Matthew 2:2

| Matt 2 |

2 saying, “Where is he who has been born l king of the Jews? For we saw m his star when it rose [1] and have come to n worship him.”

Numbers 24:17

| Num 24 |

17 s I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
t a star shall come out of Jacob,
and u a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall v crush the forehead [2] of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Revelation 22:16

| Rev 22

16 h “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things i for the churches. I am j the root and k the descendant of David, l the bright morning star.”

Translation Notes

[1] 2:2 Or in the east; also verse 9
[2] 24:17 Hebrew corners [of the head]

My Notes

ESV Study Bible Notes

Sign in or register to access ESV Study Bible notes or save your personal notes and highlights.

Your email address:

Have you created a password for the ESV Study Bible?


Forgot Your Password?

Enjoy this free preview of the ESV Study Bible notes.

Matt. 1:1–2:23 The Arrival in History of Jesus the Messiah. Matthew's introduction echoes the language of Genesis. The word rendered “genealogy” (1:1) is Greek genesis (“beginning, origin, birth, genealogy”), and this is also the title of the Greek translation of Genesis, implying that it is a book of “beginnings.” “The book of the genealogy” appears to function not only as a heading for the genealogy itself (1:2–17) but also as a title for the entire story to follow: a new beginning with the arrival of Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God (cf. note on Gen. 2:4).

Matt. 2:1–12 Magi Report the Star-sign of the Birth of “the King of the Jews.” As much as two years have passed since the events of ch. 1. Matthew highlights God's sovereign care in this infancy account of Jesus the King.

Matt. 2:2 we saw his star when it rose. The wise men would likely have been familiar with OT prophecy through interaction with Jews in Babylon, and they may have remembered Balaam's prophecy that “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17). This was understood by Jews to point to a messianic deliverer (e.g., Dead Sea Scrolls, Damascus Document 7.18–21; Testimonia 9–13). The movement of the star (Matt. 2:9) suggests that it is not a natural phenomenon (e.g., a comet, supernova, or conjunction of planets) but was supernatural, perhaps a guiding angel that appeared as a star, or perhaps some specially created heavenly phenomenon that had the brightness of a star. have come to worship him. The wise men likely traveled with a large number of attendants and guards for the long journey, which would have taken several weeks. For example, if they had come from Babylon by the main trade route of about 800 miles (1,288 km), averaging 20 miles (32 km) per day, the trip would have taken about 40 days.