The Harmony Chronicle and Order of the New Testament, Part 1 · Section 7
SECTION VII. MATTH. Chap. II. All the Chapter. CHRIST homaged by the wise men, Persecuted by Herod, flees into Egypt.
CHRIST. II THE order of this Section and Story is cleared by ver. 7. and ver. 16. by which it appeareth that Christ was two years old when the wise men came to him: For Herod had enquired diligently of them the time when the Star appeared, and according to the time that they had told him, he slew the male children from two years old and under. From two years old, because they had told him it was so long since the Starre appeared; And under two years old, because he would make sure work, as to that scruple that might arise, namely, whether the Star were a fore-runner, or a concomitant of the Birth of that King of the Jews that they spake of.
Now that the Star appeared at the instant of his birth, cannot but be concluded upon this consideration, if there were no more, That otherwise it left the wise man so uncertain of the time when he should be born, as that they could not tell whether he were born or no, no not when they were come to Ierusalem.
The appearance of the Star therefore was on the night when he was born, and they having told Herod how long it was since it appeared, he accordingly slayeth all the children of two years old; for so old according to their information did he account the childe to be for whom he sought, and yet withall he slew all the children under that age, that he might be sure to hit and not fail of his design. This considered, it sheweth that Christ was in his second year at the wise mens coming, and withall it proveth the order of this Section to be proper, and that this Story is to be laid after the story of Maries Purification and not before, as many have laid it.
It may be objected indeed, that Luke having given the Story of his presenting in the Temple, concludeth, When they had performed all things according to the Law, they returned into Galilee: Now if they returned into Galilee when Christ was 40 daies old, how was he found at Bethlehem at two years old? Answ. Luke is to be understood in that passage according to the current of his own Story. He had nothing to say about this matter of the wise men, nor of Christs journey into Egypt [because Matthew had handled that to the full before] and the next thing that he hath to relate, is his coming out of Galilee to Ierusalem, to one of the Festivals: having nothing therefore to insert between his presenting in the Temple at forty dayes old, and his coming again to the Temple at twelve years old, he maketh this brief transition between when they had performed all things according to the Law they returned into Galilee, that he might thereby bring Christ to Galilee, from whence he came when he shewed his wisedom at twelve years old.
foreign in Scripture is alwaies taken in the worst sense for men practising Magicall and unlawfull Arts; and if it be to be understood so in this place, it magnifieth the power and grace of Christ the more, when men that had been of such a profession become the first Professors of Christ, of any among the Gentiles: They seeing a new and uncouth Starre in the Heavens [it may be the light that shone about Bethlehem-Shepherds seemed to them at distance a new strange Star hanging over Iudaea] are informed by God two years after what it signified; and are wrought upon by his Spirit to come and homage Christ whom it pointed out.
Herod at the report of the King of the Iews born, and that with the attendance of such a glorious Starre, looks upon him as the Messiah, yet endeavours to murder him. He is sent by the direction of an Angel with his mother into Egypt, where there was at this time an infinite number of the Jewish Nation. Succah cap. 5. At Alexandria there was a great Cathedrall, double cloistered, and sometime there were there double the number of Israel, that came out of Egypt, and there were 71 golden chairs, according to the 71 Elders of the great Sanhedrin▪ And there was a Pulpit of wood in the middle, where the Minister of the Congregation stood, &c. The Babylon Talmud saith, Alexander the Great slew these multitudes, but the Ierusalem saith Trajanus did. And the Authour of Iuchasin will shew you a truth in both. For, In the daies of Simeon the Iust (saith he) Alexandria which was Amen Min Ne, was full of Israelites, double the number of those that came out of Egypt, &c. But they were all slain by Alexander. But after this it was re-peopled again from the time of Onias, who built there a great Temple, and an Altar, and all the men of Egypt went thither, &c. And there was a great Congregation there, double to the number of those that came out of Egypt. Fol. 14. Of this Temple built by Onias in Egypt, Iosephus maketh mention, Antiq. lib. 13. cap. 6. And the Talmud in Menacheth, cap. 13. So that Christ being sent into Egypt was sent among his own Nation, who had filled that Countrey.
The time that he was in Egypt was not above three or four moneths, so soon the Lord smote Herod for his butchery of the innocent children, and murtherous intent against the Lord of Life. Ioseph and Mary being called out of Egypt after Herods death, intend for Iudaea again, thinking to go to Bethlehem, but the fear of Archelaus, and the warning of an Angel directs them into Galilee; They knew not but that Christ was to be educated in Bethlehem as he was to be born there; therefore they kept him there till he was two years old, and durst not take him thence, till fear and the warrant of an Angel dismisseth them into Egypt; And when they come again from thence, they can think of no other place but Bethlehem again, till the like fear and warrant send them into Galilee.
CHRIST. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. There is none of the Evangelists that recordeth any thing concerning Christ, from the time of his return out of Egypt, till he come to be twelve years old, which was for the space of these years; For the better understanding of which times let us take up some few passages in Iosephus.
Antiq. lib. 17. cap. 10. Herod (saith he) reigned 34 years, from the time that Antigonus was taken away, and 37 years from the time that he was first decl…red King by the Romans.
And again in the same Book cap. 15. In the tenth year of the reign of Archelaus, the people not enduring his cruelty and tyranny, they accused Archelaus to Caesar, and he banished him to Vienna: And a little after Cyrenius was sent by Caesar to tax Syria, and to confiscate Archelaus his goods.
And lib. 18. cap. 1. Coponius was also sent with Cyrenius to be governour of Judea.
And ibid. cap. 5. Coponius returning to Rome, Marcus Ambibuchus becometh his Successor in that government. And after him succeeded Annius Rufus, in whose time died Caesar Augustus the second Emperour of the Romans.
Now when Augustus died Christ was fourteen years old, as appeareth from this, that he was 29. years old compleat, and beginning to be thirty, in the fifteenth year of Tiberius the Emperour next succeeding, Luke 3.1, 2. Reckon then these times that Iosephus hath mentioned between the death of Herod and the death of Augustus, namely, the ten years of Archelaus, and after them the government of Coponius, and after him Ambibuchus, and after him Rufus, and it will necessarily follow that when Herod slew Bethlehem children, Christ being then two years old, it was the very last year of his reign.