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MATTHEW 2:1 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 2Matt 2:2
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,”
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? The Magi arrive without announcement or introduction, foreigners from the east asking about a king that the people of the west do not yet know has been born. Bethlehem of Judea grounds the birth in geography that carries covenant weight — the city of David (1 Samuel 17:12), the village Micah 5:2 had identified as the birthplace of the coming ruler. Herod the king provides the political frame: the Roman-appointed king of the Jews stands over against the one born king of the Jews. The star that led the Magi and the city that produced King David are already in conflict with the violence of empire.

Church Fathers on Matthew 2:1

After the miraculous Virgin-birth, a God-man having by Divine power proceeded from a virgin womb; in the obscure shelter of such a cradle, a narrow stall, wherein lay Infinite Majesty in a body more narrow, a God was suckled and suffered the wrapping of vile rags - amidst all this, on a sudden a new star shone in the sky upon the earth, and driving away the darkness of the world, changed night into day; that the day-star should not be hidden by the night.

Augustine · 4th century

In the beginning of this passage of the Gospel he puts three several things; the person, 'When Jesus was born,' the place, 'in Bethlehem of Judaea,' and the time, 'in the days of Herod the king.' These three circumstances verify his words.

Remigius · 9th century

We think the Evangelist first wrote, as we read in the Hebrew, 'Judah,' not 'Judaea.' For in what other country is there a Bethlehem, that this needs to be distinguished as in 'Judaea?' But 'Judah' is written, because there is another Bethlehem in Galilee.

Jerome · 4th century
Read all 44 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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