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Explanation for:
Matthew
2
:
19
But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Athanasius the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c889457b66f7fc274d1066_Athanasius%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Those who plotted against the life of Jesus included King Herod and his son Antipater. However, Antipater met his end, pierced by a sword in prison, as he was found guilty of malice towards his brothers Alexander and Aristobulus, along with plans to poison them. Herod himself faced a miserable demise, afflicted by numerous diseases. He suffered: 1) a fever more intense than that of a furnace; 2) severe itching across his entire body; 3) recurrent abdominal pains; 4) swelling in his legs resembling dropsy; 5) an inflammatory distension of the abdomen; 6) a decay infested with worms in his private parts; 7) he could only breathe while upright; 8) episodes of breathlessness; and 9) convulsions in all his limbs. Thus, he endured nine afflictions. His fever burned fiercely due to his reckless passions leading him toward unlawful desires; the relentless itch was a result of believing false teachers who flattered him; the frequent pains in his insides came because he did not utter, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name” (Psalms 102:1); the swelling of his abdomen appeared from his failure to offer praise to God; the edema in his legs manifested because he scorned the pure and still waters of the Fountain of eternal life; the distension of his stomach arose because he did not control his anger and lacked mercy towards those under his reign. Worms infested his degrading parts as he engaged in despicable acts. He could breathe only while standing because he neglected to rise in morning worship before the Lord who elevated him to royalty. His labored breathing was not fueled by love, but by the foul air of concealed discord. All his limbs seemed disjoined, as he was responsible for the slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem. The measure one uses will be the measure used against them (Luke 6:38). According to Josephus, Herod was of Idumean descent on his father’s side and Arabian through his mother. Africanus and others engaged in similar inquiries note that he was the progeny of Antipater, the father of Herod the Ascalonite, a temple priest of Apollo. Antipater, as a child, was captured by Idumean brigands, and his father Herod lacked the means to ransom him; hence, being raised in Idumean ways, he was deemed Idumean, even though he was born an Ascalonite. Herod ultimately passed away in the forty-fifth year of Augustus’s reign, during the consulship of Siluanus, on January eighth. This narrative contains a sharp condemnation of Apollinarius’s wicked teachings, which denied the existence of a rational soul in Christ, asserting instead that He was merely a body without soul or spirit."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Herod met a grim fate, as he released his malignant spirit amidst fever, abdominal agony, relentless itching, a distortion of his legs, a decay that led to worms, swelling, trembling, and painful spasms throughout his body."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"Following the cruel and unjust massacre of the children, Herod, burdened by excruciating ailments such as fiery torment, bloody dysentery, sorrow, gout, and the decay of his hidden sins from which worms emerged, succumbed to his cursed fate, as detailed by Josephus Flavius. Soon after, an angel from the Lord visited Joseph in a dream and instructed him to rise, take the Child and His mother, and return to Israel, for those who sought the Child's life were no more, meaning Herod had passed away, having aimed to destroy the Child. When the angel initially guided Joseph from Bethlehem to Egypt, he urged him to escape swiftly to avoid impending danger. Yet upon calling him back from Egypt to Israel, the message was clear: go to the land of Israel without haste or fear, for Herod, the persecutor, was no longer alive."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following Herod's demise, behold, the angel of the Lord, fulfilling his promise, comes to Joseph in Egypt through a dream and instructs him, \\"Get up, take the child and his mother, and return to the land of Israel.\\" The angel advises him to \\"go,\\" rather than rush, as previously directed, indicating that there is no urgency, and it is safe to pause along the journey for the essential rest of the Child and His Mother. \\"For those who sought the life of the Child have perished,\\" the angel declares, \\"Herod has died, and before his end, he eliminated his son Antipater, who was as ruthless as Herod himself. All of Herod's relatives, who had conspired in his madness and evil, have lost their power."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Following Herod's demise\\": in the year 750 from the establishment of Rome, likely two years after the birth of Christ."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Demise of Herod Herod met his end in early April 750 from the founding of Rome, and his passing was gruesome. As reported by Josephus Flavius, the Lord was exacting judgment upon him for his many sins. A prolonged fever inflicted torment upon him, consuming him from within. His body was riddled with sores, and worms decimated much of his flesh; he struggled to breathe, and his breath was so foul that no one could approach him. Alongside this agony, he suffered from an insatiable hunger that brought him further distress. Recognizing his impending demise, Herod understood that no one would mourn for him. To ensure that there would be sorrow at his passing, he summoned the most esteemed Jews to Jericho and commanded that they be executed at the moment of his death, explaining that he wanted his own death to be lamented; however, this order was not fulfilled. Just five days prior to his death, Herod had his son Antipater executed. The Return of the Holy Family from Egypt Following Herod's death, Joseph was instructed in a dream to take the Child and His mother back to Israel. Joseph complied: he arose from sleep, took the Child and His mother, and traveled into the land of Israel. The Evangelist’s account suggests that the exodus from Egypt occurred immediately after the angel appeared to Joseph in the dream, likely on the same day. Considering that Jesus Christ was born in the year 748, by the time of Herod's death, He was approximately two years old, still referred to as a Child by the angel who conveyed God’s command to Joseph regarding their return to Israel; hence, we can conclude that the Holy Family departed from Egypt while Jesus was still very young, shortly after Herod's demise."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following Herod's passing, his reign of oppression came to an end. This tyrant had kept the people's hopes and resentments suppressed for over a generation, yet the unrest had been simmering beneath the surface, and it erupted in turmoil within the temple shortly before his death. With Herod gone, there was no longer anyone capable of quelling the discontent that had long been building. His rule was ordained by Providence to postpone the fragmentation of the Jewish people among the nations, allowing for their eventual integration and fostering a sympathetic interest in Judaism among Gentiles, thus securing its place as a vital part of humanity and a precursor to Christianity. The people rejoiced at the liberation of the Davidic throne from the Edomite's bloodshed, as the age-old enmity between the Israelites and Edomites was well-known, dating back to their ancestors. The legend even suggested that Esau ultimately killed Jacob. \\n\\nThe Edomites had thwarted Israel's passage through their land when they left Egypt, forcing them into prolonged hardship in the wilderness. Saul, the first king of Israel, faced fierce opposition from them, and though David and Solomon subdued them, during the waning years of Israel under its last kings, they became relentless adversaries, assisting the Chaldeans in the final conquest of Judah. The prophets, from Amos to Joel, condemned them as enemies of God’s governance, with Joel declaring their land “a waste.” The destructive actions of the Edomites, including their joy over Jerusalem's ruin, prompted God's prophets to promise judgment against them for their transgressions.\\n\\nAfter the Babylonian exile, the Edomites seized significant portions of the land of Israel, only to be subdued by John Hyrcanus. Their historically rivalrous nature cemented the animosity between Jews and Edomites, to the extent that Jacob expressed in the Book of Jubilees that brotherly love could never exist between them. The disdain for the Edomites persisted, especially now that a representative of this despised lineage had ruled over Israel for over a generation. Herod's death sparked a hope that no more of his kin would inherit the throne of David, but Archelaus, perceived as an even more brutal successor, took control, being both of Idumean descent and marrying into the equally detested Samaritans. Conflicts ensued within Herod's family regarding the distribution of the realm, ultimately leading to the division of the territories he ruled over.\\n\\nAt the passing of Herod, his sister Salome and her husband hastily freed notable Jewish leaders summoned to Jericho and convened an assembly of troops to reveal Herod's last will. In place of mourning, the people reacted with a mix of allegiance to Archelaus and demands for justice for those killed under Herod's regime. Archelaus attempted to placate public unrest through assurances of tax relief and the release of prisoners but faced relentless demands, culminating in a violent backlash that resulted in the brutal slaughter of thousands of citizens. The seed of rebellion, long suppressed, now blossomed fiercely.\\n\\nAs Archelaus left for Rome, unrest grew, leading to confrontations with Roman forces, including the withdrawal of support from soldiers loyal to Herod. Messengers from Jerusalem voiced grievances against Archelaus’ cruelty and sought to dissolve Judea's connection to his rule altogether. The turmoil culminated in conflict, with Rome sending troops to restore order but also leading to further oppression. The peace restored after bloodshed in Judea would soon give way to a deeper resentment among the populace.\\n\\nIn these tumultuous times, Hillel, a significant figure in Jewish spirituality, also passed from the scene. He championed a moral philosophy centered on reciprocity and was renowned for his teachings which emphasized compassion and the study of the law. With rumors of rebellion brewing among the Jewish people, the opposition to the Roman presence lingered in the hearts of many. As the nation faced its destinies of turmoil and conflict, the hope for divine deliverance and a return to theocratic governance stirred amongst factions yearning for a restoration of their autonomy and identity.\\n\\nIn these unfolding events, Jesus, a boy in Nazareth at the time of Archelaus’ exile, dwelled within the bitter weight of a nation besieged by oppression. The circumstances foreshadowed an impending catastrophe that awaited Israel later, irrevocably altering their standing as a people before God and among the nations."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following the tragic events in Bethlehem, King Herod's life came to an end in suffering, marked by a severe ailment that many of his contemporaries interpreted as divine retribution for his heinous deeds. Upon Herod's death, the Roman Caesar partitioned his realm into three regions known as ephnarchies, assigning them to his three sons. Archelaus was given Judea, Samaria, and Idumea; Antipas received Galilee and Perea; and Philip was appointed to Bathanea, Trachonitis, and Abranitida. Archelaus's reign commenced with the execution of three thousand citizens, prompting his subjects to lodge complaints with Rome, which went unanswered. The historian Josephus, who is not suspected of bias against Herod's lineage, paints a grim picture of Archelaus's rule. Over a decade, the Jews, unable to endure his prolonged acts of cruelty, appealed to Caesar Augustus, who summoned Archelaus to Rome, found him culpable, and exiled him to Gaul, transforming his governance into a Roman province. This marked the conclusion of Judea's independence as it became incorporated into the Roman Empire. Although the rulers of Judaea had operated under Caesar since the last Maccabean dynasty, their authority remained significant enough that the populace felt minimally the burden of Roman oversight. These kings crafted laws, presided over civil courts, collected taxes, declared warfare, and formed peace treaties. However, with Judea's conversion into a province led by a Roman procurator answerable to the Syrian proconsul, all governing power shifted to them. The Jewish people were permitted to settle less serious disputes through the Sanhedrin and lower courts, akin to how certain regions in Sicily and specific cities in Italy were allowed to maintain their own laws under the overarching jurisdiction of the Roman Senate and Caesar. \\n\\nImmediately after the massacre of the children in Bethlehem, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream while they were in Egypt, saying, \\"Arise, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young Child's life.\\" The angel did not urge him to run but to go, as the dread of the relentless and suspicious Herod had dissipated; with the past king gone, it was now safe to travel at a more measured pace, allowing for rest for both the Child and His mother. The angel's instructions fulfilled the promise made to Joseph before the Holy Family fled to Egypt, demonstrating that the imminent threat to the Divine Child had passed. Consequently, the righteous man obediently took the Child and His mother and journeyed to Israel. However, upon learning that his son Archelaus, equally cruel and ruthless, had assumed rule over Judea in place of Herod, Joseph hesitated, sensing that danger lingered. After Herod's heinous act against the children of Bethlehem, Archelaus assumed that all was resolved and that among those murdered was the One they sought. The arrival of the Divine Child in Judea, revealed through word of mouth, could arouse suspicion in the new ruler, prompting potential threats against them.\\n\\nMoreover, the prospect of Jesus Christ remaining in the regions sanctified by His birth and His offering at the temple—where many had seen or heard of the Savior—clashed with the divine strategy cloaked in secrecy regarding the mystery of salvation until the appointed time. Jesus was not to be declared the Messiah prematurely but rather at the fullness of His age; an early exposure could incite doubts that would obstruct faith in Him as the Savior. A local scholar notes how the familiarity of the Nazarenes with Jesus incited animosity against Him, as they had known Him throughout His early life—as an infant, adolescent, and young adult, as the son of a carpenter, and as a relative to ordinary people. One might consider that the resentment would have escalated if those in Jerusalem, who rejoiced at His birth as the Messiah's, had seen Him daily during His childhood and youth—eventually recognizing no significant divergence from their expectations. Would they have been more likely to acknowledge His divine essence at the age of thirty, having seen no hint of it previously? Unlikely. The Jew in Jerusalem, ever yearning for signs and marvels, would have found it similarly challenging to maintain the high hopes mingled with Jesus’s arrival, as expressed by Simeon and Anna, and those wise men from afar who sought Him."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Joseph, Mary, and Jesus remained in Egypt until Herod's death. Following this event, the angel delivered a new message to Joseph, instructing him to return to his homeland with Mary and Jesus. The message was somewhat vague, not specifying a particular city for their journey. However, the guidance suggested that their new home would be in Galilee rather than Judea, since it instructed them to \\"Go to the land of Israel\\" rather than \\"Go to the land of Judah.\\" Nevertheless, Jesus' parents did not fully grasp this directive and intended to settle in Judea upon their return from Egypt. Likely, they considered establishing themselves in Bethlehem, the city of David, where, according to divine orchestration, Christ was born. They believed that the promised Messiah, being a descendant of David, should grow up in this significant city, close to Jerusalem, the hub of God's people, and nearby the temple, which was central to Old Testament worship. However, upon arriving in Judea, they learned that Archelaus, who was as brutal and merciless as his father Herod, was ruling there. Concerned for the safety of the child they had been entrusted with, Joseph and Mary received further divine guidance through a dream, instructing them to settle in Nazareth, which alleviated their fears."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As soon as Joseph learned of Herod's death, the adversary of Jesus, he departed from Egypt to return to his homeland. His intention was to settle in Judea, specifically in Bethlehem. However, upon discovering that Archelaus, Herod's son, had taken control of Judea—a ruler he deemed more threatening than Herod’s other sons, Antipas or Philip, who governed different regions of the Jewish territory—he chose to retreat to Nazareth in Galilee. This decision aligned with divine guidance, as it was the place where he had previously resided with Mary. Consequently, the young Jesus remained distanced from Jerusalem for a significant duration; even those who were aware of the remarkable circumstances surrounding His birth were left in the dark regarding His development. Jesus did not publicly present Himself as the Messiah until He reached maturity, as an early familiarity could have led to trivial doubts rather than genuine faith. \\n\\nThe people of Nazareth illustrated their skepticism towards Jesus, stemming from their familiarity with Him as a child, a boy, a young man, and the son of a carpenter, and as one among their kin. It is plausible that this bias would have intensified had those who celebrated His birth in Jerusalem seen Him regularly during His formative years, perhaps becoming disappointed upon failing to witness anything that matched their expectations. Could they have recognized His divine nature at the age of thirty, after having observed Him without perceiving anything extraordinary for so long? No. The Jews of Jerusalem, ever in search of signs and wonders, would likely have struggled to maintain their lofty hopes associated with Him, reminiscent of the joy expressed by Simeon and Anna, as well as the visitation of the wise men from the East.\\n\\nUltimately, the true account of Jesus' early years is encapsulated in the statement of the Evangelist: \\"But Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.\\" The fullness of divinity dwelling within Him did not manifest instantaneously. All the divine qualities observable during His public ministry in actions, teachings, and miracles were already present during His infancy and youth; yet, due to the limitations of His human form, they remained largely concealed. As His mental and physical faculties developed and He drew closer to the fullness of manhood, His divine nature became more apparent. \\n\\nThe sun, which is constant in its brilliance and warmth, shines differently in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, similarly reflecting the gradual enhancement of Jesus' powers which revealed a notable dignity and beauty in His words, actions, and demeanor. While we declare this to be the genuine account of Jesus Christ's infancy, follow-up fables and legends proliferated during His life, from His time in Nazareth to His journey to Jerusalem at the age of twelve, filled with miraculous tales. Epiphanius appears to allow for some semblance of this notion to counter heretical claims regarding Christ's descent upon His baptism, while Chrysostom opposes these traditions outright. Thus, it is essential to discern between the genuine narrative of Jesus' early years and later speculative ideas regarding His development, which extend beyond His infancy and encompass His entire life prior to His public ministry."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The glorious vision had concluded, and the celestial chorus fell silent. The shepherds remained in the stillness of the night, yet their thoughts were no longer occupied by their flock or their nighttime vigil. They turned to each other, saying, “Let us travel to Bethlehem to witness this promised event that the Lord has made known to us.” Trusting the angel's words as an authentic message from God, they hurried to Bethlehem and discovered everything was just as the angel had conveyed: they found Mary and Joseph and the baby resting in a manger. Here, at the Savior's cradle, the emotions of these humble shepherds were profound and genuine. They became the first adorers of the newborn Christ, eagerly sharing the news of what had been revealed to them about the child. Their simple yet earnest account of the miraculous event filled the Blessed Virgin with wonder as well. The Mother of God, aware of the divine mystery, treasured all these things in her heart, reflecting upon them alongside the message she received from the Angel at the Annunciation, gaining the joyful certainty that all that transpired in her life was by God’s hand. After worshipping the Savior, the shepherds returned to their daily lives, and each time they recalled the extraordinary events of that night, they praised and thanked God for the privilege of witnessing and hearing such wonders."}]}
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