Moses
In the first century, it was popular to retell and embellish the Moses
story rather freely. The versions in Josephus (Antiquities
2.205-37) and pseudo-Philo (9.9-15) are two excellent examples of this
kind of rewritten Bible which have parallels in
Mt 2. The evangelist wants his readers to see a continuity between Moses
and Jesus.
Herod
Because of a miscalculation in the sixth century by the monk Dionysius Exiguus, who arranged the calendar we follow to this day, Jesus was actually born about 6 B.C.E. and Herod died about 4 B.C.E.
Herod was a ruthless king who didn’t hesitate to kill family
members to preserve his position. Joseph learns of Herod’s
intrigue and God’s will to save the child in a dream instructing
him to flee with his family to Egypt.
Egypt was a traditional place of refuge for Judeans (see
1 Kgs 11:20;
Jer 26:21). It came under Roman rule in 30 B.C.E. and was beyond Herod’s
jurisdiction.
Herod's Sons
Herod had three sons: Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Philip. He sent
them as young men to Rome to learn how to be rulers. When Herod died,
Archelaus inherited Judea, Samaria, and Idumaea. He was every bit as
cruel a ruler as his father.
Herod Antipas received Galilee and Perea. This is the Herod who
beheaded John and whom Jesus called “that fox.” Galilee
was much more peaceful and a little more secure than Judea. This might
explain why Joseph elected to settle the family there instead of in
Bethlehem.
Nazareth of Galilee
Though Matthew calls Nazareth a city, it was a hamlet numbering about a hundred people. There were a few families at most, very likely all related to each other. In such a village, first-cousin marriage partners would be easy to find.
This hamlet was not far from the sea highway, the principal trade route to and from Egypt. Another major road from Acco toward Tiberias crossed the sea highway near Nazareth. Located so close to a major crossroads, Nazareth understandably gravitated toward the “big” city of Sepphoris at that crossroads.
Mentioned nowhere in the Bible, Sepphoris was very important. In Jesus’ time it was the district capitol where Herod Antipas carried out massive building programs providing work for artisans in the region.
Around the year 200 C.E. Rabbi Judah the Prince spent the last years of his life there codifying the Mishna. Galilee thus was the birthplace of both Christianity and post-biblical talmudic Judaism.
The Holy Family
Modern Americans who imagine Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a nuclear
family inappropriately transform them into Americans.
The Middle Eastern family is enormous and quite extended. It is highly
probable that they had relatives in Bethlehem and that all the
inhabitants of Nazareth were members of Jesus’ extended
family.
Middle Eastern families relate differently, too. The strongest
emotional bond is between mother and oldest son. It remains so
throughout their lives. The weakest emotional bond is between husband
and wife.
Though we know precious little about this family’s life in
Nazareth after returning from Egypt, Matthew portrays Jesus as quite
capable of functioning effectively in the public world of the male.
His large, extended family raised him well.
Finally, note Matthew’s combination of place-names with
Scripture quotations. The flight into Egypt is related to
Hos 11:1, and the return to Nazareth is said to have a basis in Scripture
(still unidentified).
This suggests that Jesus’ family directed him toward his destiny
“according to the Scriptures,” that is, in harmony with
God’s will as revealed in the Bible.
Oh that this might be true for contemporary families as well!
