translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: MAT

label: NET study note

text: King Herod was Herod the Great, who ruled Palestine from 37 b.c. until he died in 4 b.c. He was known for his extensive building projects (including the temple in Jerusalem) and for his cruelty.


text: The Greek term magi here describes a class of wise men and priests who were astrologers (L&N 32.40).


text: See the note on King Herod in 2:1 .


text: A quotation from Mic 5:2 .


text: Frankincense refers to the aromatic resin of certain trees, used as a sweet-smelling incense (L&N 6.212).


text: Myrrh consisted of the aromatic resin of certain shrubs (L&N 6.208). It was used in preparing a corpse for burial.


text: See the note on King Herod in 2:1 . Herod the Great was particularly ruthless regarding the succession to his throne.


text: A quotation from Hos 11:1 .


text: See the note on King Herod in 2:1 . Note the fulfillment of the prophecy given by the angel in 2:13 .


text: A quotation from Jer 31:15 .


text: See the note on King Herod in 2:1 . When Herod the Great died in 4 b.c. , his kingdom was divided up among his three sons: Archelaus, who ruled over Judea (where Bethlehem was located, v. 22 ); Philip, who became tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis (cf. Luke 3:1 ); and Antipas, who became tetrarch of Galilee.


text: Archelaus took after his father Herod the Great in terms of cruelty and ruthlessness, so Joseph was afraid to go there. After further direction in a dream , he went instead to Galilee.


text: Nazareth was a very small village in the region of Galilee (Galilee lay north of Samaria and Judea). The town was located about 15 mi (25 km) west of the southern edge of the Sea of Galilee. According to Luke 1:26 , Mary was living in Nazareth when the birth of Jesus was announced to her. map For location see Map1-D3 ; Map2-C2 ; Map3-D5 ; Map4-C1 ; Map5-G3 .