided to him, therefore, our hearts should overflow with joy and praise; and we should humbly and thankfully follow every direction that leads to the Son of God. John xii. 35, 36. Did 11. The house. The place where he was born, or the place where they lived at that time. Fell down. This was the usual way of showing_respect or homage among the Jews. Esther viii. 3; Job i. 20; Dan. iii. 7; Ps. lxxii. 11: Is. xlvi. 6. Worshipped him. him homage as King of the Jews. See on ver. 2. ¶ Had opened their treasures. The treasures which they had brought, or the boxes, &c., in which they had brought their gold, &c. ¶ They presented unto him gifts. These were presented to him as King of the Jews, because they supposed he was to be a distinguished prince and conqueror. It was customary in the East to show respect for persons of distinction by making them presents or offerings of this kind. See Gen. xxxii. 14, xliii. 11; 1 Sam. x. 27; 1 Kings x. 2; Ps. lxxii. 10-15. This custom is still common in the East; and it is everywhere there unusual to approach a person of distin guished rank without a valuable present. Frankincense. This was a production of Arabia. It was a white resin or gum. It was obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark, and suffering the gum to flow out. It was highly odoriferous or fragrant when burned, and was, therefore, used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant of fering to God. See Ex. xxx. 8. Lev. xvi. 12. It is produced, also, in the East Indies, but chiefly in Arabia; and hence it has been supposed probable that the wise men came from Arabia. ¶ Myrrh. This was also a production of Arabia, and was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. The name denotes bitterness, and was given to it on account of its great bitterness. It was used chiefly in embalming the dead, because it had the property of preserving them from putrefaction. Compare John xix. 39. It was much used in Egypt and in Judea. It was obtained from a thorny tree, which grows eight or nine feet high. It was at an early period an article of commerce, (Gen. xxxvii. 25); and was an ingredient of the holy ointinent. Ex. xxx. 23. It was also used as an agreeable perfume. Esth. ii. 12. Ps. xlv. 8. Prov. vii. 17. It was, also, sometimes mingled with wine to form an article of drink. Such a drink was given to our Saviour, when about to be crucified, as a stupefying potion. Mark xv. 23. Compare Matth. xxvii. 34. These offerings were made because they were the most valuable which their country produced. They were tokens of respect and homage which they paid to the new-born King of the Jews. They evinced their high regard for him, and their belief that he was to be an illustrious prince: and the fact that their deed is recorded with approbation, shows us that we should offer our most valuable possessions, our all, to the Lord Jesus Christ. Wise men came from far to do him homage, and bowed down, and presented their best gifts and offerings. It is right that we give to him, also, our hearts, our property, our all. 12. Warned of God, &c. This was done, doubtless, because, if they had given Herod precise information where he was, it would have been easy for him to send forth and slay him. And from it we learn that God will watch over those whom he loves; that he knows how to foil the purposes of the wicked, and to deliver his own out of the hands of those who would destroy them. In a dream. See Note on ch. i. 20. 13. The angel. See ch. i. 20. ¶ Flee into Egypt. Egypt is situated to the south-west of Judea, and is distant from Bethlehem perhaps about sixty miles. It was at this time a Roman province. The Greek language was spoken there. There were many Jews there, who had a temple and synagogues; and Joseph, therefore, would be among his own countrymen, and yet beyond the reach of Herod. The jurisdiction of Herod extended only to the river Sihon, or Y river of Egypt, and of course, beyond that, Joseph was safe from his designs. For a description of Egypt, see my Notes on Isa. xix. It is remarkable that this is the only time in which our Saviour was out of Palestine, and that this was in the land where the children of Israel had suffered so much and so long under the oppression of the Egyptian kings. The very land which was the land of bondage and groaning for the Jews, became now the land of refuge and safety for the new-born King of Judea. God can cverturn nations and kingdoms, so that those whom he loves shall be safe anywhere. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by 15. The death of Herod. Herod died in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. It is not certainly known in what year he began his reign, and hence it is impossible to determine the time that Joseph remained in Egypt. The best chronologers have supposed that he died somewhere between two and four years after the birth of Christ; but at what particular time cannot now be determined. Nor can it be determined at what age Jesus was taken into Egypt. It seems probable that he was supposed to be a year old (see ver. 16), and of course the time that he remained in Egypt was not long. Herod died of a most painful and loathsome disease in Jericho. See Note on ver. 16; also Josephus, Ant. 17. 10. ¶ That it might be fulfilled, &c. This language is recorded in Hosea xi. 1. It there evidently speaks of God's calling his people out of Egypt under Moses. See Ex. iv. 22, 23. It might be said to be fulfilled in his calling Jesus from Egypt, because the words in Hosea aptly expressed this also. The same love which led him to deliver his people Israel from the land of Egypt, now led him also to deliver his Son from that place. The words used by Hosea would express both events. See Note on ch. i. 22. Perhaps, also, the place in Hosea became a proverb, to express any great deliverance from danger; and thus it could be said to be fulfilled in Christ, as other proverbs are in cases to which they are applicable. It can not be supposed that the passage in Hosea was a prophecy of the Messiah, but was only used by Matthew appropriately to express the event. the prophet, saying Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children a Hos.11.1. He expected to send an executioner and kill Jesus alone. But since he was disappointed in this, he thought he would accomplish the same thing, and be sure to destroy him, if he sent forth and put all the children in the place to death. This is an illustration of the power of anger. It stops at nothing. If it cannot accomplish just what it wishes, it does not hesitate to go much farther, and accomplish much more evil than it at first designed. He that has a wicked heart, and indulges in anger, knows not where it will end, and will commonly commit far more evil than he at first intended. ¶ Slew all the children. That is, all the male children. This is implied in the original. The design of Herod was to cut off him that had been born king of the Jews. His purpose, therefore, did not require that he should slay all the female children; and though he was cruel, yet we have no right to think that he attempted here any thing except what he thought to be for his own safety, and to secure himself from a rival. ¶ In all the coast thereof. The word coast is commonly applied now to the regions around the sea, as the sea coast. Here it means the adjacent places, the settlements or hamlets around Bethlehemall that were in that neighborhood. We do not know how large a place Bethlehem was; nor, of course, how many were slain. But it was not a large place, and the number could not be very great. It is not probable that it contained more than one or two thousand inhabitants; and in this case the number of children slain was not probably over twenty or thirty. ¶From 16. Mocked of the wise men. When two years old and under. Some writers he saw that he had been deceived by have said that this does not mean, in them; that is, that they did not return the original, that they had completed as he had expected. It does not mean two years; but that they had entered on that they did it for the purpose of mock- the second year, or had completed about ing or deriding him; but that he was one year, and entered on the second. disappointed in their not returning. But the meaning of the word is doubt. Exceeding wroth. Very angry. He ful. It is quite probable that they had been disappointed and deceived. I would not be particular about the exact |