But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying. The death of Herod and the third dream-revelation to Joseph signal the transition from exile to return. The herod who threatened the child is dead; the threat has passed; the way is open. Genesis 2:21–23 records the death of those who threatened the original Joseph before his return to his homeland — the pattern of threat-then-return runs through both Joseph stories. The angel's appearance in a dream to Joseph in Egypt is the narrative pivot of the chapter: the protective exile is over, and the call to return is given.

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