Study Desk

After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise menastrologers; Gk. magi">[fn] from the east arrived in JerusalemGenesis 10:30; 25:6; 1 Kings 4:30; Luke 2:4,6-7;">[xr]

They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea. For that is what was written by the prophet:

'O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,Micah 5:2; John 7:42; Revelation 2:27;">[xr] you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah. For from you will come a ruler who will shepherdgovern">[fn] my people Israel.'"Micah 5:2; 2 Samuel 5:2">[fn]

Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "As you go, search carefully for the child. When you find him, tell me so that I, too, may go and worship him."

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,astrologers; Gk. magi">[fn] he flew into a rage and ordered the execution of all the male children in Bethlehem and all its neighboring regions who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had determined from the wise men.astrologers; Gk. magi">[fn]

Joseph, too, went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was a descendanta descendant">[fn] of the household and family of David.1 Samuel 16:1,4; Matthew 1:16; Luke 1:27; John 7:42;">[xr]

When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about."

Doesn't the Scripture say that the Christ is from David's family and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?"1 Samuel 16:1,4; Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5; Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:5; Luke 2:4;">[xr]