19.1 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew 1:19-22
19.2 King Herod the Great died sometime in the early Spring of the year 4 BC. Since Jesus was born in 5 BC this means that He and His family were only in Egypt for a short time. Egyptian Christians say the family was only there for three months. They could have lived off of the gifts given them by the wisemen for that length of time.
19.3 Herod the Great's kingdom was divided between two of his sons, and a brother.
19.4 Herod's oldest son, Archelaus, became ethnarch of Judea and Samaria.
19.5 Herod's son, Phillip, became ruler of Iturea/Trachonitus, Batanea, Auranitis, and Panias.
19.6 Herod's brother, Antipas, became ruler of Galilee and Perea.
19.7 Archelaus, ethnarch of Judea and Samaria, was just as wicked and depraved as his father had been. And he was not a good ruler.
19.8 Immediately after Archelaus became ethnarch, riots broke out against him. The Jews wanted his father's advisors removed from office. Archelaus sent soldiers to suppress the riots, but they were killed. Since it was the time of year for the Passover feast, there were millions of Jews pouring into Jerusalem from all over the world. Archelaus feared rebellion. He sent his army against them and killed 3,000 Jews who were worshipping in the temple. After this outrage he left for Rome to settle disputes over his claim to the throne. While he was gone the whole country was without any government. Soon there was violence everywhere.
19.9 Two thousand men of Herod's own army, (which had really been disbanded), revolted, but were driven into the hills. Bandits plundered Galilee, while Sabinus, the procurator of Syria marched to Jerusalem to try to take the throne for himself. Meanwhile Athronges, a huge shepherd, declared himself king, and with his burly brothers conducted a guerilla campaign, spreading ruin and destruction over the countryside.
19.10 Varus, the governor of Syria, came to restore order. He hired an Arabian army to help the Roman troops besieged at Jerusalem, then marched southward from Antioch himself. He succeeded in restoring peace, then returned to Syria.
19.11 All of this news must have had an effect on Jesus' family. Archelaus had already proven himself to be just as deadly and violent as his father, (and in addition to this, he was also inept). Being warned by God in a dream Joseph took his family and turned aside to the little town of Nazareth. So it was that the prophesy came to be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
note: Herod the Great had not named a successor. After his death the provinces of Palestine were divided up between three of his sons, and a nephew, who were not called kings. They were called Tetrarchs or Ethnarchs because each of them ruled only one fourth of the country. But Archelaus, who ruled Judea, was particularly brutal and inept. After ten years the Romans removed him and put a military governor, known as a procurator, in his place. Pontius Pilate was the procurator at the time of Jesus' trial.
19.12 My guess is that Jesus was about nine months old when Joseph and Mary settled in Nazareth. The Bible says that while He was growing up in Nazareth, Jesus was subject to His parents.
19.13 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40
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