2:1 Now when 1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem of a Judaea in
the days of Herod the king, behold, there came b wise men
from the east to Jerusalem,
(1) Christ a poor child, laid down in a crib, and though given
no attention by his own people, receives nonetheless a noble
witness of his divinity from heaven, and of his kingly
estate from strangers: which his own people unknowingly
let happen, although they did not acknowledge him.
(a) For there was another in the tribe of Zebulun.
(b) Wise and learned men: It is a Persian word which they use
frequently.
2:3 When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was c
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
(c) Was much moved, for he was a foreigner, and became ruler
by force; and the Jews were troubled; for wickedness is
mad and raging.
2:4 And when he had gathered all the d chief priests and e
scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where
Christ should be born.
(d) The chief priests, that is, such as were of Aaron's
family, who were divided into twenty-four orders.
(1Ch 24:5 2Ch 36:14).
(e) They that expound the law to the people, for the Hebrews
take this word for another, which means as much
as to expound and to declare.
2:6 And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the f
least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come
a Governor, that g shall rule my people Israel.
(f) Though you are a small town, yet you will be very famous
and notable through the birth of the Messiah, who will
be born in you.
(g) That will rule and govern: for kings are rightly called
leaders and shepherds of the people.
2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young
child with Mary his mother, and h fell down, and
worshipped him: and when they had opened their i
treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh.
(h) A kind of humble and lovely reverence.
(i) The rich and costly presents, which they brought him.
2:12 And being k warned of God in a dream that they should not
return to Herod, they departed into their own country
another way.
(k) God warned and told them of it, even though they did
not ask him.
2:132 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, and flee into Egypt,
and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will
seek the young child to destroy him.
(2) Christ having just been born, begins to be crucified for
us, both in himself, and also in his members.
2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken l by Jeremy the
prophet, saying,
(l) For God speaketh by the mouth of the prophets.
2:18 In Rama was there m a voice heard, lamentation, and
weeping, and great mourning, n Rachel weeping [for] her
children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
(m) A voice of lamenting, weeping and howling.
(n) That is to say, All who live around Bethlehem: for
Rachel, Jacob's wife who died in childbirth, was buried
by the road that leads to this town, which is also
called Ephratah, because of the fruitfulness of the
soil, and the plentifulness of corn.
2:193 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
(3) Christ is brought up in Nazareth, after the death of the
tyrant by God's providence: that by the very name of the
place it might plainly appear to the world that he is the
Lord's true Nazarite.
