The Evil Ruler

Friday, November 12, 2021

19-20 Later, when Herod died, God’s angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: “Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead.”

21-23 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother, and reentered Israel. However, when he heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father, Herod, as king in Judea, he was afraid to go there. But then Joseph was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee. On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth. This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

-Matthew 2:19-23 The Message

Verse 19:  But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,

Verse 20: “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”

Verse 21: So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Verse 22: 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,

Verse 23: and came and settled in Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Verses 19-22 studies: Herod died in 4 B.C. of an incurable disease. Rome did not trust Herod’s sons but trusted Herod. Because he knew that, he also knew that Rome would not give his successor as much power, ho Herod decided his kingdom should be split into three parts, one for each son.

1. Archelaus got Judea, Samaria, and Idumea.
2. Herod Antipus got Galilee and Perea.
3. Herod Phillip II got Trachonitis and Ituruea.

Archelaus continued in his father’s footsteps as a violet man by slaughtering 3,000 influential people. Then, nine years later, be banished. God did not want Joseph’s family to go into the region of this evil ruler.

Verse 23 study: Nazareth sat on a hill are in southern Galilee near the crossroads of the great caravan trade routes. The town was small. The Roman garrison in charge of Galilee was housed there. The town of Nazareth had constant communication with people from all over the world. The world news reached them quickly. The people of Nazareth had an attitude of independence that many Jews despised. John 1:46 could explain why Nathanael commented, “can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

Meanwhile, “He shall be called Nazarene,” does not have any records in the Old Testament of this statement. Scholars believe that Matthew refers to Isaiah 1:11, where the Hebrew word for “branch” is similar to Nazarene’s, or he could mean that a prophecy was not recorded in the Bible. Matthew paints the picture of Jesus as a true Messiah, announced by God through prophets. He points out that Jesus, the Messiah, had unexpected humble beginnings, just as the Old Testament had predicted in Micah 5:2.

Father, we know the true Messiah. But, unfortunately, not a lot of people do. Not in those days, and not today either. I pray we, as followers, can do good by your work to get the word out. In Jesus’ name. Amen!