Matthew 2:1-2

The Visit of the Wise Men

2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem ¹  in Judea, in the time ²  of King Herod, ³  wise men ⁴  from the East came to Jerusalem ⁵  2:2 saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose ⁶  and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 8:11

8:11 I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet ⁷  with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ⁸  in the kingdom of heaven,

Matthew 24:27

24:27 For just like the lightning ⁹  comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.

Matthew 2:9

2:9 After listening to the king they left, and once again ¹⁰  the star they saw when it rose ¹¹  led them until it stopped above the place where the child was.

[2:1]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[2:1]  ² tn Grk “in the days.”

[2:1]  ³ sn King Herod was Herod the Great, who ruled Palestine from 37 b.c. until he died in 4 b.c. He was known for his extensive building projects (including the temple in Jerusalem) and for his cruelty.

[2:1]  ⁴ sn The Greek term magi here describes a class of wise men and priests who were astrologers (L&N 32.40).

[2:1]  ⁵ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[2:2]  ⁶ tn Or “in its rising,” referring to the astrological significance of a star in a particular portion of the sky. The term used for the “East” in v. 1 is ἀνατολαί (anatolai, a plural form that is used typically of the rising of the sun), while in vv. 2 and 9 the singular ἀνατολή (anatolh) is used. The singular is typically used of the rising of a star and as such should not normally be translated “in the east” (cf. BDAG 74 s.v. 1: “because of the sg. and the article in contrast to ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν, vs. 1, [it is] prob. not a geograph. expr. like the latter, but rather astronomical…likew. vs. 9”).

[8:11]  ¹¹ tn Grk “and recline at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away. The word “banquet” has been supplied to clarify for the modern reader the festive nature of the imagery. The banquet imagery is a way to describe the fellowship and celebration of being among the people of God at the end.

[8:11]  ¹² tn Grk “and Isaac and Jacob,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[24:27]  ¹⁶ sn The Son of Man’s coming in power will be sudden and obvious like lightning. No one will need to point it out.

[2:9]  ²¹ tn Grk “and behold the star.”

[2:9]  ²² tn See the note on the word “rose” in 2:2.