OrthJBC - Matthew - 2

2:1  Now after Yehoshua was born in Beit-Lechem Yehudah, in the days of Herod [the Great, the Roman "client"] king --hinei!-- chachamim (wise men) from eretz Mizrach (the land of the East) arrived in Yerushalayim,

2:2  saying, "Where is he that is born Melech HaYehudim? For we have seen his KOCHAV ("star," BAMIDBAR 24:17) in the Mizrach (East) and have come to fall down before him."

2:3  Because Herod the king heard this, he was terribly shaken, and all Yerushalayim with him.

2:4  And assemblying all the Rashei Hakohanim (Chief Priests) and Sofrim (Scribes, Torah-teachers, Rabbonim) of the people, he inquired of them the place where Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was to be born.

2:5  They told him, "In Beit-Lechem Yehudah; because so it stands written by the Navi:

2:6  `And YOU, BEIT-LECHEM,("Bethlehem," MICHOH 5:1[2]) in eretz Yehudah, are by no means least among the shtetlach (towns) or ruling [clans] of Yehudah; because out of you will come a Moshel (Governor) who will be the Ro'eh Ami Yisroel (Shepherd of my people Israel).`"

2:7  Then Herod secretly summoned the chachamim and ascertained from them the exact date of the manifestation of the KOCHAV.

2:8  Then he sent them to Beth-Lechem, saying, "Go and make a thorough search for the yeled (child); and as soon as you have found him, report to me, so that I, as well as you, may come and fall down before him. "

2:9  After they heard the king, they departed, and--hinei!--the KOCHAV they had seen in the Mizrach (East) was going ahead of them til it came and stood above the place where the yeled was.

2:10  When they saw the KOCHAV, they rejoiced with exceedingly great nachas (joy).

2:11  And, entering the bais (house), they beheld the yeled with Miryam his Em, and prostrated themselves before him. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

2:12  And having been warned in a cholom (dream) not to return to Herod, they took refuge in their own country by another way. MOSHIACH IN EGYPT

2:13  And when they'd gone, hinei, a malach Hashem appeared to Yosef Ben Dovid in a cholom (dream), saying, "Arise, and take the yeled and his Em, and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod is about to seek the yeled to destroy him."

2:14  So, having got up, he took the yeled, and his Em by night and departed for Mitzrayim (Egypt).

2:15  And he was there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by Hashem through the Navi, UMIMITZRAYIM KARATI LIVNI ("Out of Egypt have I called my Son," HOSHEA 11:1). FIRST CENTURY SHOAH OF THE INNOCENTS

2:16  When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the chachamim, he was greatly enraged, and he ordered the slaughter of all the yeladim in Beit-Lechem and its vicinity who were two years old or under, in accordance with the time that he had learned from the chachamim.

2:17  Then came the fulfillment of what was spoken through Yirmeyah HaNavi:

2:18  KOL B'RAMAH NISHMAH ("A voice was heard in Ramah," YIRMEYAH 31:14[15]), "a voice of bitter weeping and mourning. Rachel is crying for her yeladim; she refuses to be comforted, because they are no more." THE EXODUS OF MOSHIACH FROM EGYPT AND HIS RETURN TO A FIRST CENTURY "SHTETL"

2:19  When Herod died--hinei!--in Mitzrayim (Egypt) a malach Hashem appeared to Yosef in a cholom (dream),

2:20  saying, "Arise, and take the yeled and his Em and go to Eretz-Yisroel, for those seeking the life of the yeled are dead."

2:21  And Yosef arose and took the yeled and his Em, and entered Eretz-Yisroel.

2:22  And when Yosef heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Yehudah, Yosef was afraid to go there. And, having been warned in a cholom, he departed into the districts of the Galil.

2:23  And Yosef made his home in the shtetl (Jewish community, village) called Natzeret, so that that which was spoken by the Neviim might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Natzri." *