The Pilgrimage of the Magi
(Micah 5:1–6)

1After Jesus (YHWH saves) was born in Bethlehem (house of bread) in Judea (land of praise), during the time of King Herod (heroic), Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem (city of peace), 2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews (people of praise)? We saw His star in the east (as it rose)a and have come to worship Him.”

3When King Herod (heroic) heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem (city of peace) with him. 4And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ (the Anointed One) was to be born.

5“In Bethlehem (house of bread) in Judea (land of praise),” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6‘But you, Bethlehem (house of bread), in the land of Judah (praise),

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 <Mic 5:2>.’b”

7Then Herod (heroic) called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8And sending them to Bethlehem (house of bread), 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.”

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. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. 11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary (beloved), and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

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

The Flight to Egypt
(Hosea 11:1–7)

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

14So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt (land of bondage), 15where he stayed until the death of Herod (heroic). This fulfilled what the Lord {kyriou} had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt (land of bondage) I called My Son <Hos 11:1>.”c

Weeping and Great Mourning
(Jeremiah 31:1–25)

16When Herod (heroic) 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 (house of bread) and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah (YHWH will exalt) was fulfilled:

18“A voice is heard in Ramah,

weeping and great mourning,

Rachel (little lamb) weeping for her children

and refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more <Jer 31:15>.”d

The Return to Nazareth
(Luke 2:39–40)

19After Herod (heroic) died, an angel (messenger) of the Lord {Kyriou} appeared in a dream to Joseph (he will add) in Egypt (land of bondage). 20“Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel (He wrestles with God), for those seeking the Child’s life {psychēn} are now dead.”

21So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel (He wrestles with God). 22But when he learned that Archelaus (master of the people) was reigning in Judea (land of praise) in place of his father Herod (heroic), he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee (circuit), 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth (branch). So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”