Matthew 2:12-13

2:12 After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 1  they went back by another route to their own country.

The Escape to Egypt

2:13 After they had gone, an 2  angel of the Lord 3  appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod 4  is going to look for the child to kill him.”

Matthew 2:19

The Return to Nazareth

2:19 After Herod 5  had died, an 6  angel of the Lord 7  appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

1 sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1.

2 tn Grk “behold, an angel.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

3 tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:20.

4 sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. Herod the Great was particularly ruthless regarding the succession to his throne.

5 sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. When Herod the Great died in 4 b.c., his kingdom was divided up among his three sons: Archelaus, who ruled over Judea (where Bethlehem was located, v. 22); Philip, who became tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis (cf. Luke 3:1); and Antipas, who became tetrarch of Galilee.

6 tn Grk “behold, an angel.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

7 tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:20.