Matthew 2:22 - But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
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What does "Matthew 2:22" mean?
This verse from Matthew 2:22 describes a key moment in the early life of Jesus: Joseph's decision about where to settle his family after fleeing to Egypt. Let's break it down:
"But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod...": This tells us that Joseph received news about the political situation in Judea. Herod the Great, who had ordered the slaughter of infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:16-18), had died. However, his son Archelaus had taken over as ruler. Archelaus was known for his cruelty and ruthlessness, just like his father.
"...he was afraid to go there.": Joseph's fear is understandable. He knew that Archelaus was likely to continue his father's tyrannical rule, and Judea would still be a dangerous place for the family. Given Herod's previous attempt to kill Jesus, the threat was still very real.
"Being warned in a dream...": This is consistent with Matthew's portrayal of Joseph as a righteous man who is guided by God through dreams. He had previously received dreams instructing him to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13) and to return to the land of Israel (Matthew 2:19-20).
"...he withdrew into the region of Galilee.": Because of his fear of Archelaus and God's guidance in a dream, Joseph avoids Judea entirely and moves to Galilee, a region in the northern part of the land. Galilee was ruled by another of Herod's sons, Herod Antipas, who was generally considered less cruel than Archelaus. This decision ultimately leads to Jesus growing up in Nazareth, a town in Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy of him being called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).
In summary, this verse highlights the following points:
Political Context: It emphasizes the volatile and dangerous political climate of Judea under the rule of Herod's successor, Archelaus.
Divine Guidance: It shows Joseph's obedience to God's direction through dreams.
Safety and Protection: It demonstrates Joseph's concern for the safety of his family, particularly the infant Jesus.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: It explains why Jesus grew up in Galilee, specifically in Nazareth.
The verse is significant because it connects the events of Jesus' early life to the political realities of the time and demonstrates how God orchestrated events to protect him and fulfill biblical prophecy.
Matthew 2:22 - But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
What does "Matthew 2:22" mean?
This verse from Matthew 2:22 describes a key moment in the early life of Jesus: Joseph's decision about where to settle his family after fleeing to Egypt. Let's break it down:
"But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod...": This tells us that Joseph received news about the political situation in Judea. Herod the Great, who had ordered the slaughter of infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:16-18), had died. However, his son Archelaus had taken over as ruler. Archelaus was known for his cruelty and ruthlessness, just like his father.
"...he was afraid to go there.": Joseph's fear is understandable. He knew that Archelaus was likely to continue his father's tyrannical rule, and Judea would still be a dangerous place for the family. Given Herod's previous attempt to kill Jesus, the threat was still very real.
"Being warned in a dream...": This is consistent with Matthew's portrayal of Joseph as a righteous man who is guided by God through dreams. He had previously received dreams instructing him to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13) and to return to the land of Israel (Matthew 2:19-20).
"...he withdrew into the region of Galilee.": Because of his fear of Archelaus and God's guidance in a dream, Joseph avoids Judea entirely and moves to Galilee, a region in the northern part of the land. Galilee was ruled by another of Herod's sons, Herod Antipas, who was generally considered less cruel than Archelaus. This decision ultimately leads to Jesus growing up in Nazareth, a town in Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy of him being called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).
In summary, this verse highlights the following points:
Political Context: It emphasizes the volatile and dangerous political climate of Judea under the rule of Herod's successor, Archelaus.
Divine Guidance: It shows Joseph's obedience to God's direction through dreams.
Safety and Protection: It demonstrates Joseph's concern for the safety of his family, particularly the infant Jesus.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: It explains why Jesus grew up in Galilee, specifically in Nazareth.
The verse is significant because it connects the events of Jesus' early life to the political realities of the time and demonstrates how God orchestrated events to protect him and fulfill biblical prophecy.