BIBLE STUDY LESSON 05
SERIES Q --- THE SAVIOUR
GIFTS AND WORSHIP
THE STAR THAT LED TO A KING
From Matthew 2:1-12
During the reign of King Herod the Great, wise men came from the east to ask about a new-born king. They did not know yet that this was Yeshua, who had been born in Bethlehem of Judea. [Where is this child who is to become King of the Jews?] they asked. [Far to the east we have seen His star and have come here to worship Him.] When King Herod heard this, he was very upset that a new king might take his kingdom from him. The people of Jerusalem were upset, too, for they knew that Herod would do anything to destroy this new king. Herod was anxious to know more about this new king, so he called the Jewish religious leaders into a meeting. Then he talked with them about the Moshiach, YHVH’s Son, and where He was to be born. [The prophet Micah said that the Moshiach would be born in Bethlehem,] they told Herod. [Here is what he wrote: You are not as unimportant as some think, Bethlehem, for you will produce a great ruler to govern our people, Israel.] Herod secretly brought the wise men to him and asked them when the star appeared. Then he told them what he had learned from the religious leaders, that Bethlehem was the birthplace of the Child they wanted to find. [Search for the Child in Bethlehem,] Herod told them. [When you find Him, come back and tell me where He is, so that I, too, may go there and worship Him.] The wise men left Herod and headed toward Bethlehem. What a joyful time it was when the star appeared again and pointed the way to the Child. When the wise men went into the house where Mary and the Child were, they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they gave Him precious gifts they had brought with them -- gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Before they left, YHVH warned them about Herod in a dream. Therefore, they returned home without going back through Jerusalem.
A HIDING PLACE IN EGYPT
From Matthew 2:13-15
When the wise men had gone, an angel of YHVH visited Joseph in a dream. [You must get up now, this very night, and leave for Egypt with the Child and His mother,] the angel said. [Stay there until I tell you to leave, for Herod is searching for the Child to murder Him.] Joseph left that night for Egypt with Yeshua and Mary. There they remained until King Herod the Great died. This fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy, [Out of Egypt I have called my Son.]
TEARS FOR RACHEL’S CHILDREN
From Matthew 2:16-18
When the wise men did not return to him, Herod grew furious. In a fit of anger, he ordered his soldiers to murder every baby boy in Bethlehem and its surrounding country. This order included every boy up to the age of two, a decision based on the time that had passed since the wise men first saw the star. The murder of the children fulfilled what Jeremiah the prophet had written: [Cries and tears rise up from Ramah. Rachel weeps for her children, but there is no comfort, for the children are gone.]
HOME FROM EGYPT
From Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:40
After Herod the Great died, an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. [You may now take the Child and His mother back to Israel,] the angel said, [for the one who wanted to kill Him is dead.] Joseph took Mary and Yeshua back home to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Herod’s oldest son, Archelaus, now ruled over Judea, he was concerned that there still might be danger. Then Joseph was warned in a dream not to go to Judea, so he took his family back home to Nazareth in Galilee. This fulfilled a prophecy, [He shall be called a Nazarene.] As time passed, the Child Yeshua grew in every way, becoming stronger, wiser, and pleasing YHVH in all that He did.
COMMENTARY
TRAVELS OF THE BOY YESHUA
When Yeshua was still a very young child, His family had to escape from their own country to protect Him from Herod’s jealous hate. They probably left at night and took the road that would get them the most quickly out of the king’s reach. The ancient route was called the Via Mans. The name meant [The Way of the Sea.] It went along the coastline all the way down to the borders of Egypt. There were several places along the way where Yeshua’ family might have stayed. The first major stop was Ashkelon. The city did not belong to Herod, but he had much influence there. Afraid of his spies, Mary and Joseph did not dare stay long. Twelve miles farther south was Gaza. A flourishing and busy trade city, it might have offered them a place to hide. But it was Herod’s city, full of his soldiers, and Yeshua’ family hurried through. Only after they had crossed the Brook of Egypt did they feel safe from Herod’s grasp. Their first stop in Egypt was probably at the city of Pelusium. Called the [stronghold of Egypt,] it was famous for its military strength. But even though they might have been safe there, the family chose to move on. They travelled to a quiet place just outside of Cairo where there was a large grove of balsam trees. In that town, called Matareyeh, is the place where Yeshua and his family are traditionally believed to have stayed until Herod’s death made it safe for them to return to Nazareth.