The Flight to Egypt and the Massacre of the Innocents

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and instructed him to take the young child and his mother and flee to Egypt, as Herod sought to destroy the child. Joseph obeyed, departing by night and remaining in Egypt until the death of Herod (Matthew 2:13-15). The text does not say exactly where in Egypt they stayed. This departure was described as a fulfillment of a prophecy stating that the Lord called his son out of Egypt.

When Herod realized he had been mocked by the wise men, he became exceedingly angry. He ordered the execution of all male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding coasts who were two years old and under, according to the time he had determined from the wise men (Matthew 2:16). The text does not say how many children were killed or provide their names. The event is identified as the fulfillment of a prophecy by Jeremy the prophet regarding Lamentation and great mourning in Rama, with Rachel weeping for her children and refusing comfort.

After Herod died, an angel appeared again to Joseph in a dream in Egypt, instructing him to return to the land of Israel because those who sought the young child’s life were dead (Matthew 2:19-20). Joseph took the child and his mother and returned. However, upon hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. Being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee and dwelt in a city called Nazareth (Matthew 2:22-23). The passage concludes by noting this fulfilled the word of the prophets that he shall be called a Nazarene.