Where did Mary and Joseph flee with Jesus?
BREAKDOWN
According to the Gospel of Matthew, Mary and Joseph fled with the infant Jesus to Egypt. This flight was initiated by a divine warning given to Joseph in a dream. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, instructing him to take Jesus and his mother and flee to Egypt, because Herod the Great intended to search for the child to destroy him (Matthew 2:13). The family remained in Egypt until the death of Herod, after which an angel again appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him it was safe to return to the land of Israel (Matthew 2:19-20). They subsequently settled in Nazareth of Galilee. This event is significant not only as a narrative of divine protection but also as a fulfillment of prophecy, specifically cited in Matthew 2:15, "Out of Egypt I called my son," referencing Hosea 11:1.
KEY TERMS
Herod the Great
The Roman client king of Judea known for his ambitious building projects and ruthless paranoia, who ordered the slaughter of infants in Bethlehem.
Egypt
A neighboring Roman province and a common refuge for Jews, where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fled to escape Herod's persecution.
prophecy
A divine message or prediction, often a foretelling of future events, which the flight to Egypt fulfilled through Hosea 11:1.
Hosea 11:1
An Old Testament verse quoted in Matthew, stating 'Out of Egypt I called my son,' which Matthew interprets as a prophecy fulfilled by Jesus's return from Egypt.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Matthew 2:13
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
Matthew 2:15
and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:19-20
But when Herod was dead, behold, an an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
Hosea 11:1
“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
INTERLINEAR ANALYSIS
Interlinear Greek
Matthew 2:13ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ANALYSIS
φεύγω
flee
Definitionto flee, escape, take flight
Αἴγυπτος
Egypt
DefinitionEgypt
ἀπολέσαι
destroy
Definitionto destroy, kill, lose
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The flight to Egypt occurred during the reign of Herod the Great (37-4 BCE), a client king of Rome who ruled Judea. Herod was known for his paranoia, ruthlessness, and readiness to eliminate any perceived rivals, including members of his own family. His decree to slaughter all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem and its vicinity (Matthew 2:16) is consistent with his historical character, though it is not independently attested in secular historical sources, likely due to its localized nature and the abundance of more significant cruelties committed by Herod that were recorded. Egypt, being a neighboring Roman province, was a common refuge for Jews fleeing political turmoil in Judea. It had a significant Jewish diaspora population, particularly in Alexandria, dating back centuries, making it a familiar and accessible place for Jewish refugees. Travel between Judea and Egypt would typically follow established trade routes, such as the Via Maris, which connected the coastal regions and then branched south into Egypt.
THEOLOGICAL INSIGHT
The flight to Egypt serves multiple profound theological purposes. Firstly, it underscores the divine protection over the Messiah, demonstrating that God actively intervenes to preserve His plan of salvation from human evil, even from powerful earthly rulers like Herod. Secondly, it intrinsically links Jesus's early life to the historical experience of the nation of Israel. Just as Israel was called 'out of Egypt' (Hosea 11:1) as God's 'son', Jesus, the true Son of God, also comes out of Egypt, identifying Him with His people's foundational story of exodus and redemption. This foreshadows His greater work of leading His people out of the 'Egypt' of sin and death. Finally, it highlights the theme of rejection and suffering that would characterize Jesus's ministry, even from infancy, yet always undergirded by divine sovereignty.
COMMENTARY SYNTHESIS
Rashi (Jewish)
When discussing Hosea 11:1 ('Out of Egypt I called my son'), Rashi often emphasizes the divine election of Israel as God's firstborn son, rescued from Egyptian bondage. While he would not directly comment on Matthew, the New Testament's citation connects Jesus to this original redemptive act, presenting Jesus as the ultimate 'son' who embodies and fulfills Israel's destiny.
Matthew Henry (Christian)
Henry notes that this flight demonstrates the humiliation of Christ from birth; that 'the Son of God must be a refugee.' He emphasizes God's providence in protecting His Son from Herod's malice, highlighting that 'when God has work to do, he will find out a way to preserve those who are to do it, or in whom it is to be done.'
John Calvin (Christian)
Calvin highlights the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus's flight to Egypt, stating that 'God had formerly called His Son (Israel) out of Egypt; so He intended to call His Only Begotten Son out of Egypt.' He stresses that this event confirms Jesus's identity as the true Israel and the ultimate recipient of God's covenant promises.
Augustine of Hippo (Christian)
Augustine often viewed the flight to Egypt as a symbolic act, suggesting that Jesus went to Egypt 'to conquer the idols of the Egyptians' and bring the light of truth to those who were in darkness, even in His infancy, through His mere presence. He saw it as a spiritual victory foreshadowing the spread of the Gospel.
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish)
Though not directly commenting on Jesus, Midrashic interpretations of the Exodus narrative frequently emphasize the theme of divine protection for the vulnerable and the miraculous nature of God's deliverance 'out of Egypt.' The flight of Jesus can be seen as echoing the broader motif of God's intervention to save His chosen ones from oppressive regimes.