Matthew 2:20

20 Arise, take to [thee] the little child and its mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who sought the life of the little child are dead.

Matthew 2:20 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 2:20

Saying, arise, and take the young child and his mother,
&c.] Joseph strictly observed and obeyed the divine command of the angel, who had ordered him to continue in Egypt, till he brought him word what he should do, and where he should go: here he was with Mary and Jesus, when the angel bid him arise, and take them with him,

and go into the land of Israel.
He does not bid him go to Bethlehem or Nazareth, or any particular place, but the land of Israel, where he might go even into any part of it, without fear; and gives this reason for it,

for they are dead which sought the young child's life;
meaning either Herod only, the plural number being put for the singular; or including Antipater his son with him, who might be equally concerned in seeking the life of Christ; since he was next heir, and whom Herod ^F26 ordered to be slain about five days before his death; or else designing with him many of the executioners of the infants at Bethlehem, and thereabout; who might have been, as well as he, miserable instances of divine vengeance, for their concern in that barbarous tragedy.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Joseph. de Bello Judaico, l. 1. c. 33. sect. 8, 9.

Matthew 2:20 In-Context

18 A voice has been heard in Rama, weeping, and great lamentation: Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19 But Herod having died, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

20 Arise, take to [thee] the little child and its mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who sought the life of the little child are dead.

21 And he arose and took to [him] the little child and its mother, and came into the land of Israel;

22 but having heard that 'Archelaus reigns over Judaea, instead of Herod his father,' he was afraid to go there; and having been divinely instructed in a dream, he went away into the parts of Galilee,

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit. the seekers of.' The article and participle are used as a noun, characterizing the persons.