Matthew 2:13

The Escape to Egypt

2:13 After they had gone, an ¹  angel of the Lord ²  appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod ³  is going to look for the child to kill him.”

Matthew 2:16

2:16 When Herod ⁴  saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men ⁵  to kill all the children in Bethlehem ⁶  and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men.

Matthew 14:19

14:19 Then ⁷  he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, ⁸  who in turn gave them to the crowds. ⁹ 

Matthew 17:27

17:27 But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. ¹⁰  Take that and give it to them for me and you.”

Matthew 22:16

22:16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, ¹¹  saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ¹²  You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. ¹³ 

¹ tn Grk “behold, an angel.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

² tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:20.

³ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. Herod the Great was particularly ruthless regarding the succession to his throne.

⁴ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. Note the fulfillment of the prophecy given by the angel in 2:13.

⁵ tn Or “soldiers.”

⁶ map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”

⁸ tn Grk “And after instructing the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass, after taking the five loaves and the two fish, after looking up to heaven, he gave thanks, and after breaking the loaves he gave them to the disciples.” Although most of the participles are undoubtedly attendant circumstance, there are but two indicative verbs – “he gave thanks” and “he gave.” The structure of the sentence thus seems to focus on these two actions and has been translated accordingly.

⁹ tn Grk “to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.”

¹⁰ sn The four drachma coin was a stater (στατήρ, stathr), a silver coin worth four drachmas. One drachma was equivalent to one denarius, the standard pay for a day’s labor (L&N 6.80).

¹³ sn The Herodians are mentioned in the NT only once in Matt (22:16 = Mark 12:13) and twice in Mark (3:6; 12:13; some mss also read “Herodians” instead of “Herod” in Mark 8:15). It is generally assumed that as a group the Herodians were Jewish supporters of the Herodian dynasty (or of Herod Antipas in particular). In every instance they are linked with the Pharisees. This probably reflects agreement regarding political objectives (nationalism as opposed to submission to the yoke of Roman oppression) rather than philosophy or religious beliefs.

¹⁴ sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.

¹⁵ tn Grk “And it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”