Matthew 2:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

NIV: But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,

NASB: But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,

CSB: But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee.

NLT: But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee.

KJV: But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

NKJV: But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

King Herod, known as Herod the Great, has died, and an angel of the Lord has directed Joseph to take Jesus and Mary back to Israel (Matthew 2:19–21). The dire threat has passed. Joseph, though, detects a new threat once he is back in the land. He learns that one of Herod's sons, Archelaus, rules over Judea which is where Bethlehem is located. The thought of living directly under the rule of Herod's son would have made Joseph nervous, for good reasons.

Instead of passing his kingdom over to one son, Herod divided it into three parts. With Rome's approval, he gave one part to each of three of his sons. Archelaus was given Judea, Samaria, and Idumea to rule on behalf of the Roman Empire. Archelaus was known to be ruthless and cruel, like his late father. Joseph's fear of settling under his reign was validated when he received one last direction from the Lord in a dream: to settle in the northern part of Israel, instead.

Northern Israel, including Galilee and Perea, was ruled by Herod Antipas, while Herod Philip ruled over Iturea, Trachonitis, and other areas. Joseph settled Mary and Jesus in Galilee, where he had lived previously and under the rule of the more reasonable Herod Antipas. In the meantime, Archelaus ruled so badly that he was banished from Israel in AD 6. He was replaced for a time by a procurator rather than one of Herod's sons. Jesus grew up in Galilee, though, under the reign of Antipas.

Matthew 2:19–23 tells of Jesus' childhood return to Israel after the death of King Herod. Joseph is alerted by an angel in a dream that Herod has died; nobody who wanted Jesus dead is still living. When they return, another message from God warns Joseph not to move back to Bethlehem, in Judea. Rather, he is to settle in his hometown of Nazareth in the region of Galilee. In that way, Jesus grows up as a citizen of Nazareth, fulfilling yet another prophecy.

King Herod is surprised and troubled by the arrival of wise men from the east. They have come looking for a newborn king of the Jews. Herod directs the men to Bethlehem to find the boy for him. The wise men find and worship Jesus. Rather than cooperating with the wicked Herod, the wise men slip away. An angel warns Joseph to flee to Egypt with his family before Herod kills all the boys in Bethlehem two years old and younger to protect his throne. After Herod's death, an angel sends Joseph back to Israel and then God directs him to settle with Mary and Jesus in Nazareth in the region of Galilee.

Chapter 1 established the genealogy and miraculous conception of Jesus Christ. Sometime after Jesus' birth, a group of wise men from the east arrive in Jerusalem. They have been tracking a star that points to the birth of the king of the Jews. They find and worship Jesus, then leave without telling the wicked king, Herod, where to find the boy. Warned by an angel, Joseph flees with Jesus and Mary to Egypt before Herod orders the execution of all the boys in Bethlehem two years old and younger. When notified by an angel again, they return to Israel and settle in Nazareth, in the northern region of Israel known as Galilee. This leads into chapter 3, which leaps forward to Jesus' adulthood, and the ministry of John the Baptist.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.