[1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod
the king (Herod the Great who died in 4 b.c.), behold, there came wise men (the number is not given) from the east to Jerusalem,
[2]
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in
the east, and are come to worship him.
[3] When Herod the king had
heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
[4]
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
[5] And
they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the
prophet,
[6] And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the
least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that
shall rule my people Israel.
[7] Then Herod, when he had privily
called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star
appeared.
[8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search
diligently for the young child (no longer a babe but by now, He is a young child - v.11); and when ye have found him, bring me word again,
that I may come and worship him also.
[9] When they had heard the
king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before
them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
[10] When
they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
[11] And
when they were come into the house (Jesus no longer in a manger), they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and
myrrh.
[12] And being warned of God in a dream that they should not
return to Herod, they departed into their own country another
way.
[13] And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his
mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for
Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
[14] When he arose, he
took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into
Egypt:
[15] And was there until the death of Herod (4 b.c.): that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have
I called my son.
[16] Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of
the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children
that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and
under (he was not sure of the age of Jesus so he bracketed the approximate age), according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise
men.
[17] Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the
prophet, saying,
[18] In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation,
and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not
be comforted, because they are not.
[19] But when Herod was dead (again, 4 b.c.),
behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt,
[20] Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother,
and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's
life.
[21] And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and
came into the land of Israel.
[22] But when he heard that Archelaus (Herod Archelaus) did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod (Herod the Great), he was afraid to go
thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into
the parts of Galilee:
[23] And he came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth (where Joseph and Mary were from - Lk. 2:4): that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall
be called a Nazarene (because Nazareth became the home town of Jesus).
Sunday, December 9, 2012
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