Mat 2:1-10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 2:1-2: 2:1-2 Attentiveness to the star indicates that the wise men were astrologers; their awareness of the Old Testament (perhaps Num 24:17 ) suggests that they were from Babylonia, where Jews were numerous. The men were Gentiles, which anticipates Gentile acceptance into the Kingdom of God (Matt 8:11-12 ; 15:21-28 ; 28:16-20 ). Throughout the entire Gospel, unlikely Gentiles worship the Jewish Messiah, while the Jewish leaders (Herod, high priests, teachers of religious law, Pharisees) oppose him. 2:1 Bethlehem was David’s hometown (1 Sam 16:1-13 ; John 7:42 ). • King Herod , or Herod the Great, had a meteoric career; he rose from being governor of Galilee to being king of Galilee, Judea, and Samaria (37–4 BC ). His career was marked by unflinching loyalty to Rome, magnificent building enterprises (including a substantial renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem), family hostility, suspicion, and ruthless murder of his own family members (Josephus, Antiquities 15.7.1-5) and of innocent children (Matt 2:16-18 ).

Summary for Matt 2:1-2: 2:1-2 ^a Attentiveness to the star indicates that the wise men were astrologers; their awareness of the Old Testament (perhaps Num 24:17 ^b) suggests that they were from Babylonia, where Jews were numerous. The men were Gentiles, which anticipates Gentile acceptance into the Kingdom of God (Matt 8:11-12 ^c; 15:21-28 ^d; 28:16-20 ^e). Throughout the entire Gospel, unlikely Gentiles worship the Jewish Messiah, while the Jewish leaders (Herod, high priests, teachers of religious law, Pharisees) oppose him. 2:1 ^f Bethlehem was David’s hometown (1 Sam 16:1-13 ^g; John 7:42 ^h).

• King Herod, or Herod the Great, had a meteoric career; he rose from being governor of Galilee to being king of Galilee, Judea, and Samaria (37–4 BC). His career was marked by unflinching loyalty to Rome, magnificent building enterprises (including a substantial renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem), family hostility, suspicion, and ruthless murder of his own family members (Josephus, Antiquities 15.7.1-5) and of innocent children (Matt 2:16-18 ⁱ).
2:2 ^j Matthew regularly describes Jesus as receiving worship (2:2 ^k, 8 ^l, 11 ^m; 8:2 ⁿ; 9:18 ^o; 14:33 ^p; 15:25 ^q; 20:20 ^r; 28:9 ^s, 17 ^t), thus identifying Jesus as God.
2:3 ^u Herod was deeply disturbed because he feared this child would rival him as king of the Jews.
2:4 ^v The leading priests had political and religious clout and ministered predominantly in the Temple (see 21:23 ^w). Herod gathered the teachers of religious law because they were trained to know Old Testament prophecies and were often influential Pharisees.
2:6 ^x Bethlehem, a small village, had a privileged status as the birthplace of King David. The religious leaders knew from the prophets (1:22 ^y) that the Messiah would be born there.

• King David had been a shepherd in his youth, and as king he became the shepherd of Israel (2 Sam 5:2 ^z). Micah 5:2-4 ^aa foresees the Messiah as a shepherd (cp. Ps 23:1 ^ab).
Summary for Matt 2:8-10: 2:8-10 ^ac The star was placed by God to guide the wise men to the Messiah (see Num 24:17 ^ad); the details are unknown.