Sequence in Chronology: 2 of 26
Topics Covered: Magi arrive in Jerusalem and meet Herod the Great, Herod fears the Magi, Mary and Joseph present Jesus to God at the temple, Herod reveals where the Messiah will be born, star guides Magi to Bethlehem house where the holy family lives.
Joseph and Mary flee with Jesus to Egypt, Herod murders those in and around Bethlehem 2 years old or younger, Herod dies, Mary and Joseph return to Israel with hopes of living in Bethlehem but are redirected to Nazareth.
Bible References: Matthew 2, Luke 2.
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Early October 5 B.C.
Magi Arrive in Jerusalem
Jesus' birth likely takes place on September 2 in 5 B.C. In early October of the same year the Magi, who are high-level Parthian priests, finally arrive in Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1). Their importance as foreign dignitaries warrants an immediate audience with Herod the Great. Their sudden appearance, with their huge caravan protected by armed soldiers, scares both Herod and the people of Jerusalem.
Now after Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east arrived at Jerusalem, saying,
"Where is the One Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him." But when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (Matthew 2:1 - 3).
Why Fear the Magi?
Why was Herod the Great fearful of the Parthians? The Magi were high-level officials from Parthia. The Parthian Empire, a rival to the Roman Republic (later empire), existed from 247 B.C. to 224 A.D. Parthia was so powerful that in 53 B.C. it handed the then Roman Republic, at Carrhae, one of the worst military defeats in its history!
The Parthians, at Carrhae, killed HALF of Rome's army of 40,000 soldiers and caused 25% of those left alive to flee the battlefield. Another 10,000 troops were taken as captives. They also killed in battle Crassus, who helped govern the republic with Caesar and Pompey.
Around 40 B.C. the Parthians swept Rome out of Palestine. For three years, from 40 to 37 B.C., the Parthians ruled the land through a Jewish vassal king named Antigonus. Herod the Great was so fearful of losing his life to the Parthians that he fled the area for Rome (Antiquities of the Jews, book 14, chapter 13, section 7). Herod had plenty of reasons to be fearful of his foreign guests!
Where is He?
Since the star that was leading them to the King of the Jews had disappeared (see Matthew 2:2, 9), the Magi question Herod for any information he had. Herod, who was clueless regarding the prophesied messiah, sets out to gather the chief priests and scribes to ask them where the King of Kings was foretold to be born.
Mid to Late
October 5 B.C.
At the Temple
While the Magi await Herod's answer, Mary's last day of her 40 days of purification (Leviticus 12:1 - 4) occurs on October 11. After this date her and Joseph take Jesus to Jerusalem to present him before God and make an offering (Luke 2:22 - 24). When they arrive at the temple a priest named Simeon blesses the family and gives several prophecies.
"A light for the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel . . . Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be spoken against, (And you also, a sword shall go through your own soul) in order that the imaginations of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:32, 34 - 35).
A prophetess named Anna also recognizes that Jesus is the promised Savior and informs others concerning him.
Now there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving day and night with fastings and supplications.
And at the same time she came up, giving praise to the Lord; and she spoke concerning Him to all those in Jerusalem who were waiting for redemption. (Luke 2:36 - 38).
After their interactions at the temple the family heads back to Bethlehem.
Herod's Answer
The Jewish religious leaders finally get back to Herod and quote the prophet Micah regarding where Jesus would be born.
"In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judea, in no way are you least among the princes of Judea; for out of you shall come forth a Prince, Who shall shepherd My people Israel.'" (Matthew 2:5 - 6, see Micah 5:2).
Herod then arranges a secret meeting with the Magi and finds out that it was two years ago that the star they have been following originally appeared to them. He also reveals to them that the King they are seeking is in Bethlehem. He lastly feigns his desire, like them, to worship the new King. He asks them to report directly back to him once they find the child's exact location (Matthew 2:7 - 8).
The Star Reappears!
The star the Magi saw, which had disappeared, shows up again when they leave Jerusalem! It shines and leads them directly to a home (not a stable!) where they find Mary and Jesus.
And after hearing the king, they departed; and behold, the star that they had seen in the east went in front of them, until it came and stood over the house where the little Child was. And after seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy (Matthew 2:9 - 10).
After discovering where Christ is located, the Magi present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the family. They then, after being warned in a dream, decide not to report back to Herod but rather take another route home (Matthew 2:12).
Late October to
Early November 5 B.C.
Fleeing Herod's Wrath
Joseph, right after the Magi leave Bethlehem, has a dream where the angel of the Lord warns him about Herod.
"Arise and take the little Child and His mother, and escape into Egypt, and remain there until I shall tell you; for Herod is about to seek the little Child to destroy Him" (Matthew 2:13).
Joseph, Mary and Jesus immediately leave the city and travel to Egypt (Matthew 2:14). They will end up staying in this foreign land for several months.
Mass Murder of Innocents!
Herod, falsely believing that the Magi are mocking him by not coming back to Jerusalem after they found Jesus, flies into a rage. Remembering that they told him they first saw the miraculous star two years ago, he orders all male children in Bethlehem (and the surrounding areas) two years old or younger murdered.
Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the Magi, was filled with rage; and he sent and put to death all the boys who were in Bethlehem and in the area all around, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the Magi (Matthew 2:16).
Herod's impulsive and brutal act of mass murder fulfills prophecy (Matthew 2:17 - 18, see also Jeremiah 31:15).
Mid-February to
Spring 4 B.C.
Herod Dies
Herod the Great dies in 4 B.C. during the week of February 11 to 17. At the time of his death he ruled as king over the areas of Galilee, Samaria, Judea, Idumea, Auranitis and Batanea.
Herod's death is made public and his will, read in Jericho, names his son Herod Archelaus as his successor (Antiquities of the Jews by Josephus, 17.8.2). Archelaus begins to rule as king over all the lands his father controlled even though Roman Emperor Augustus has yet to confirm this position (Antiq. 17.8.4, 17.9.3 and 17.9.5).
Returning to Israel
At an unknown time after Herod's death an angel is again sent to Joseph. This time the angelic messenger tells him Herod has died and that he can return to the land of Israel.
Now when Herod had died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in Egypt in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the little Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who were seeking the life of the little Child have died." (Matthew 2:19 - 20).
Mary and Joseph, along with their baby Jesus, make the long journey back to Israel with plans to return and live in the Judean city of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:22).
A Fearful Discovery
Joseph, shortly after entering Israel, discovers that Herod Archelaus now rules Judea. This discovery stops him and his family in their tracks as they wonder what to do next.
And he arose and took the little Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there . . . (Matthew 2:21 - 22).
Why was Joseph afraid of living in Judea where Bethlehem was located? It was almost certainly due to learning about Archelaus' brutal suppression of "seditious" Jews during the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread in Jerusalem (Antiquities of the Jews by Josephus, 17.9.3). The troops Archelaus sent to insure a peaceful and non-seditious keeping of the Feast (April 11 to 18) ended up killing 3,000 men!
Detour
The Lord, while Joseph ponders what to do next, contacts him again to inform him that he should live in Nazareth instead of Bethlehem.
. . . and after being divinely instructed in a dream, he (Joseph) went into the parts of Galilee. And after arriving, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth . . . (Matthew 2:22 - 23).