Mat 2:1-2 | 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.