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20160301 Tuesday, March 1 2016
Matthew 02: Escape From Herod and The Rachel's Children Prophecy
by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan
"Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod"
The Messiah was born when the Roman Empire was beginning. Its first emperor, Octavian, who had just become "Caesar Augustus" (see A History Of Jerusalem: Pompey And The Caesars which has a photograph of an in-his-lifetime actual sculptured portrait of him) is famous for declaring the census that resulted in the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem (see also Bethlehem In History And Prophecy).
"2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7 KJV)
At the time of the birth of the Messiah, the Roman Senate (see The Politics Of Rome) had appointed Herod (who thereafter became known as "Herod the Great") as the "king of Judea" - with life and death dictatorial power over the people. Herod then began transforming much of Judea into a Roman reflection of himself.
Herod's greatest architectural showpiece was the expanded Temple in Jerusalem (it was constructed over the actual rebuilt Temple in the time of Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah; see Zerubbabel's Return, Ezra's Journey From Babylon and The Arrival Of Nehemiah's Cavalry), that became known as "the Herodian Temple," or "Herod's Temple" - which was occupied by men who were as subservient to Rome as Herod was - but were "great" within the limits of the little world that they had created for themselves.
Herod's reasons may have been different in regard to the Temple than for other places in Judea; Herod was, nominally, a practicing Jew, by his supposed conversion to Judaism by the Hasmoneans, the "Maccabees" (who Herod replaced as the ruler of Judea and Jerusalem; see Israel In History and Prophecy: Hasmonean Judea). By that time however, the religion of the people of Judah had become little more the "traditions" of the religious parties, such as the Pharisees and the Sadducees who invented Judaism (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Judaism and Israel Never Knew Purim, Hanukkah Or Judaism).
Herod is most infamous for his attempt to kill the newborn Messiah after he was informed of the birth by the "Magi" (see Why Did The Magi Come?) - and for the "slaughter of the innocents" in his attempt to do so.
"2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." (Matthew 2:1-12 KJV)
Note from the map above that the Messiah's flight into Egypt was not out of the Roman Empire, but out of Herod's jurisdiction in the Roman Empire. Herod then fulfilled another prophecy with his "slaughter of the innocents" (see The Rachel Prophecies).
"2:13 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, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." (Matthew 2:13-18 KJV)
The death of Herod partially solved the problem, for the time being. Other Herods would follow - and in years to come would bring about the deaths of John the Baptist and then the Messiah (see The Herods and Lethal Lust).
"2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:19-23 KJV)
Fact Finder: What did the Messiah prophesy about Herod's Temple? When did then happen?
See What Did Jesus Christ Say About Those Stones?
Matthew 02: Escape From Herod and The Rachel's Children Prophecy
by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan
"Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod"
The Messiah was born when the Roman Empire was beginning. Its first emperor, Octavian, who had just become "Caesar Augustus" (see A History Of Jerusalem: Pompey And The Caesars which has a photograph of an in-his-lifetime actual sculptured portrait of him) is famous for declaring the census that resulted in the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem (see also Bethlehem In History And Prophecy).
"2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7 KJV)
At the time of the birth of the Messiah, the Roman Senate (see The Politics Of Rome) had appointed Herod (who thereafter became known as "Herod the Great") as the "king of Judea" - with life and death dictatorial power over the people. Herod then began transforming much of Judea into a Roman reflection of himself.
Herod's greatest architectural showpiece was the expanded Temple in Jerusalem (it was constructed over the actual rebuilt Temple in the time of Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah; see Zerubbabel's Return, Ezra's Journey From Babylon and The Arrival Of Nehemiah's Cavalry), that became known as "the Herodian Temple," or "Herod's Temple" - which was occupied by men who were as subservient to Rome as Herod was - but were "great" within the limits of the little world that they had created for themselves.
Herod's reasons may have been different in regard to the Temple than for other places in Judea; Herod was, nominally, a practicing Jew, by his supposed conversion to Judaism by the Hasmoneans, the "Maccabees" (who Herod replaced as the ruler of Judea and Jerusalem; see Israel In History and Prophecy: Hasmonean Judea). By that time however, the religion of the people of Judah had become little more the "traditions" of the religious parties, such as the Pharisees and the Sadducees who invented Judaism (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Judaism and Israel Never Knew Purim, Hanukkah Or Judaism).
Herod is most infamous for his attempt to kill the newborn Messiah after he was informed of the birth by the "Magi" (see Why Did The Magi Come?) - and for the "slaughter of the innocents" in his attempt to do so.
"2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." (Matthew 2:1-12 KJV)
Note from the map above that the Messiah's flight into Egypt was not out of the Roman Empire, but out of Herod's jurisdiction in the Roman Empire. Herod then fulfilled another prophecy with his "slaughter of the innocents" (see The Rachel Prophecies).
"2:13 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, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." (Matthew 2:13-18 KJV)
The death of Herod partially solved the problem, for the time being. Other Herods would follow - and in years to come would bring about the deaths of John the Baptist and then the Messiah (see The Herods and Lethal Lust).
"2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:19-23 KJV)
Fact Finder: What did the Messiah prophesy about Herod's Temple? When did then happen?
See What Did Jesus Christ Say About Those Stones?