13 Now when they had gone , behold , an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said , "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt , and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night , and left for Egypt . 15 He remained there until the death of Herod . This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet : " OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON ."
16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi , he became very enraged , and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity , from two years old and under , according to the time which he had determined from the magi . 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled : 18 " A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH , WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING , RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN ; AND SHE REFUSED e TO BE COMFORTED , BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 2:13-18
Commentary on Matthew 2:13-15
(Read Matthew 2:13-15)
Egypt had been a house of bondage to Israel, and particularly cruel to the infants of Israel; yet it is to be a place of refuge to the holy Child Jesus. God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes. This was a trial of the faith of Joseph and Mary. But their faith, being tried, was found firm. If we and our infants are at any time in trouble, let us remember the straits in which Christ was when an infant.
Commentary on Matthew 2:16-18
(Read Matthew 2:16-18)
Herod killed all the male children, not only in Bethlehem, but in all the villages of that city. Unbridled wrath, armed with an unlawful power, often carries men to absurd cruelties. It was no unrighteous thing with God to permit this; every life is forfeited to his justice as soon as it begins. The diseases and deaths of little children are proofs of original sin. But the murder of these infants was their martyrdom. How early did persecution against Christ and his kingdom begin! Herod now thought that he had baffled the Old Testament prophecies, and the efforts of the wise men in finding Christ; but whatever crafty, cruel devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand.