Matthew 2:19-22

The Return to Nazareth

2:19 After Herod ¹  had died, an ²  angel of the Lord ³  appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 2:20 saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 2:21 So ⁴  he got up and took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel. 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus ⁵  was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, ⁶  he was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee.

[2:19]  ¹ 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]  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).

[2:19]  ³ tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:20.

[2:21]  ⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s instructions.

[2:22]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1.