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 2:19

The Return to Nazareth

2:19 After Herod ⁴  had died, an ⁵  angel of the Lord ⁶  appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

Matthew 2:22

2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus ⁷  was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, ⁸  he was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee.

[2:13]  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).

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

[2:13]  ³ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. Herod the Great was particularly ruthless regarding the succession to his throne.

[2:19]  ⁴ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. When Herod the Great died in 4 b.c., his kingdom was divided up among his three sons: Archelaus, who ruled over Judea (where Bethlehem was located, v. 22); Philip, who became tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis (cf. Luke 3:1); and Antipas, who became tetrarch of Galilee.

[2:19]  ⁵ 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).

[2:19]  ⁶ tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:20.

[2:22]  ⁷ sn Archelaus took after his father Herod the Great in terms of cruelty and ruthlessness, so Joseph was afraid to go there. After further direction in a dream, he went instead to Galilee.

[2:22]  ⁸ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1.