Matthew 2:19

After Herod ¹  had died, an ²  angel of the Lord ³  appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

Ps 76:10; Ps 139:7; Isa 51:12; Jer 30:10; Eze 11:16; Da 8:25; Da 11:45; Mt 1:20; Mt 2:13

¹ 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.

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.