An allusion here to the prophecy of Jeremiah. 85 Bethlehem, and in all in Bethlehem, and in all the confines of it, from SECT. the coasts thereof, from their entrance upon the second year, and under: two years old and under, xiii. according to the time as that, according to the time of which he had got Mat. which he had diligently exact information from the sages, must include II. 16. inquired of the wise all that were born there since the appearance of men. 17 Then was ful spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, the star. And then, as this cruel execution extended 17 filled that which was itself to the neighbouring places, and in particular to Ramah, a town of Benjamin, which lay near Bethlehem, that remarkable saving was farther fulfilled which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet (Jer. xxxi. 15.); for this was plainly an event to which those words might be applied with more literal propriety than to the captivity of the Jews in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, which they were originally intended to describe, when they were first delivered by the prophet, it is certain nothing of such privacy in the dispatch of these children can be inferred from the word ave, since it is also used to express the crucifixion of our Lord, (Acts ii. 23. x. 39.) the stoning of Stephen, (Acts xxii. 20.) and the beheading of James the Apostle, (Acts xii. 2.) all which were public executions; as well as the intende assassination of Paul by a band of armed men. (Acts xxxiii. 15.) And if it be considered, on the one hand, how difficult it is privately to murder children under two years old, as they are hardly ever left alone; and on the other, how ill such a cautious and uncertain procedure would have agreed with the furious disposition of Herod and the haughty rage in which these orders were given, I believe few will incline to this hypothesis. As for the silence of Josephus, it is to be considered that Bethlehem was but a small place; and therefore, in a reign of so much cruelty, the slaughter of its infants might not be taken very much notice of. Josephus was not old enough to remember it himself; and if he did not find it in the Memoirs of Nicholas of Damascus (that flattering historian, of whom we know he made great use in compiling the life of Herod), he might be unwilling to introduce it, even if he were particularly acquainted with it; lest the occasion might have led him to mention what generally at least he is solicitous to decline, I mean Christian affairs. On the whole, if we compare contemporary historians of every age we shall find some material fact or another omitted by each of them; yet that silence of one is never urged as an argument against admitting the express testimony of the rest. See Dr. Lardner's Credib. Part I. Vol. II. book ii. chap. 2. § 1. p. 746. & seq. VOL. VI. I 8 From their entrance upon the second year.] The reasons which determined me to render ano dilaç thus, may be seen in Sir Norton Knatchbull's excellent note on this place. It is probable that Herod in his passion ordered the slaughter of the infants as soon as he perceived that he was disappointed in his expectation of the return of the wise men, lest otherwise the Child he was so jealous of might be removed; and as his cruelty extended even to those who had entered on the second year, which is expressly said to be according to the time of which he had got exact information from the sages, it must be natural to conclude from hence, that it was not till some considerable time after the birth of Christ that he was visited by the wise men, even though we should allow the first appearance of the star to have been (as some suppose) about the time of Christ's conception. Compare note n on Matt. ii. 11. For the version of axibow, see note i on ver. 7. h Which they were originally intended 86 Joseph returns with Jesus from Egypt. mentation and weep SECT. prophet,, saying, " In Ramah there was a 18 In Rama was XIII. most doleful voice heard, lamentation and there a voice heard, laMat. weeping and abundant mourning, as if Ra- ing, and great mournII. 18. chel, that tender mother, who was buried ing; Rachel weeping near this place1, bad risen out of her grave, would not be comfor her children, and and was bewailing her lost children, and refus- forted, because they ing to be comforted, because they are not." 19 are not. 19 But when He rod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream and his mother, and go the Child's life. young But after this, when Herod was dead, and an end put to all his cruelties, behold, an angel of the Lord again appeareth in a dream to Joseph, while he continued to sojourn in Egypt, to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, The way is now prepared for thy return 20 Saying, Arise and from hence, and I am sent, according to the take the young Child intimation that was given thee before, to bring into the land of Israel; thee notice of it: and therefore now arise and for they are dead which take the Infant and his mother, and go back to sought thine own abode in the land of Israel; for thou mayest safely do it, since they are dead who sought to destroy the young Child's life' And Joseph had no sooner heard the that was brought him by the angel, but he im- and took the young mediately arose, and, cheerfully confiding in the and came Divine protection, took the young Child and his land of Israel. mother, according to the command he had re22 ceived, and came into the land of Israel. But heard that Archelaus when, upon his coming to the borders of it, he did reign in Judea, in heard that Archelaus reigned over Judah in the the room of his father room of his father Herod, knowing him to be the Herod, he was afraid to go thither; notheir of his cruelty as well as of his kingdom, withstanding, 21 m i Rachel, who was buried near this place.] See Gen. xxxv. 19. and 1 Sam. x. 2. k When Herod was dead.] It is well worth while to read the particular and affecting account which Josephus has given of the terrible death of this inhuman tyrant, whom God so remarkably made a terror to himself, as well as to all about him. (See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xvii. cap. 6. (al. 8. § 5. & Bell. Jud. lib. i. cap. 33. (al 21. § 5, 6, 7. Eusebius thought it so great an illustration of the gospel history, that he has inserted it at large (Eccl. Hist. lib. i. cap. 8.) with a degree of exactness, which joins with many other instances of the like nature, to shew us how cheerfully we may depend upon the many invaluable extracts from a multitude of ancient books now lost, which he has given us both in his Ecclesiastical History and in his other writings, especially in his Præparatio Evangelica. 1 They are dead who sought to destroy the young Child's life. It is a very ingenious conjecture of Mr. Manne, that Antipater, the son of Herod, who, at the time message he 21 And he arose, Child and his mother, came into the 22 But when he being warned when Christ was born, was heir-apparent to his crown, and was a prince so cruel and ambitious, that he had procured the death of his two elder brothers to clear bis way to the succession, would very probably be an active counsellor and instrument in secking the destruction of the new-born Jesus, and in advising to the slaughter of the infants. And, as this Antipater died but five days before Herod, both might be referred to in these words of the angel, They are dead, &c. See Manne's Dissert. p. 74, 75. and compare Joseph. Antiq. Jud. lib. xvi. cap. 8. (al. 11.) § 4. lib. xvii. cap. 1. & 8. (al. 10.) § 1. Edit. Havercamp. m The heir of his cruelty.] Archelaus, in the very beginning of his reign, massacred three thousand Jews at once in the temple, and was afterwards banished, in the tenth year of his government, to Vienne in Gaul, by Augustus, on a complaint brought against him by the chief of the Jews for his various cruelties. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xvii. cap. 9. (al. 11.) § 3. p. 851, & cap. 13. (al. 15.) § 2. p. 866. Galilee warned of God in a side into the parts of dream, he turned a Galilee: 23 And he Reflections on the slaughter of infants. came it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. xiii. 87 Mat. he was afraid to go thither to settle, or so much SECT. as to take it in his way; but, being again divinely admonished in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, which was under the govern- II. 22. ment of Herod Antipas", a prince of a milder character; and who was then on such hostile terms with Archelaus, that there was no danger of his giving them up to him. And he went 23 and dwelt in a city and dwelt in a little city, on the confines of Zacalled Nazareth that bulon and Issachar, which was called Nazareth, where he had formerly resided before he went to Bethlehem; and being thus returned to his own city, Jesus was there brought up and educated in a place so very contemptible among the Jews, that it was grown into a proverb with them, That no good thing could be expected from thence (John i. 46. vii. 52.) so that by this a way was further opened by the providence of God, that it might be fulfilled what had been spoken in effect by many of the prophets. "He shall be called a Nazaraan ;" that is, he shall . appear in mean and despicable circumstances, and be treated as the mark of public contempt and reproach. IMPROVEMENT. What is our fallen nature, that it can be capable of such enormities as we have now been surveying! Or what imagin- Ver. able circumstances of grandeur and power can free the mind of an 16 ambitious creature from servitude and misery! Who can behold n Galilee-under the government of Herod Antipas.] Herod the Great divided his dominions by his last will, appointing Archelaus to succeed him as king of Judea, Herod Antipas to be Tetrarch of Galilee and Peræa, and Philip to be Tetarch of Trachonitis and the neighbouring countries. (Joseph. Antiq. lib. xvii. cap. 8. (al. 11.) § 1. But Herod Antipas endeavoured to supplant his brother Archelaus, when application was made to the Romans to confirm the will, and went to Rome, with a view of obtaining the kingdom, (which was left to him in a former will,) in which he was supported by the interest of the whole family who hated Archelaus, and thought his brother to be far more worthy of the kingdom; and, though he did not carry his point, the attempt was such as could not but widen the breach there was before between them, and left no room for any future correspond Herod ence. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xvii. cap. o He shall be called a Nazaraan.] If the 88 xiii. Reflections on the preservation of Jesus in Egypt. SECT. Herod under the agitation of such a barbarous rage, and not see the vanity even of royal dignity, when the man that sways the Mat. sceptre over others hath no rule over his own spirit? Surely none 11. 21. of the innocent victims of Herod's wrath felt so much from the sword of their barbarous murderers as the guilty mind of the tyrant from its own unnatural transports. The indignation which arises in our minds on the view of so 18 much wickedness, finds a secret satisfaction in this thought. But how grievous is it to reflect on what the parents of these poor babes felt while the sword that murdered their children in their very sight pierced through their own bowels? Happy, in comparison with these, were the wombs that never bare and the paps that never gave suck! Let parents remember how soon their dearest hopes may be turned into lamentation and learn to moderate their expectation from their infant offspring and check too fond a delight in them. Let us all learn to be very thankful that we are not under the arbitrary power of a tyrant, whose sallies of distracted fury might spread desolation through houses and provinces. Let us not say, Where was the great Regent of the universe when such a horrible butchery was transacted? His all-wise counsels knew how to bring good out of all the evil of it. The agony of a few moments transmitted these oppressed innocents to peace and joy, while the impotent rage of Herod only heaped on his own head guilt, infamy and horror. He conceived mischief, and he brought forth vanity, (Job xv. 35:) and while he studied to prevent the establishment of the Messiah's kingdom, and set himself with impious rage against the Lord, and against his Anointed, He that sitteth in the heavens did laugh, yea, the Lord had him in derision. (Psalm ii. 2, 4.) That God, who discerns every secret purpose of his enemies, and foresees every intended assault, knows how, whenever he pleases, by a thought, by a dream, to baffle it. The preservation of the holy child Jesus in Egypt may be considered as a figure of God's care over his church in its greatest 13 danger. God doth not often, as he easily could, strike their persecutors with immediate destruction; but he provides a hidingplace for his people, and, by methods not less effectual, though less pompous, preserves his chosen seed from being swept away, even when the enemy comes in like a flood, 14, 15 Egypt, that was once the seat of persecution and oppression to the Israel of God, is now a refuge to his Son and thus all places will be to us what Divine Providence will be pleased to make them. When, like Joseph and Mary, we are cut off from the worship of his temple and perhaps removed into a strange land, he can be a little sanctuary to us and give us, in his gracious presence, a rich equivalent for all that we have lost. They Jesus goes up with his parents to Jerusalem. SECT. xiii. They continued here till he gave the signal for their departure. Let us, in like manner, remember that it is God's part to direct and ours to obey; nor can we be out of the way of safety and Ver. of comfort while we are following his directions, and steering 19 our course by the intimations of his pleasure! Jesus survived his persecutors, and returned into the land of 20 Israel again; but such was his condescension, that he abode at Nazareth, which seems to have been alloted him as the most humble station. Let us never be unwilling to bear reproach for 23 him, who from his infancy endured it for us; nor take offence at the meanness of his condition, whose removes were directed by angelic messengers, as immediate envoys from the God of heaven! SECT. XIV. Jesus, at the age of twelve years, comes up to the passover at Jerusalem, and there discourses with the doctors in the temple. Luke II. 40. to the end. LUKE II. 40. AND the Child grew, waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 41 Now his parents went every year at the feast of the passover. Luke II. 40. 89 SECT. xiv. Luke AND the child Jesus, being returned to Na- Now his pious parents went yearly to Jerusa- 41 to Jerusalem lem at the feast of the passover; as it was usual for those families to do that were remarkably religious, though only the adult males were by the law obliged to appear before the Lord on this 42 And when he occasion. (Compare 1 Sam. i. 3, 7, 21.) And 42 was twelve years old, when he was twelve years old, and so, according salem, after the custom to the Jewish maxims, came under the yoke of the law, his parents, when they went up to Jerusalem, they went up to Jeru of the feast. a Came under the yoke of the law.] Though I am not satisfied of the truth of Grotius's assertion, that the Jewish children under this age were called KETANIM, OF fittle ones, and afterwards NEKHARIM, or children, (since it is certain that the word NEKHAR is often used for those under that Three |