Matthew 2:12-13

2:12 After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, ¹  they went back by another route to their own country.

The Escape to Egypt

2:13 After they had gone, an ²  angel of the Lord ³  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 ⁴  is going to look for the child to kill him.”

[2:12]  ¹ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1.

[2:13]  ² 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).

[2:13]  ³ tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:20.

[2:13]  ⁴ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. Herod the Great was particularly ruthless regarding the succession to his throne.