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1richardbsmith
There are three selections for the coming gospel reading. Two are from Matthew and are listed here. The third is from Luke, and is listed in another topic.
Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
"And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel."
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
Now after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead."
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."
Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
"And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel."
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
Now after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead."
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."
2richardbsmith
I thought it would be good to look at the Micah prophecy. Micah calls for "one who is to be a ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old." This seems to me to be a nostalgic look back to the time of David, the period of the glory of Israel.
One commentary puts Micah chapter 5 after the return, except for the inserted verses 5 and 6 which refer to Assyria and not to the coming king. The verses seem also to me to be an insertion, but I do not see the need to date 5:2-4 late, after the return from exile.
Looking also in 1 Samuel 16:1, 11-13, for the sense of David coming out of Bethlehem, chosen of Yahweh.
It seems to me that Micah is comparing present rulers with the glory of David and the ideals associated with his rule. The idea that Yahweh will again act to bring one who will stand and shepherd by the might of Yahweh by the majesty of the Name.
It does not seem to me to be a specific prediction that Bethlehem will be the home of a new king, as it is a reference to David's home as a nostalgic symbol of Yahweh's certain anointing.
One commentary puts Micah chapter 5 after the return, except for the inserted verses 5 and 6 which refer to Assyria and not to the coming king. The verses seem also to me to be an insertion, but I do not see the need to date 5:2-4 late, after the return from exile.
Looking also in 1 Samuel 16:1, 11-13, for the sense of David coming out of Bethlehem, chosen of Yahweh.
It seems to me that Micah is comparing present rulers with the glory of David and the ideals associated with his rule. The idea that Yahweh will again act to bring one who will stand and shepherd by the might of Yahweh by the majesty of the Name.
It does not seem to me to be a specific prediction that Bethlehem will be the home of a new king, as it is a reference to David's home as a nostalgic symbol of Yahweh's certain anointing.
3richardbsmith
The Jerome Commentary points to the targums of Number 24.17 as a possible reference, with the star account being a midrash of Balaam's 4th prophecy.
Jesus then is the prophesied ruler, destined to be the power sceptre of Israel and to slay the princes of Moab.
From the Targum of Numbers 24.17.
"When the mighty King of Jakob's house shall reign, and the Meshiha, the Power‑sceptre of Israel, be anointed, He will slay the princes of the Moabaee, and bring to nothing all the children of Sheth, the armies of Gog who will do battle against Israel and all their carcases shall fall before Him."
Jesus then is the prophesied ruler, destined to be the power sceptre of Israel and to slay the princes of Moab.
From the Targum of Numbers 24.17.
"When the mighty King of Jakob's house shall reign, and the Meshiha, the Power‑sceptre of Israel, be anointed, He will slay the princes of the Moabaee, and bring to nothing all the children of Sheth, the armies of Gog who will do battle against Israel and all their carcases shall fall before Him."
4richardbsmith
Some other OT scripture that might interpret the Matthew narrative of the wise men visit:
Isaiah 60:6 "They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD."
Psalm 72.10-11 "May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts."
Isaiah 60:6 "They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD."
Psalm 72.10-11 "May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts."
5richardbsmith
Mt 2.15 quotes Hosea 11.1
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son."
Son in the prophecy is the people of Israel who are called out of bondage by God. But who then, in Hosea, continue to follow idols.
The quote though does apply the Exodus idea to Jesus, as the new Israel, coming out of bondage.
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son."
Son in the prophecy is the people of Israel who are called out of bondage by God. But who then, in Hosea, continue to follow idols.
The quote though does apply the Exodus idea to Jesus, as the new Israel, coming out of bondage.
6richardbsmith
Jeremiah 31.15 is quoted to interpret Herod's murder of children in Bethlehem. Jeremiah 31. 1-22 is a series of 4 poems. (I think that 21-22 is the conclusion to 1-6, but who cares.)
The 4 poems all have the theme of restoration, return, redemption.
Matthew uses verse 15 powerfully well. Rachel died in child birth (Gen 35.19)- so the voice crying to bemoan the loss of the children is the mother who died giving the children life. A voice crying from her grave.
The reference in Jeremiah is the lost Northern kingdom and tribes. The setting of verse 31.15 though is that the LORD will restore. "There is hope for your future."
In Matthew, then the account of the killing of the children calls attention to the act of the LORD to restore, and that action is in the person of the infant Jesus.
The 4 poems all have the theme of restoration, return, redemption.
Matthew uses verse 15 powerfully well. Rachel died in child birth (Gen 35.19)- so the voice crying to bemoan the loss of the children is the mother who died giving the children life. A voice crying from her grave.
The reference in Jeremiah is the lost Northern kingdom and tribes. The setting of verse 31.15 though is that the LORD will restore. "There is hope for your future."
In Matthew, then the account of the killing of the children calls attention to the act of the LORD to restore, and that action is in the person of the infant Jesus.
7richardbsmith
Jeremiah 40.1 The Oxford Annotated Bible note indicates that Ramah, north of Jerusalem, was a point of departure for the Jerusalem exiles being deported to Babylon.
Ramah is one of two locations that are traditionally associated with the burial of Rachel. The other is Bethlehem.
Ramah is one of two locations that are traditionally associated with the burial of Rachel. The other is Bethlehem.
8richardbsmith
In the last section of this reading the family is called out of Egypt and returns to Nazareth. Matthew points to a prophecy in verse 2.23 that has not been identified with any specific scripture reference.
Typically commentaries point to the idea of nazirite vows. The requirements are put forth in Numbers 6.1-21. References given include Samson Judges 13 and 1 Samuel 1.11. Josephus and others refer to nazirites.
The word itself is Hebrew for one who has been dedicated.
Matthew may be using Jesus' home town to interpret Jesus as one who is dedicated to the LORD.
Another scripture that is mentioned with 2.23 is Isaiah 11.1. The Hebrew for branch is netser, which has a similar sound to nazir, though not the same consonants.
Typically commentaries point to the idea of nazirite vows. The requirements are put forth in Numbers 6.1-21. References given include Samson Judges 13 and 1 Samuel 1.11. Josephus and others refer to nazirites.
The word itself is Hebrew for one who has been dedicated.
Matthew may be using Jesus' home town to interpret Jesus as one who is dedicated to the LORD.
Another scripture that is mentioned with 2.23 is Isaiah 11.1. The Hebrew for branch is netser, which has a similar sound to nazir, though not the same consonants.
