NOW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the
king, lo! Magians from the East came 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 pay him homage.
(3)Now when Herod the king heard this, he was much agitated, and all
Jerusalem with him. (4)And assembling all the chief priests and scribes
of the people, he enquired of them, where the Messiah should be born.
(5)Then they answered him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written
by the prophet[2], (6)"And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no
respect the least amongst the princes of Judah, for from thee shall go
forth the Ruler, who shall conduct my people Israel."
(7)Thereupon Herod secretly calling to him the Magians, enquired very
particularly of them the time of the star's appearing, (8)and sending
them to Bethlehem said, Go, and procure the most exact information
respecting this child; and when you have found him, bring me
intelligence, that I may come, and pay him homage also.
(9)So having heard the king, they went on; and lo, the star, which they
had seen in the East, had gone before them, till it came and stood over
the place where the infant was. (10)And when they saw the star, they
were exceedingly transported with joy. (11)And coming into the house,
they found the infant with Mary his mother, and falling prostrate, they
paid their homage to him. And opening their treasures, they made their
offerings to him, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (12)And having
received warning in a dream not to go back to Herod, they departed into
their own country by another road.
(13)Now when they were gone, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto
Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the infant and his mother by
night, and flee into Egypt, and stay there, till I speak to thee, for
Herod will search for the infant to destroy it. (14)So rising up, he
took the babe and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt, (15)and
was there till the death of Herod; that what was spoken of the Lord by
the prophet, might be fulfilled, saying[3], "Out of Egypt have I called
my son."
(16)Then Herod, perceiving that he was treated delusively by the
Magians, was greatly exasperated, and he sent and slew all the male
infants, that were in Bethlehem, and in all its territories, from their
entering their second year and all under it, according to the time,
which he had accurately enquired from the Magians. (17)Then was
fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying[4], (18)"A
cry was heard at Ramah, lamentation, and wailing, and bitter moaning,
Rachel weeping for her children, and will not be comforted, because
they are no more."
(19)Now when Herod was dead, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in
a dream to Joseph in Egypt, (20)saying, Arise, and take the little boy
and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who sought the
life of the infant are dead. (21)So he arose, and took the child and
his mother, and came unto the land of Israel. (22)But hearing that
Archelaus reigned in Judea in the stead of Herod his father, he was
afraid to go thither. And being divinely warned in a dream, he retired
into the country of Galilee, (23)and came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth: that what was said by the prophets might be fulfilled, that
he shall be called a Nazarean.