Part 58 (1/2)

88 Luke ii. 1. _a decree_. This decree was issued eleven years before it was carried into effect, the delay having been procured by Herod.

This fact reconciles the evangelist with the Roman historians, from whom it appears that Cyrenius was not governor when the decree was issued, though he held that office when the census was taken and the tax a.s.sessed. See TOWNSEND, _in loc._

89 Gen. xvii. 12; Lev. xii. 3.

90 Ex. xiii. 2; Numb. viii. 16, 17.

91 Lev. xii. 6, 8.

92 Is. viii. 14.

93 Matth. ii. 3, _he was troubled_. According to Josephus, Herod was always in fear for the stability of his throne, and anxious to pry into futurity to discover whether it was likely to endure. Thus, when advanced to regal power, he sent for Manahem, an Essene, who had predicted of him when a boy that he would be a king, to inquire of him how long he should reign. JOSEPH. Ant. xv. -- 5. BLUNT, Veracity, &c. -- ii. 2.

94 Mic. v. 2.

95 Hos. xi. 1.

96 Jer. x.x.xi. 15, and xl. 1.

97 Matth. ii. 22, _he was afraid_. The naked statement of this fact, without explanation, is a mark of the sincerity of the evangelist, for the value of which we are indebted to Josephus, who relates, (Ant. b. 17, ch. 9, -- 3,) an instance of savage cruelty in Archelaus, immediately on his coming to the throne, in causing three thousand persons to be butchered in cold blood, at the first pa.s.sover after Herod's death. Such an act, committed under such circ.u.mstances, must have been rapidly made known abroad, and inspired all persons with horror. Well, therefore, might Joseph fear to return. But Matthew's incidental allusion to the cause, is characteristic of a man intent only upon the statement of the main facts, and regardless of appearances or explanations. BLUNT, Veracity, &c. -- ii. 3.

98 Is. xi. 1, and liii. 2; Zech. vi. 12; Rev. v. 5.

99 Luke ii. 42; _twelve years old_. Jewish children were not obliged to the observances of the ceremonial law, until they attained to years of discretion, which, in males, was fixed by common consent at twelve years. On arriving at this age, they were taken to Jerusalem at the pa.s.sover, of which they thenceforth partic.i.p.ated, as ”sons of commandment,” being fully initiated into the doctrines and ceremonies of the Jewish church, probably after examination by the doctors. This accounts for the circ.u.mstance of his being found among them, both hearing, and asking them questions. STACKHOUSE, Hist. N.

T. ch. i.; BLOOMFIELD, _in loc_.

100 Luke ii. 44; _in the company_. All who came, not only from the same city, but from the same canton or district, made one company. They carried necessaries along with them, and tents for their lodging at night. Such companies they now call _caravans_, and in several places have houses fitted up for their reception, called _caravanseries_. This account of their manner of travelling furnishes a ready answer to the question, How could Joseph and Mary make a day's journey, without discovering, before night, that Jesus was not in the company? In the day-time, we may reasonably presume, the travellers would mingle with different parties of their friends and acquaintance; but in the evening, when they were about to encamp, every one would join the family to which he belonged.

CAMPBELL, _in loc_.

101 The Genealogy of Jesus, as given by Luke, is here inverted for the sake of more convenient comparison with that given by Matthew.

The apparent discrepancies in these accounts are reconciled by Dr.

Robinson, in the following manner:

”I. In the genealogy given by Matthew, considered by itself, some difficulties present themselves.

”1. There is some diversity among commentators in making out the three divisions, each of fourteen generations, v. 17. It is, however, obvious, that the first division begins with Abraham and ends with David. But does the second begin with David, or with Solomon? a.s.suredly with the former; because, just as the first begins _apo Abraham_, so the second also is said to begin _apo David_. The first extends _heos David_, and includes him; the second extends to an epoch and not to a person; and therefore the persons who are mentioned as coeval with this epoch are not reckoned before it. After the epoch the enumeration begins again with Jechoniah, and ends with Jesus. In this way the three divisions are made out thus:-

1. Abraham.

2. Isaac.

3. Jacob.

4. Judah.

5. Phares.

6. Esrom.

7. Aram.

8. Aminadab.

9. Naa.s.son.

10. Salmon.

11. Boaz.

12. Obed.

13. Jesse.

14. David.

1. David.

2. Solomon.

3. Roboam.

4. Abiah.