# Matthew Chapter 2 --- ## Summary Jesus is born in Bethlehem in Judea and magi travel from the east to Jerusalem to seek him out. Herod and all Jerusalem are troubled by this news. Herod send the Magi to seek for the new king and report back their findings. They attend bearing gifts for the new king but do not report back to Herod. An Angel appears to Joseph and warns him to flee to Egypt to escape Herod's execution of all Hebrew children in Bethlehem under the age of 2 years old. Joseph is visited again upon Herod's death and advised to return to Israel. He does not return to Bethlehem but instead withdraws to Nathareth. ## Imagery and Theme's As with Chapter 1 Matthew is clearly attempting again to construct a case for Jesus the Messiah. There are attempts to demonstrate how Jesus meets the requirements for the Messiah most notably [Micah 5:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+5%3A2&version=ESV), [Hosea 11:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea+11%3A1&version=ESV) and [Jeremiah 31:15](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31%3A15&version=ESV). Admittedly Hosea and Jeremiah are pretty obscure passages that seem to pay little heed to context discussed within the text. To make matters worse another passage Matthew 2:23 does not appear in any Old Testament texts. This leaves us with the passage in Micah which is certainly more convincing when read in context. Interestingly there also seems to be attempts to draw parallel's with the life of Moses. Again, perhaps, this is an attempt to construct a case for Jesus as being the fulfilment of the law: 1. Moses * Amram's contemplation about his wife's pregnancy[^1] * Moses is destined to save his people[^2] * Pharaoh learns about the birth of Israel's liberator from magicians[^3] * Pharaoh orders the slaughter of male Hebrew Children[^4] 2. Jesus * Joseph's contemplation about Mary's pregnancy[^1] * Joseph is told Jesus will save his people from sins[^2] * Herod learns about the birth of Israels saviour from scribes[^3] * Herod orders the slaughter of male Hebrew infants in Bethlehem[^4] The narrative Matthew recalls deviates from Luke's account of the Birth of Jesus with no mention of Egypt in Luke. This is not evidence that Matthew's account is a historical fiction but suggests that Matthew is more concerned with Jesus being identified with, and seen as the natural succession of the law and the prophets. Another dimension to the mystery surrounding Jesus's childhood. On an aside I do find it compelling that Magi, those clearly versed in astrology are the first to herald the birth of Jesus. Certainly one would not expect those practicing -what perhaps then was permissible but now would be considered- occult practices to be informed an respond appropriately to a move of God. One does wonder what purpose this is meant to serve other than the provision of wonderful imagery for the festive period. [^1]: [Josephus, Ant.II Chapter 9 (Para 3-4)](https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-2.html) vs [Matthew 1:18-25](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A18-25&version=ESV) [^2]: [Josephus, Ant.II Chapter 9 (Para 3-4)](https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-2.html) vs [Matthew 1:21](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A21&version=ESV) [^3]: [Exodus 1:15](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1%3A15&version=ESV) vs [Matthew 2:4-6](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A4%E2%80%936&version=ESV) [^4]: [Exodus 1:22](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1%3A22&version=ESV) vs [Matthew 2:16-18](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A16-18&version=ESV)