Matthew 2

Matthew 2:1

VVIse men,] the Italian hath it, Magicians, a name of some mens profession, who were Philosophers or Astrologers of Persia, or Arabia, or some other Country East-ward from Judea.

Matthew 2:2

His Starre,] Which was some bright and extraordinary meteor which God had caused to bee a signe of Christs birth. It may be that by some astrologicall observation, taken from the examples of such meteors, they might conjecture, some notable change, or chance to have hapned in the world. But that firme perswasion which they seemed to have, could not proceed but from an especiall revelation, or divine inspiration.

Matthew 2:4

The chiefe,] this word is taken here and else where in the Gospells, at large for the heads of families, and of the divisions of the Priests, as 2 Chronicles 36:14. Scribes,these were certaine men who understood the holy Scriptures, & did expound them publikely in the Synaggues, and are called of the people because they were of all the severall Tribes of Israel, 1 Chronicles 2:55. and not of that of Levi onely, to whom this office was properly to belong, 2 Chronicles 34:13. Ezekiel 7:6. and were also admitted into publike counsells, as formerly the Prophets were Jr. 26. 11. and held the place of Magistrates, 1 Mac. 5 42. and 7. 12.

Matthew 2:7

What time,] It is likely that the starre did appeare two yeares or there abouts before the birth of Iesus: and that upon the opinion that the Star was en at the same time as Christ was borne Herod caused the little children from two yeares downward to be slaine.

Matthew 2:9

The Starre,] It seemes that it was vanished out of sight, for some time before, and that it did not shew it selfe againe untill such time as the wise men were upon the way going to Bethlehem, stood, this sheweth that it was a meteor neere to the earth

Matthew 2:11

Fell downe,] Hence it appeares that they had some divine motion and inspiration.

Matthew 2:15

Which was,] That place indeed is not properly and in its litterall sence referred to Christ: but it is referred to him by a certaine concordancie and allusion, grounded not so much upon that Christ is the true everlasting Sonne of God; and that he would take share in the Aegyptian exile in which the people had formerly bin, as upon some secret intention of the H. Ghost, manifested by the Evangelist.

Matthew 2:17

Was fulfilled,] This application ought to bee understood as the former. See upon Ieremiah 31. 15.

Matthew 2:18

Because] Or in so much as they are no more.

Matthew 2:22

Did reigne,] Being declared King by the will of his Father Herod; but afterwards Augustus brought him to an inferiour title of Etharch, and tooke away halfe his Kingdome from him.

Matthew 2:23

By the Prophets,] These words are not found any where else, but only Iudges13. 5. of Samson, who in many passages of his life was a figure of Christ. And it is credible that the Prophets in their Sermons did teach that the Churches true Samson,and Gods true Nazarite should be the Messias, whose perfect sanctification had beene figured by the ancient Nazarites, Numbers 6:2. and because that Christ was mysteriously so indeed, Gods providence would also have him called so, which name was unwittingly, and by equivocation given him by the popular scorne from the name of the most poore Citie wherein he abode.