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JOSEPHUS·NEW TESTAMENT TOUCHPOINTS

Herod the Great

MATTHEW 2:1-19  ·  ANT. 15-17, ESP. 17.6.5

Josephus is the source for nearly everything known about Herod: the rebuilding of the temple, the fortresses, the murders of his own sons, and the agonizing death at Jericho. He does not record the slaughter at Bethlehem (Matt 2:16), and critics make much of the silence; but a killing of infants in one village would not register beside the executions of Herod's own family that Josephus does record, and the character he describes is exactly the man who would order it.

KING JAMES VERSION

MATTHEW 2

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

1And Jesus having been born in Beth-Lehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, lo, mages from the east came to Jerusalem,

1Now Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, behold magi from the east arrived at Jerusalem, saying,

1When Jesus then was borne at Bethleem in Iudea, in the dayes of Herod the King, beholde, there came Wisemen from the East to Hierusalem,

2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

2“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”

2Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

2saying, `Where is he who was born king of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and we came to bow to him.'

2Where is the king of the Jews that has been born? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to do him homage.

2Saying, Where is that King of the Iewes that is borne? for wee haue seene his starre in the East, and are come to worship him.

3When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

3When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

3And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

3And Herod the king having heard, was stirred, and all Jerusalem with him,

3But Herod the king having heard [of it], was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

3When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Hierusalem with him.

4And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.

4And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

4and having gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring from them where the Christ is born.

4and, assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

4And gathering together all the chiefe Priestes and Scribes of the people, hee asked of them, where Christ should be borne.

5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

5They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written through the prophet,

5And they said to him, `In Beth-Lehem of Judea, for thus it hath been written through the prophet,

5And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written through the prophet:

5And they saide vnto him, At Beth-leem in Iudea: for so it is written by the Prophet,

6‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

6‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”

6And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.

6And thou, Beth-Lehem, the land of Judah, thou art by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for out of thee shall come one leading, who shall feed My people Israel.'

6And thou Bethlehem, land of Juda, art in no wise the least among the governors of Juda; for out of thee shall go forth a leader who shall shepherd my people Israel.

6And thou Beth-leem in the lande of Iuda, art not the least among the Princes of Iuda: For out of thee shall come the gouernour that shall feede that my people Israel.

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.

7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

7Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.

7Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.

7Then Herod, privately having called the mages, did inquire exactly from them the time of the appearing star,

7Then Herod, having secretly called the magi, inquired of them accurately the time of the star that was appearing;

7Then Herod priuily called the Wisemen, and diligently inquired of them the time of the starre that appeared,

8And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”

8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

8He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.

8and having sent them to Beth-Lehem, he said, `Having gone--inquire ye exactly for the child, and whenever ye may have found, bring me back word, that I also having come may bow to him.'

8and having sent them to Bethlehem, said, Go, search out accurately concerning the child, and when ye shall have found [him] bring me back word, so that I also may come and do him homage.

8And sent them to Beth-leem, saying, Goe, and searche diligently for the babe: and when ye haue founde him, bring mee worde againe, that I may come also, and worship him.

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was.

9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

9They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.

9And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

9And they, having heard the king, departed, and lo, the star, that they did see in the east, did go before them, till, having come, it stood over where the child was.

9And they having heard the king went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the place where the little child was.

9So when they had heard the King, they departed: and loe, the starre which they had seene in the East, went before them, till it came and stoode ouer the place where the babe was.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

10And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

10And having seen the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy,

10And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

10And when they sawe the starre, they reioyced with an exceeding great ioy,

11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

11They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

11And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

11and having come to the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and having fallen down they bowed to him, and having opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh,

11And having come into the house they saw the little child with Mary his mother, and falling down did him homage. And having opened their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

11And went into the house, and founde the babe with Mary his mother, and fell downe, and worshipped him, and opened their treasures, and presented vnto him giftes, euen golde, and frankincense, and myrrhe.

12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.

12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

12Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

12and having been divinely warned in a dream not to turn back unto Herod, through another way they withdrew to their own region.

12And being divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

12And after they were warned of God in a dreame, that they should not go againe to Herod, they returned into their countrey another way.

13When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”

13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

13Now 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.”

13Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

13And on their having withdrawn, lo, a messenger of the Lord doth appear in a dream to Joseph, saying, `Having risen, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and be thou there till I may speak to thee, for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him.'

13Now, they having departed, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph, saying, Arise, take to [thee] the little child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee; for Herod will seek the little child to destroy it.

13After their departure, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeareth to Ioseph in a dreame, saying, Arise, and take the babe and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there til I bring thee word: for Herod will seeke the babe, to destroy him.

14So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,

14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

14He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,

14And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt;

14And he, having risen, took the child and his mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,

14And, having arisen, he took to [him] the little child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.

14So he arose and tooke the babe and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,

15where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

15and 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.”

15and 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 did I call my son.

15and he was there till the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, `Out of Egypt I did call My Son.'

15And he was there until the death of Herod, that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by [the] Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

15And was there vnto the death of Herod, that that might be fulfilled, which is spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, saying, Out of Egypt haue I called my sonne.

16When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.

16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men.

16Then Herod, having seen that he was deceived by the mages, was very wroth, and having sent forth, he slew all the male children in Beth-Lehem, and in all its borders, from two years and under, according to the time that he inquired exactly from the mages.

16Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the magi, was greatly enraged; and sent and slew all the boys which [were] in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years and under, according to the time which he had accurately inquired from the magi.

16Then Herod, seeing that he was mocked of the Wisemen, was exceeding wroth, and sent foorth, and slew all the male children that were in Beth-leem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two yeere old and vnder, according to the time which he had diligently searched out of the Wisemen.

17Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

17Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremias the prophet, saying,

17Then was that fulfilled which is spoken by the Prophet Ieremias, saying,

18“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

18“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”

18A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.

18`A voice in Ramah was heard--lamentation and weeping and much mourning--Rachel weeping <FI>for<Fi> her children, and she would not be comforted because they are not.'

18A voice has been heard in Rama, weeping, and great lamentation: Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

18In Rhama was a voyce heard, mourning, and weeping, and great howling: Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were not.

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

19And Herod having died, lo, a messenger of the Lord in a dream doth appear to Joseph in Egypt,

19But Herod having died, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

19And whe Herod was dead, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeareth in a dreame to Ioseph in Egypt,

JOSEPHUS

Ant. 15-17, esp. 17.6.5 is a range rather than a single section, so it is linked rather than reproduced here.

Passage selection· awaiting copy

The Works of Flavius Josephus, translated by William Whiston (1737). Public domain. Text prepared from the Project Gutenberg transcriptions, ebooks 2848, 2850, 2849 and 2846.