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Text -- Matthew 2:7 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
2:7 Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Herod son of Antipater; king over Judea when Christ was born,a son of Herod the Great,a grandson of Herod the Great and son of Aristobulus and Berenice


Dictionary Themes and Topics: ZOROASTRIANISM | Wise Men | Stars | STAR OF THE MAGI | Miracles | Mary | Magic | Magi | MAGI, THE | Jesus, The Christ | Jesus | JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY | JESUS CHRIST, 4A | Herod the Great | Herod | Heathen | ENQUIRE | CAREFULLY | Bethlehem | APPEAR | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , JFB , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Mat 2:7 - -- Then Herod privily called the wise men ( tote Hērōidēs lathrai kalesas tous magous ). He had manifestly not told members of the Sanhedrin why h...

Then Herod privily called the wise men ( tote Hērōidēs lathrai kalesas tous magous ).

He had manifestly not told members of the Sanhedrin why he was concerned about the Messiah. So he conceals his motives to the Magi. And yet he "learned of them carefully"(ekribōsen ), "learned exactly"or "accurately."He was anxious to see if the Jewish prophecy of the birthplace of the Messiah agreed with the indications of the star to the Magi. He kept to himself his purpose. The time of the appearing star (ton chronon tou phainomenou asteros ) is not "the time when the star appeared,"but the age of the star’ s appearance.

JFB: Mat 2:7 - -- Herod has so far succeeded in his murderous design: he has tracked the spot where lies his victim, an unconscious babe. But he has another point to fi...

Herod has so far succeeded in his murderous design: he has tracked the spot where lies his victim, an unconscious babe. But he has another point to fix--the date of His birth--without which he might still miss his mark. The one he had got from the Sanhedrim; the other he will have from the sages; but secretly, lest his object should be suspected and defeated. So he

JFB: Mat 2:7 - -- Rather, "precisely."

Rather, "precisely."

JFB: Mat 2:7 - -- Presuming that this would be the best clue to the age of the child. The unsuspecting strangers tell him all. And now he thinks he is succeeding to a w...

Presuming that this would be the best clue to the age of the child. The unsuspecting strangers tell him all. And now he thinks he is succeeding to a wish, and shall speedily clutch his victim; for at so early an age as they indicate, He would not likely have been removed from the place of His birth. Yet he is wary. He sends them as messengers from himself, and bids them come to him, that he may follow their pious example.

Calvin: Mat 2:7 - -- 7.Then Herod, having secretly called the Magi The tyrant did not dare to avow his fear and uneasiness, lest he might give fresh courage to a people, ...

7.Then Herod, having secretly called the Magi The tyrant did not dare to avow his fear and uneasiness, lest he might give fresh courage to a people, by whom he knew that he was hated. In public, therefore, he pretends that this matter does not concern him, but inquires secretly, in order to meet immediate danger. Though a bad conscience made him timid, there can be no doubt that God struck his mind with an unusual fear, which for a time made him incapable of reflection, and almost deprived him of the use of reason. For nothing was more easy than to send one of his courtiers as an escort, under the pretense of courtesy, who would investigate the whole matter, and immediately return. Herod certainly was a man of no ordinary address, and of great courage. It is the more surprising that, in a case of extremity, and when the remedy is at hand, he remains in a state of amazement, and almost dead. Let us learn, that a miracle was effected, in rescuing the Son of God from the jaws of the lion. Not less at the present day does God infatuate his enemies, so that a thousand schemes of injuring and ruining his Church do not occur to their minds, and even the opportunities which are at hand are not embraced. The trick which Herod practiced on the Magi, by pretending that he also would come for the purpose of worshipping Christ, was avoided by the Lord, as we shall see, in another way. But as Herod’s dread of arousing the people against him deprived him of the use of his reason, so again he is driven by such madness, that he does not hesitate or shudder at the thought of provoking God. For he knew that, if a King were born, it was ordained by God, that he should raise up the throne “of David, which was fallen,” (Amo 9:11.) He does not therefore attack men, but furiously dares to fight with God. Two things claim our attention. He was seized with a spirit of giddiness, to attack God; and, on the other hand, his manner of acting was childish: for his design was frustrated, so that he was like a “blind man groping in darkness.” 185

Defender: Mat 2:7 - -- Herod, sometimes called Herod the Great was the son of Antipater, a part-Jew of Edomite descent. He was the procurator of Judaea from 47 b.c. until he...

Herod, sometimes called Herod the Great was the son of Antipater, a part-Jew of Edomite descent. He was the procurator of Judaea from 47 b.c. until he died in 4 b.c., soon after the flight of Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus into Egypt (Mat 2:19). This indicates that Christ must have been born in 4 b.c. or earlier.

Defender: Mat 2:7 - -- Evidently, the star had appeared to the wise men only while they were still "in the east" (Mat 2:2). Even though they probably knew (Mic 5:2) that He ...

Evidently, the star had appeared to the wise men only while they were still "in the east" (Mat 2:2). Even though they probably knew (Mic 5:2) that He would be born in Bethlehem (a village six miles away from Jerusalem), they would naturally travel first to Jerusalem as a courtesy to the king. They would also assume that the arrival of the long-awaited King would be an occasion for rejoicing and by the time they could complete their long pilgrimage from Persia, He would surely have been brought to the capital to be worshiped by His people. How wrong they were about that!"

TSK: Mat 2:7 - -- Mat 26:3-5; Exo 1:10; 1Sa 18:21; Psa 10:9, Psa 10:10, Psa 55:21, Psa 64:4-6, Psa 83:3, Psa 83:4; Isa 7:5-7; Eze 38:10,Eze 38:11; Rev 12:1-5, Rev 12:15

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Mat 2:7 - -- Privily - Secretly, privately. He did this to ascertain the time when Jesus was born. Diligently - Accurately, exactly. He took pains to ...

Privily - Secretly, privately. He did this to ascertain the time when Jesus was born.

Diligently - Accurately, exactly. He took pains to learn the precise time when the star appeared. He did this because he naturally concluded that the star appeared just at the time of his birth, and he wished to know precisely how old the child was.

Poole: Mat 2:7 - -- Herod having heard the answer of the priests and scribes, did not think fit to make any noise of it amongst the people; he knew the Jews were apt en...

Herod having heard the answer of the priests and scribes, did not think fit to make any noise of it amongst the people; he knew the Jews were apt enough to rebel, and being so little a conqueror had no reason to presume much of their goodwill towards him; he therefore calls the wise men privily, and takes no notice of any King they talked of, but only inquires the time when this new star first appeared. To what end he made this inquiry may be learned from Mat 2:16 ; only that he might be able to govern himself in his bloody decree, that he might neither destroy more children than would serve his present design, nor yet leave this Child behind.

Gill: Mat 2:7 - -- Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men,.... As soon as he had got the intelligence of the place of the Messiah's birth, he called, or o...

Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men,.... As soon as he had got the intelligence of the place of the Messiah's birth, he called, or ordered the wise men to be brought into his presence, and that in a very private manner; lest the Jews, who knew his hypocrisy and deceit, should perceive his views, and enter into his designs, and so give the wise men some instructions, which would be prejudicial to the scheme he was forming in his own mind to destroy the young king; and having called them to him, he

inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. He took a good deal of pains in examining them, he sifted them, and inquired of them with much accuracy, and exactness, the precise time of the star's appearing to them, how long ago it was when it was first observed by them; that hereby he might exactly know the age of Christ, and the better execute the bloody design he had formed, should the wise men disappoint him; and the better detect an impostor, should another afterwards arise, and set up himself for the king of the Jews.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Mat 2:7 See the note on King Herod in 2:1.

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Mat 2:1-23 - --1 The wise men from the east enquire after Christ;3 at which Herod is alarmed.9 They are directed by a star to Bethlehem, worship him, and offer their...

Maclaren: Mat 2:1-12 - --The First-Fruits Of The Gentiles Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the e...

MHCC: Mat 2:1-8 - --Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of Christ and his salvation. But ...

Matthew Henry: Mat 2:1-8 - -- It was a mark of humiliation put upon the Lord Jesus that, though he was the Desire of all nations, yet his coming into the world was little obs...

Barclay: Mat 2:3-9 - --It came to the ears of Herod that tile wise men had come from the East, and that they were searching for the little child who had been born to be Kin...

Constable: Mat 1:1--4:12 - --I. The introduction of the King 1:1--4:11 "Fundamentally, the purpose of this first part is to introduce the rea...

Constable: Mat 2:1-23 - --C. The King's childhood 2:1-23 There is nothing in chapter 2 that describes Jesus Himself. Therefore Mat...

Constable: Mat 2:1-12 - --1. The prophecy about Bethlehem 2:1-12 2:1-2 When did the Magi visit Jesus in Bethlehem?74 There are several factors that point to a time about a year...

College: Mat 2:1-23 - --MATTHEW 2 C. THE INFANCY OF JESUS (2:1-23) Matthew tells his story of Jesus in terms that resonate with OT imagery and the sacred stories of Israel'...

McGarvey: Mat 2:1-12 - -- XIII. EASTERN WISE-MEN, OR MAGI, VISIT JESUS, THE NEW-BORN KING. (Jerusalem and Bethlehem, B. C. 4.) aMATT. II. 1-12.    a1 Now when ...

Lapide: Mat 2:1-23 - --CHAPTER 2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda in the days of king Herod. It is better to read here in the Greek in Bethlehem-Juda. Juda mea...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Matthew (Book Introduction) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW By Way of Introduction The passing years do not make it any plainer who actually wrote our Greek Matthew. Papias r...

JFB: Matthew (Book Introduction) THE author of this Gospel was a publican or tax gatherer, residing at Capernaum, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. As to his identity with t...

JFB: Matthew (Outline) GENEALOGY OF CHRIST. ( = Luke 3:23-38). (Mat. 1:1-17) BIRTH OF CHRIST. (Mat 1:18-25) VISIT OF THE MAGI TO JERUSALEM AND BETHLEHEM. (Mat 2:1-12) THE F...

TSK: Matthew (Book Introduction) Matthew, being one of the twelve apostles, and early called to the apostleship, and from the time of his call a constant attendant on our Saviour, was...

TSK: Matthew 2 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Mat 2:1, The wise men from the east enquire after Christ; Mat 2:3, at which Herod is alarmed; Mat 2:9, They are directed by a star to Bet...

Poole: Matthew 2 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 2

MHCC: Matthew (Book Introduction) Matthew, surnamed Levi, before his conversion was a publican, or tax-gatherer under the Romans at Capernaum. He is generally allowed to have written h...

MHCC: Matthew 2 (Chapter Introduction) (Mat 2:1-8) The wise men's search after Christ. (Mat 2:9-12) The wise men worship Jesus. (Mat 2:13-15) Jesus carried into Egypt. (Mat 2:16-18) Hero...

Matthew Henry: Matthew (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Gospel According to St. Matthew We have now before us, I. The New Testament of our Lord and Savior...

Matthew Henry: Matthew 2 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter, we have the history of our Saviour's infancy, where we find how early he began to suffer, and that in him the word of righteousnes...

Barclay: Matthew (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW The Synoptic Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke are usually known as the Synoptic Gospels. Synopt...

Barclay: Matthew 2 (Chapter Introduction) The Birthplace Of The King (Mat_2:1-2) The Homage Of The East (Mat_2:1-2 Continued) The Crafty King (Mat_2:3-9) Gifts For Christ (Mat_2:9-12) Es...

Constable: Matthew (Book Introduction) Introduction The Synoptic Problem The synoptic problem is intrinsic to all study of th...

Constable: Matthew (Outline) Outline I. The introduction of the King 1:1-4:11 A. The King's genealogy 1:1-17 ...

Constable: Matthew Matthew Bibliography Abbott-Smith, G. A. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T. & T. Cl...

Haydock: Matthew (Book Introduction) THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW INTRODUCTION. THIS and other titles, with the names of those that wrote the Gospels,...

Gill: Matthew (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO MATTHEW The subject of this book, and indeed of all the writings of the New Testament, is the Gospel. The Greek word ευαγγελ...

College: Matthew (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION It may surprise the modern reader to realize that for the first two centuries of the Christian era, Matthew's...

College: Matthew (Outline) OUTLINE I. ESTABLISHING THE IDENTITY AND ROLE OF JESUS THE CHRIST - Matt 1:1-4:16 A. Genealogy of Jesus - 1:1-17 B. The Annunciation to Joseph...

Lapide: Matthew (Book Introduction) PREFACE. —————— IN presenting to the reader the Second Volume [Matt X to XXI] of this Translation of the great work of Cornelius à Lapi...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


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