Matthew 2:16-23 Herod Slaughters Babies

2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Then Herod, seeing that he was deluded by the wise men - So did his pride teach him to regard this action, as if it were intended to expose him to the derision of his subjects.... Proud men are quick to imaging insults.. Yet vain is their rage. The holy child is beyond their jurisdiction and their sword....and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under. A most cruel and barbarous action, and agrees with the character given of him, that he was in the beginning of his reign, and it seems too in the latter end of it.

2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

---Our Prince steps along a pathway paved with prophecies---

2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

In Rama was there a voice heard - These words, quoted from Jeremiah 31:15, were originally spoken concerning the captivity of the ten tribes; but are here elegantly applied to the murder of the innocents at Bethlehem. As if he had said, Bethlehem at this time resembled Rama; for as Rachel might be said to weep over her children, which were slaughtered or gone into captivity; so in Bethlehem, the mothers lamented bitterly their children, because they were slain.

2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Angels again! Yes, and they are busy still around the beloved of the Lord. 

2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

Angels again! Yes, and they are busy still around the beloved of the Lord. 

Joseph still watches over his honored charge, 

even as Joseph of old watched over Israel in Egypt. 

See the order in which the family is arranged—“the young child and his mother.” 

---The Lord is placed first. 

---It is not here, as at Rome, “the Virgin and child.” 

---The angel loathed to mention Herod’s name, but said, “They are dead.”

2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Joseph obeyed without question. “He arose,” that is to say, as soon as he was awake he set about doing as he was bidden.

2:22 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:

When he heard that Archelaus did reign - Herod, having put Antipater his eldest son to death, altered his will, and thus disposed of his dominions: he gave the tetrarchy of Galilee and Petrea to his son Antipas; the tetrarchy of Gaulonitis, Trachonitis, Batanea, and Paneadis, to his son Philip; and left the kingdom of Judea to his eldest remaining son, Archelaus. This son partook of the cruel and blood-thirsty disposition of his father: at one of the passovers, he caused three thousand of the people to be put to death in the temple and city.

2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
He shall be called a Nazarene - that is, he shall be despised and rejected, shall be a mark of public contempt and reproach.