When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. 23 He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.”'
The tyrannical rule of Herod the Great that sought to eliminate the Christ child ended with his death in 4 BC. The angel of the Lord, a divine messenger (cf. Mt. 1:20, 2:13) appears once again to Joseph in a dream and instructs him to return to Israel because there was no longer a threat to Jesus’ life. In returning to Israel as instructed, Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophet Hosea, “Out of Egypt I called my son (Hos. 11:1). Matthew identifies Jesus as the new Israel, drawing a parallel between the Exodus, in which Israel was delivered from Egypt, and Jesus, the true Son of God, who is likewise called out of Egypt.
Herod’s eldest son, Archelaus, inherited the rule of Judea, Idumea, and Samaria. Historical sources, such as Josephus, describe Archelaus as a violent and oppressive ruler, notorious for his harsh treatment of Jewish subjects. Joseph’s fear of returning to Judea was thus well-founded. Warned in another dream, Joseph took his family to Galilee, settling in the town of Nazareth. Galilee, often referred to as “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Mt 4:15), was viewed by Judeans as a region of lesser religious prominence, inhabited by mixed populations.
The move to Nazareth fulfills the prophecy, though no direct Old Testament text explicitly states, “He shall be called a Nazorean.” Some scholars suggest this phrase connects to the Hebrew netzer (branch) in Isaiah 11:1, pointing to Jesus as the Davidic Messiah. This interpretation deepens Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus as the fulfillment of messianic expectations.
Jesus, the Messiah born in Bethlehem of Judea, the city of David, now became a resident of Nazareth. This small, obscure village, considered insignificant (cf. John 1:46), highlights the paradox of Jesus’ mission. He is the Messiah who comes not in worldly grandeur but in humility, fulfilling the prophecy of the suffering servant (Is 53) and exemplifying God’s pattern of exalting the lowly (cf. Luke 1:46-55). This mission is further emphasized in his ministry’s focus on the marginalized, as foretold in Isaiah and declared in his inaugural proclamation, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord (Luke 4:18-19).”
Almighty God, thank You for Your unwavering guidance and protection, as revealed in the journey of the Holy Family. Help us to trust in Your divine providence and to walk in obedience, like St. Joseph, even in times of uncertainty. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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