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Quotes & Notes on:
Matthew 2:13-15
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John Wesley's Notes:
Vs 15
That it might be fulfilled-That is, whereby was fulfilled. The original
word frequently signifies, not the design of an action, but barely the
consequence or event of it.
Which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet-on another occasion:
Out of Egypt have I called my Son-which was now fulfilled as it were
anew; Christ being in a far higher sense the Son of God than Israel, of
whom the words were originally spoken. Ho 11:1.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
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Vs
13
* the angel. Mt 2:19; 1:20; Ac 5:19; 10:7; 12:11; Heb 1:13,14
* Arise. Mt 10:23; Re 12:6,14
* until. Mt 2:19,20; Jos 3:13; 4:10,18; Da 3:25,26; Ac 16:36
* for. Mt 2:16; Ex 1:22; 2:2,3; Job 33:15,17; Ac 7:19; Re 12:4
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Vs 14
Mt 2:20; 1:24; Ac 26:21
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Vs 15
* until. Mt 2:19; Ac 12:1-4,23,24
* that. Mt 2:17; 1:22; 4:14; 8:17; 12:16-18; 21:4; 26:54; 27:35; Lu
24:44 Joh 19:28,36; Ac 1:16
* Out. Ex 4:22; Nu 24:8; Ho 11:1
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Adam Clarke's Commentary:
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Vs
13
Flee into Egypt] Many Jews had settled in Egypt; not only those who had
fled thither in the time of Jeremiah, see Jer. 48; but many others who
had settled there also, on account of the temple which Onias IV. had
built at Heliopolis. Those who could speak the Greek tongue enjoyed many
advantages in that country: besides, they had the Greek version of the
Septuagint, which had been translated nearly 300 years before this time.
Egypt was now a Roman province, and the rage of Herod could not pursue
the holy family to this place. There is an apocryphal work in Arabic,
called the Gospel of the infancy, which pretends to relate all the acts
of Jesus and Mary while in Egypt. I have taken the pains to read this
through, and have found it to be a piece of gross superstition, having
nothing to entitle it to a shadow of credibility.
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Vs 15
Out of Egypt have I called my son.] This is quoted from Ho 11:1, where
the deliverance of Israel, and that only, is referred to. But as that
deliverance was extraordinary, it is very likely that it had passed into
a proverb, so that "Out of Egypt have I called my son," might have been
used to express any signal deliverance. I confess, I can see no other
reference it can have to the case in hand, unless we suppose, which is
possible, that God might have referred to this future bringing up of his
son Jesus from Egypt, under the type of the past deliverance of Israel
from the same land. Midrash Tehillin, on Ps 2:7, has these remarkable
words: I will publish a decree: this decree has been published in the
Law, in the Prophets, and in the Hagiographia. In the Law, Israel is my
first-born son: Ex 4:22. In the Prophets, Behold, my servant shall deal
prudently: Isa 52:13. In the Hagiographia, The Lord said unto my lord:
Ps 110:1. All these passages the Jews refer to the Messiah. See
Schoetgen.
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Family Bible Notes:
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Vs
13
Those who conscientiously follow the light which they have, will
receive, in the use of proper means, all the light they need.
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Vs 15
Out of Egypt have I called my Son; originally spoken by the prophet Ho
11:1; of the Israelitish nation as God's Son. But it was the appointment
of God that in this, as in so many other things, the history of Christ's
body the church should foreshadow his own personal history.
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1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
Vs 13
Christ having just been born, begins to be crucified for us, both
in himself, and also in his members.
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People's New Testament Commentary:
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Vs
13
And when they were departed. It is probable that the Magi were
led by the star to Bethlehem, offered their homage, departed, Joseph was
warned, and the holy family started to Egypt, all the same night.
Flee into Egypt. Egypt has a very intimate connection with Bible
history. It was the nearest of Roman provinces independent of Herod, was
the home of thousands of Joseph's countrymen, was the home of thousands
of Joseph's countrymen, and was convenient for a return at the proper
time.
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Vs 15
That it might be fulfilled, . . . Out of Egypt have I called my Son. The
prophecy here quoted is found in Ho 11:1. Israel, which was called out
of Egypt, is spoken of a son. Israel, however, was a type, and the
events portrayed in Israelitish history were typical prophecies. That
was the dispensation of types and shadows. Hence, the great outlines
were prophetic, and the calling of Israel out of Egypt a prophecy of the
Leader of the true Israel being called out of that land.
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Robertson's Word Pictures:
Vs 15
Until the death of Herod (heôs tęs teleutęs
Hęrôidou). The Magi had been warned in a dream not to report to Herod
and now Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and the child along (mellei
zętein tou apolesai gives a vivid picture of the purpose of Herod in
these three verbs). In Egypt Joseph was to keep Mary and Jesus till the
death of Herod the monster. Matthew quotes Ho 11:1 to show that this was
in fulfilment of God's purpose to call his Son out of Egypt. He may have
quoted again from a collection of testimonia rather than from the
Septuagint. There is a Jewish tradition in the Talmud that Jesus
"brought with him magic arts out of Egypt in an incision on his body" (Shabb.
104b). "This attempt to ascribe the Lord's miracles to Satanic agency
seems to be independent of Matthew, and may have been known to him, so
that one object of his account may have been to combat it" (McNeile).
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Albert Barnes' Commentary:
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Vs
13
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 river of
Egypt, and of course, beyond that, Joseph was safe from his designs. For
a description of Egypt, See Barnes for Isa 19:1. 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
overturn nations and kingdoms, so that those whom he loves shall be safe
anywhere.
{b} "for Herod" Job 33:15,17
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Vs
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, (Mt
2:16) 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
Barnes for Mt 2:16; also Josephus, Ant. xvii. 10.
That it might be fulfilled, etc. This language is recorded in Ho 11:1.
It there evidently speaks of God's calling his people out of Egypt under
Moses. See Ex 4:22,23. 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 Barnes for Mt 1:22. 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
cannot be supposed that the passage in Hosea was a prophecy of the
Messiah, but was only used by Matthew appropriately to express the
event.
{c} "Out of Egypt" Ho 11:1
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Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
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Vs
13
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to
Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his
mother--Observe this form of expression, repeated in Mt 2:14 --another
indirect hint that Joseph was no more than the Child's guardian. Indeed,
personally considered, Joseph has no spiritual significance, and very
little place at all, in the Gospel history.
and flee into Egypt--which, being near, as ALFORD says, and a Roman
province independent of Herod, and much inhabited by Jews, was an easy
and convenient refuge. Ah! blessed Saviour, on what a checkered career
hast Thou entered here below! At Thy birth there was no room for Thee in
the inn; and now all Judea is too hot for Thee. How soon has the sword
begun to pierce through the Virgin's soul (Lu 2:35)! How early does she
taste the reception which this mysterious Child of hers is to meet with
in the world! And whither is He sent? To "the house of bondage?" Well,
it once was that. But Egypt was a house of refuge before it was a house
of bondage, and now it has but returned to its first use.
and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young
child to destroy him--Herod's murderous purpose was formed before the
Magi had reached Bethlehem.
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Vs 14
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and
departed into Egypt--doubtless the same night.
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Vs 15
And was there until the death of Herod--which took place not very long
after this of a horrible disease; the details of which will be found in
JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 17.6.1,5,7,8].
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying-- (Ho 11:1).
Out of Egypt have I called my son--Our Evangelist here quotes directly
from the Hebrew, warily departing from the Septuagint, which renders the
words, "From Egypt have I recalled his children," meaning Israel's
children. The prophet is reminding his people how dear Israel was to God
in the days of his youth; how Moses was bidden to say to Pharaoh, "Thus
saith the Lord, Israel is My son, My first-born; and I say unto thee,
Let My son go, that he may serve Me; and if thou refuse to let him go,
behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born" (Ex 4:22,23); how,
when Pharaoh refused, God having slain all his first-born, "called His
own son out of Egypt," by a stroke of high-handed power and love.
Viewing the words in this light, even if our Evangelist had not applied
them to the recall from Egypt of God's own beloved, Only-begotten Son,
the application would have been irresistibly made by all who have learnt
to pierce beneath the surface to the deeper relations which Christ bears
to His people, and both to God; and who are accustomed to trace the
analogy of God's treatment of each respectively.
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Spurgeon Commentary:
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Vs
13
Angels were busy in those days, for they had special charge of their
Royal Master. Joseph’s high office, as guardian of the young child and
his mother, involved him in care, and made him an exile from his
country. We cannot expect to serve the Lord, and yet have an easy time
of it. We must cheerfully journey across a desert if we have a charge to
keep for our God; and we must tarry in banishment, if need be, and
never venture to come back till the Lord sends us our passports. Our
orders are, “Be thou there until I bring thee word.” The Lord’s servants
must wait for the Lord’s word before they make a move, whether it be to
go abroad or to come
home. Waiting is hard work, especially waiting in Egypt; but it is safe
to tarry till we have our marching orders.
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Vs 14
Providence both watched over the safety of the Lord, and enabled
Joseph to support the mother and child by the offerings of the eastern
sages. In the same manner is the church the peculiar care of heaven in
all its persecutions and needs.
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William Burkitt's Notes:
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Vs
13
Observe here, 1. Our Lord's humiliation, by persecution in the very
morning of his life; he was banished almost as soon as born. Flee into
Egypt, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Ungrateful Herod! Was this entertainment for a Savior? What! raise the
country upon Christ, as if a destroyer, rather than a Savior, had landed
upon thy coasts! Oh! barbarous injustice! to deny a subject the
protection of those laws under which he was born: the child of a beggar
might claim that as his birthright, which was here denied to the Son of
God.
Lord! how great an humiliation was this, not only to become an infant,
but in thine infancy to be hurried up and down, and driven out of thine
own land as a vagabond!
Observe, 2. How our Lord himself in a time of persecution flies for
safety, who was able a thousand ways to have preserved himself from the
danger: teaching us that in times of difficulty and danger, 'tis neither
unwarrantable nor unbecoming to preserve our lives by flight; surely
'tis no shame for us to fly, when our Captian doth both practise it and
command it also. Christ by his own example hath sanctified that state of
life unto us, and by his command has made it lawful for us.
Observe, 3. The place which Christ flies unto for safety, and that is
Egypt: an unlikely place, considered in itself; who could expect liberty
in that house of bondage? But any place is good, if God sends us
thither, and Christ be in our company. His presence can make Egypt
itself not only safe, but delightful also.
Observe, 4. How readily Joseph complies with the divine command:
instantly he arose, and took the young child, and fled. Faith gave wings
to his obedience, and instantly vanquished all his fears, and afforded a
fuller supply than all the treasures of the Arabian princes.
Teaching us, That when our direction is clear, our compliance is speedy.
We cannot be too forward and expeditious in the execution of divine
commands.
Observe, 5. Though Joseph at the divine command of God flies presently
from Herod's rage, yet he flies privately, by night, and prudently
begins his journey when least notice should be taken of his motion:
Teaching us, That although we have never so many promises of safety and
deliverance, yet we must not put God upon working miracles for our
preservation, when it may be obtained in the use of means.
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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
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Vs
13
Egypt had been a house of bondage to Israel, and particularly cruel to
the infants of Israel; yet it is to be a place of refuge to the holy
Child Jesus. God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve
the best of purposes. This was a trial of the faith of Joseph and Mary.
But their faith, being tried, was found firm. If we and our infants are
at any time in trouble, let us remember the straits in which Christ was
when an infant.
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The Fourfold Gospel:
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Vs
13
Now when they were departed. The text favors the idea that the arrival
and departure of the magi and the departure of Joseph for Egypt, all
occurred in one night. If so, the people of Bethlehem knew nothing of
these matters.
Arise. This command calls for immediate departure.
And flee into Egypt. This land was ever the refuge of Israel when
fleeing from famine and oppression. One hundred miles in a direct line
from Bethlehem would carry Joseph well over the border of Egypt. Two
hundred miles would bring him to the river Nile. In Egypt he would find
friends, possibly acquaintances. There were at that time about one
million Jews in the Nile valley. In Alexandria, a city of three hundred
thousand, from one-fifth to two-fifths of the population were Jews, two
of the five wards being given over to them; and the Talmud describes
how, in its great synagogue, all the men of like craft or trade sat
together. Thus Joseph might there find fellow-craftsmen, as did Paul in
Corinth (Ac 18:3).
For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. Thus joy at the
honor of the magi's visit and worship gives place to terror at the wrath
of Herod. The quiet days at Bethlehem are followed by a night of fear
and flight. The parents of Jesus were experiencing those conflicting
joys and sorrows which characterize the lives of all who have to do with
Christ (Mr 10:30; 2Ti 3:12).
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Vs
14
And was there until the death of Herod. As Herod died soon after the
flight to Egypt, the sojourn of the family of Jesus in that land must
have been brief, for they returned after his death.
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord. The message is
the Lord's, the words and voice are the prophet's.
Through the prophet. See Ho 11:1.
Out of Egypt did I call my son. This prophecy, no doubt, had a primary
reference to the Exodus, and was an echo of the words of Moses at Ex
4:22,23. In their type and antitype relationship the Old and New
Testaments may be likened to the shell and kernel of a nut. Israel was
Israel, and God's Son, because it included in itself the yet unformed
and unborn body which was later to be inhabited by the spirit of the
Word or Son of God. The seed of Abraham was called out of Egypt, that
the promised seed enveloped within it might have a body and nature
prepared in the land of liberty, and not in that of bondage. Israel was
the outer shell, and Christ the kernel, hence the double significance of
the prophecy--the twice repeated movement of the nation and the Man.
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Vs
15
And departed into Egypt. What a criticism upon Israel when Egypt, the
house of bondage, the seat of tyranny, the land of the immemorial
enemies of God's people, was regarded as a place of refuge from its
ruler. Jesus was saved by flight. God invariably prefers the ordinary to
the extraordinary means.
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