Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 2:7
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
7. inquired of them diligently ] Rather, having accurately ascertained; the word is used of scientific exactness. The reason of this inquiry appears in Mat 2:16.
what time the star appeared ] Literally, the time of the star which was appearing, i. e. when it first appeared and how long it would continue.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Privily – Secretly, privately. He did this to ascertain the time when Jesus was born.
Diligently – Accurately, exactly. He took pains to learn the precise time when the star appeared. He did this because he naturally concluded that the star appeared just at the time of his birth, and he wished to know precisely how old the child was.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Mat 2:7
Search diligently.
I. Wicked men often cloak their evil designs under the appearance of religion. They attempt to deceive those who are really good, and to make them suppose that they have the same design. But God cannot be deceived, and He will bring them to punishment.
II. Wicked men often make use of the PIOUS to advance their evil purposes. Men like Herod will stop at nothing if they can carry their ends. They endeavour to deceive the simple, allure the unsuspecting, and to beguile the weak, to answer their purposes of wickedness.
III. The plans of wicked men are often well laid. They occupy a long time; they make diligent inquiry; and all of it has the appearance of religion. But God sees the design; and though men are deceived, He cannot be (Pro 15:3). (Dr. A. Barnes.)
A king frightened by an infant
I. That men may be interested in Christ, and inquire about Him from different motives- some to worship, some to murder.
1. The motive of the wise men.
2. Herods motive.
II. That inquiry about Christ does not produce the same results in all.
1. The wise men rejoiced.
2. Herod was troubled.
III. That all opposition to Christ and His cause must end in failure and overthrow. (T. Kelly.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Herod having heard the answer of the priests and scribes, did not think fit to make any noise of it amongst the people; he knew the Jews were apt enough to rebel, and being so little a conqueror had no reason to presume much of their goodwill towards him; he therefore calls the wise men privily, and takes no notice of any King they talked of, but only inquires the time when this new star first appeared. To what end he made this inquiry may be learned from Mat 2:16; only that he might be able to govern himself in his bloody decree, that he might neither destroy more children than would serve his present design, nor yet leave this Child behind.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. Then Herod, when he had privilycalled the wise menHerod has so far succeeded in his murderousdesign: he has tracked the spot where lies his victim, an unconsciousbabe. But he has another point to fixthe date of His birthwithoutwhich he might still miss his mark. The one he had got from theSanhedrim; the other he will have from the sages; but secretly, lesthis object should be suspected and defeated. So he
inquired of themdiligentlyrather, “precisely.”
what time the starappearedpresuming that this would be the best clue to the ageof the child. The unsuspecting strangers tell him all. And now hethinks he is succeeding to a wish, and shall speedily clutch hisvictim; for at so early an age as they indicate, He would not likelyhave been removed from the place of His birth. Yet he is wary. Hesends them as messengers from himself, and bids them come to him,that he may follow their pious example.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men,…. As soon as he had got the intelligence of the place of the Messiah’s birth, he called, or ordered the wise men to be brought into his presence, and that in a very private manner; lest the Jews, who knew his hypocrisy and deceit, should perceive his views, and enter into his designs, and so give the wise men some instructions, which would be prejudicial to the scheme he was forming in his own mind to destroy the young king; and having called them to him, he
inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. He took a good deal of pains in examining them, he sifted them, and inquired of them with much accuracy, and exactness, the precise time of the star’s appearing to them, how long ago it was when it was first observed by them; that hereby he might exactly know the age of Christ, and the better execute the bloody design he had formed, should the wise men disappoint him; and the better detect an impostor, should another afterwards arise, and set up himself for the king of the Jews.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Then Herod privily called the wise men ( H ). He had manifestly not told members of the Sanhedrin why he was concerned about the Messiah. So he conceals his motives to the Magi. And yet he “learned of them carefully” (), “learned exactly” or “accurately.” He was anxious to see if the Jewish prophecy of the birthplace of the Messiah agreed with the indications of the star to the Magi. He kept to himself his purpose. The time of the appearing star ( ) is not “the time when the star appeared,” but the age of the star’s appearance.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men,” (tote Herodes lathra kalesas tous magous) “At that point Herod privately called the wise men,” the magi.
2) “Enquired of them diligently,” (ekribosen par’ auton) “And he inquired carefully to secure from them,” from the magi, for the scribes and administrative priests of the Jews, from whom he had demanded a disclosure of the place where their Messiah king was to be born, Mat 2:2; Mat 2:4.
3) “What time the star appeared.” (ton chronon tou phainomenou asteros) “At what particular time the star made its appearance.” Their answer is not given. But they followed the star that led to Jesus, the prophesied Star that was to come, Num 24:17. They evidently disclosed that it had happened or appeared to” the shepherds at night, near Bethlehem, and told them of the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord, Luk 2:1-18; Mat 2:16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
7. Then Herod, having secretly called the Magi The tyrant did not dare to avow his fear and uneasiness, lest he might give fresh courage to a people, by whom he knew that he was hated. In public, therefore, he pretends that this matter does not concern him, but inquires secretly, in order to meet immediate danger. Though a bad conscience made him timid, there can be no doubt that God struck his mind with an unusual fear, which for a time made him incapable of reflection, and almost deprived him of the use of reason. For nothing was more easy than to send one of his courtiers as an escort, under the pretense of courtesy, who would investigate the whole matter, and immediately return. Herod certainly was a man of no ordinary address, and of great courage. It is the more surprising that, in a case of extremity, and when the remedy is at hand, he remains in a state of amazement, and almost dead. Let us learn, that a miracle was effected, in rescuing the Son of God from the jaws of the lion. Not less at the present day does God infatuate his enemies, so that a thousand schemes of injuring and ruining his Church do not occur to their minds, and even the opportunities which are at hand are not embraced. The trick which Herod practiced on the Magi, by pretending that he also would come for the purpose of worshipping Christ, was avoided by the Lord, as we shall see, in another way. But as Herod’s dread of arousing the people against him deprived him of the use of his reason, so again he is driven by such madness, that he does not hesitate or shudder at the thought of provoking God. For he knew that, if a King were born, it was ordained by God, that he should raise up the throne “of David, which was fallen,” (Amo 9:11.) He does not therefore attack men, but furiously dares to fight with God. Two things claim our attention. He was seized with a spirit of giddiness, to attack God; and, on the other hand, his manner of acting was childish: for his design was frustrated, so that he was like a “blind man groping in darkness.” (185)
(185) Like many others of his scriptural allusions, this is not marked by our Author. It approaches very nearly to the language of one of the curses pronounced by Moses on the people of Israel, “If they should not hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God;” — “thou shalt grope at noon-day as the blind gropeth in darkness,” (Deu 28:15.) But it is more likely that he had in his eye a passage from the book of Job. In the opening description of “the devices of the crafty,” Herod, who is pronounced by Calvin to have been “a man of no ordinary address, and another Herod, whom our Lord designates that fox, (Luk 13:32,) are so exactly delineated, that it might almost be imagined they had sat for the picture. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. They meet with darkness in the day-time, and grope in the noon-day as in the night,” (Job 5:12.) — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) When he had privily called.True to his nature to the lasthimself probably a believer in astrology, and haunted by fears of what the star portendedthe kings next measure is to ascertain the limits of his danger. The English what time the star appeared is not quite accurate. Literally, the time of the star that was appearingi.e., at what time the star, which was still visible (Mat. 2:9), had first appeared.
Enquired of them diligently.Better, ascertained exactly.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Privily Privately, because he wished the excitement to die, and to keep the matter under his own control. Called the wise men Who plainly were waiting to learn the locality of the Messiah, being not now directed by the visible star. What time the star appeared In order to know the precise time of the birth.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Then Herod privately called the Magi, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.’
Having learned from his own ‘wise men’ what he wanted to know, Herod now summoned the Magi in private audience and discovered from them at what time the star had appeared. It was important to him for it would tell him something about the age of the child.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 2:7 f. ] Inconsistently enough, as that could only arouse suspicion; but to adopt secret measures is natural to wickedness!
The question after the time of the appearance [of the star] has its reason in this, that the mistrustful Herod already thinks of the possibility of his not seeing the Magi again, and that he will then still have a hold for taking further proceedings against the mysterious child (Mat 2:16 ).
] with the accusative does not mean: he investigated minutely ( may mean this), but: after he had made them come to him secretly, he obtained from them a minute knowledge , and so on. Vulgate appropriately says: “Diligenter didicit.” Comp. Plat. Charm . p. 156 A; Xen. Mem . iv. 2. 10; Eur. Hec . 1192; Lucian, Jov. trag . 27, Piscat . xx.; Herodian, i. 11. 14. But the passages where it means to make exact (Aquila, Isa 49:16 ; Simonides, lxxxiv.; Xen. Cyr . ii. 1. 26) do not apply here. Euth. Zigabenus rightly says: , (the star) , .
] Grotius: “Non initium, sed continuitas .” Herod asked: How long does the star appear? how long does it make itself visible? namely, since its rising in the east, where ye saw it arise (Mat 2:9 ). Thus the present is not to be taken either in the sense of the aorist or of the imperfect (de Wette, Bleek).
] not contemporaneous with the (de Wette), but prior to it; comp. Mat 11:2 . After he had directed them to Bethlehem (in consequence of Mat 2:5 f.), he added the commission, etc. Otherwise it would have been .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
And 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.
I would beg the Reader to pause over those verses, for several interesting circumstances of improvement arise from them. What an awful picture is here drawn of the human heart, in the character of Herod! He was now an old man; had long reigned; and this young prince just born, supposing all that Herod might suppose of an earthly monarchy could not, in the nature of things, hastily arise to oppose him. And yet with what deep artifice and hypocrisy did he cover over the cruel design he had formed of murdering the newborn stranger. Look at the chief priests and scribes also. Though they saw, as well as Herod, with what earnestness and labor the wise men from the East had come, a vast journey to worship the king of the Jews yet they who were Jews, felt no concern about the glorious area of his birth; though their Prophets had so plainly declared both the place and the time of his coming. The wise men were told where they might find Christ; but none of the priests or scribes, it should seem, went with them to see him. But, Reader! do not fail to remark a circumstance yet more interesting than either; surely, it must have been the Lord, by his providence, over-ruling things, that so Jesus might remain in safety, until a more convenient season for his flight into Egypt should arrive.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Ver. 7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently ] a The children of this world are wise in their generation, but so are serpents, foxes, &c., to the which the Church’s enemies are often compared, He thought by this means to have made all sure, but in the thing wherein he dealt proudly and politically, God was above them, as old Jethro hath it, Exo 18:11 . There is neither power nor policy against the Lord; “who ever waxed fierce against him, and prospered?” Job 9:4 .
a . Accuravit, et omnibus nervis incubuit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
7. ] ascertained accurately.
] lit. the time (or, duration: perhaps as an element in his calculation of age) of the star which appeared: . being the part. pres., referred back to the time when they saw the star . The position of . between the art. and its subst. forbids such renderings as ‘ the time when the star appeared .’
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 2:7-8 . Herod’s next step . : , frequent formula of transition with our evangelist, cf. Mat 2:16-17 ; Mat 4:1 ; Mat 4:5 ; Mat 4:11 , etc. Herod wished to ascertain precisely when the child the Magi had come to worship was born. He assumed that the event would synchronise with the ascent of the star which the Magi had seen in its rising, and which still continued to be seen ( ). Therefore he made particular inquiries ( ) as to the time of the star, i.e. , the time of its first appearing. This was a blind, an affectation of great interest in all that related to the child, in whose destinies even the stars were involved.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat 2:7-12
7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Mat 2:7
NASB”determined from them the exact time the star appeared”
NKJV”determined from them what time the star appeared”
NRSV”learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared”
TEV”and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared”
NJB”He asked them the exact date on which the star appeared”
Herod was interested in the age of the child. Since it took the Magi many months to travel from Persia, Jesus was at least one or two years of age at this time.
Mat 2:9
NASB”the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over the place where the Child was”
NKJV”the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was”
NRSV”and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was”
TEV”and it went ahead of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was”
NJB”the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was”
Presuppositions determine interpretation. I believe in the supernatural, although I cannot always explain why or how. The star moved and stopped! It must not have been so spectacular that many others saw it or recognized its significance. These men were trained in what to expect in the night sky. This phenomena did not fit a standard pattern. Therefore, it was not solely a natural phenomenon. This mixture of the natural and supernatural is similar to the plagues on Egypt.
The wise men did not come the same time as the shepherds. It has always surprised me that Matthew, writing to Jews, mentions Gentiles coming (saw the star) and Luke, writing to Gentiles, mentions Jewish shepherds coming (heard the angels). The theological truth is obvious-everyone is welcome to come (Gentiles, outcast Jews)!
Mat 2:10 “they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” Why did they rejoice?
1. their search was over
2. the star continued to guide them
3. there is a spiritual component to their search (cf. Mat 2:11); they found their new king and lord!
The intensive nature of this phrase leads one to option #3.
Mat 2:11 “the house” Obviously some time (up to two years) had passed from the time of the birth. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were living in their own house.
“the Child” The Greek term (paidion) used here was not the usual term for “infant” (brephos, cf. Luk 1:41; Luk 1:44; Luk 2:12; Luk 2:16), but “toddler” (cf. Luk 2:40; Mat 18:2). There was a lengthy period of time between the visit of the shepherds and the wise men.
“gold, frankincense, and myrrh” Because three gifts were presented, tradition has asserted that there were three wise men. Tertullian even went so far as to assert that they were the kings mentioned in Isa 60:3. Much effort has been spent to interpret the significance of the gifts, but what is known definitely is that these gifts were expensive and were used by royalty. It is possible they are fulfillment of Isa 49:23 or Psa 72:10-12.
Mat 2:12 “having been warned by God in a dream” God spoke to these magi just as He revealed His will to Mary and Joseph in a dream (cf. Mat 1:13; Mat 1:19). They were spiritually sensitive men.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
privily = secretly. enquired . . . diligently = enquired . . . accurately Compare Deu 19:18. Greek. akriboo. Occurs only here and in Mat 2:16.
what time, &c. This was the second of the two important questions: the other being “where” (Mat 2:4).
the star appeared = the time of the appearing star.
appeared = shone forth. See App-106.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
7. ] ascertained accurately.
] lit. the time (or, duration: perhaps as an element in his calculation of age) of the star which appeared: . being the part. pres., referred back to the time when they saw the star. The position of . between the art. and its subst. forbids such renderings as the time when the star appeared.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 2:7. , privily) lest anything should transpire. This argues insidious designs on the part of Herod.-, enquired diligently) even to the smallest particle of time. Hence we perceive the craft of Herod,[88] and the simplicity of the Magi.-, appearing) The Present Tense. Herod enquired the time at which the star which was now visible, had first become so.[89]
[88] So great enmities did that monarch indulge in and foster, although he did not esteem as a fable the doctrine concerning Christ, but was by this time aware of the time and place of His nativity.-Vers. Germ.
[89] In the original the passage stands thus-Prsens tempus, quo conspici cpta esset stella, qu appareret, quaesivit Herodes. This is evidently a misprint for-Prsens. Tempus quo conspici cpta esset stella, qu appareret, quaesivit Herodes.
In his German Version Bengel renders the passage und vernahm von ihnen die Zeit, da der Stern erschienen, i.e. and ascertained accurately from them the Time when the Star appeared. In his Harmony he renders it-und erlernte mit fleis von ihnen wann der Stern erschienen wre, i.e. and learnt with diligence from them, when the star made its appearance.-(I. B.)
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 26:3-5, Exo 1:10, 1Sa 18:21, Psa 10:9, Psa 10:10, Psa 55:21, Psa 64:4-6, Psa 83:3, Psa 83:4, Isa 7:5-7, Eze 38:10, Eze 38:11, Rev 12:1-5, Rev 12:15
Reciprocal: Ecc 10:13 – beginning Mat 2:16 – according Rev 22:16 – the bright
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:7
Verse 7. Herod evidently believed that the star appeared at the same time as the birth and that would give him a point from which to reckon the age of the child. He called the wise men privately because his entire behaviour was prompted by craftiness.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 2:7. Privately. This indicates his evil purpose, and is quite characteristic of political suspicion.
Learned of them earned. He probably drew some inference from what they told him, and took measures accordingly.
What time. This implies how long it had appeared, quite as much as, when it appeared.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, 1. How Herod clokes his intended cruelty with disguised hypocrisy: he had a murder in his heart, when he pretended to worship Christ with his mouth. There is no villainy so great, but will mask itself under a pretence ond shew of piety. Herod veils his intent to kill Christ, with a pretence to worship him.
Observe, 2. Herod calls him the young child, not the young king: that word was too big to come out of Herod’s proud mouth; he could neither bear the thing, nor brook the title. A king it is true he is, but one that will never be thy rival: he has a kingdom, but it is not of this world.
Observe, 3. How craftily Herod lays his plot; he desires the wise men to enquire thoroughly, and to inform him privately. To be wise in doing mischief, is the worst wisdom in the world: it is not the wisdom from above, but from hell beneath.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Mat 2:7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, &c. He thought it prudent to keep the matter as close as possible, lest the Jews, understanding the time of the birth of the Messiah, should, from thence, take occasion to rebel: for not having an hereditary right to the kingdom, and having been guilty of many acts of cruelty among them, he had no reason to presume upon their good-will toward him. He feared, likewise, lest, if it should be noised abroad that the Messiah was born, his purpose of destroying him should be prevented. But there is no wisdom or counsel against the Most High! He inquired of them diligently Or, as the words , more properly signify, inquired of them the exact time, or, got exact information from them, what time the star appeared That is, at what time it began to appear, judging, as probably the fact was, that the star first appeared at the time the child was born. His view in this was, that he might thereby form some conjecture concerning the age of the child to whose birth it referred. For on the one hand, it seems, he did not wish to destroy more children than the accomplishment of his design appeared to require; and on the other, not to leave this child alive.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Evidently Herod summoned the Magi secretly to avoid arousing undue interest in their visit among Israel’s religious leaders (Mat 2:7). He wanted to know when the star had appeared so he could determine the age of the child King.
Under a pretext of desire to "worship" the new King, Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem as his representatives with orders to report what they found to him. His hypocritical humility deceived the wise men. He must have sensed this since he sent no escort with them but trusted them to return to him.
It is remarkable that the chief priests and scribes apparently made no effort to check out Jesus’ birth as the Magi did.
"It is strange how much the scribes knew, and what little use they made of it." [Note: Richard Glover, A Teacher’s Commentary of the Gospel of Matthew, p. 14.]
Their apathy contrasts with the Magi’s curiosity and with Herod’s fear. It continued into Jesus’ ministry until it turned into antagonism.
". . . the conflict on which the plot of Matthew’s story turns is that between Jesus and Israel, especially the religious leaders." [Note: Kingsbury, p. 8.]
"Except for Jesus himself, the religious leaders are the ones who influence most the development of the plot of Matthew’s story." [Note: Ibid., p. 18.]