[[Matt-02]] Prev: [[Prophecies in Matt-01]] | Next: [[Prophecies in Matt-03]] --- ### 'You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.' *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: Matthew identifies the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem as the fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah would originate from that specific city. *Historical context*: This refers to [[Micah-05#v2|Micah 5:2]], a prophecy written around 700 BC. Historically, Bethlehem was the city of David, and the prophecy established that the future ruler would come from the Davidic line and birth place. *Related to*: [[Micah-05#v2|Micah 5:2]] ### "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: An angel warns Joseph in a dream about King Herod's imminent attempt to assassinate the infant Jesus, revealing a future event not yet observable. *Historical context*: The fulfillment occurs in [[Matt-02#v16|Matthew 2:16]], where Herod orders the Massacre of the Innocents. Herod the Great was historically noted by Josephus for his extreme paranoia and the execution of perceived rivals, including several of his own family members. *Related to*: ### "Out of Egypt I called my son." *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: The text identifies Jesus' return from Egypt to Israel after the death of Herod as a fulfillment of the prophetic word. *Historical context*: This is a reference to [[Hos-11#v1|Hosea 11:1]]. While originally describing the historical Exodus of the nation of Israel, Matthew applies it typologically to Jesus as the 'True Israel' who relives the nation's history. *Related to*: [[Hos-11#v1|Hosea 11:1]] ### "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn't be comforted, because they are no more." *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: The massacre of the infant boys in Bethlehem is presented as the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy of communal mourning. *Historical context*: This refers to [[Jer-31#v15|Jeremiah 31:15]]. Historically, Ramah was a staging area for the Babylonian exile where Jewish mothers wept for their departing sons. Matthew identifies this site of national grief as a precursor to the tragedy in Bethlehem. *Related to*: [[Jer-31#v15|Jeremiah 31:15]] ### that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene. *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: Jesus living in the city of Nazareth is cited as a fulfillment of what was spoken 'through the prophets' (plural). *Historical context*: There is no direct Old Testament quote stating 'He shall be called a Nazarene.' Scholars suggest this refers to [[Isa-11#v1|Isaiah 11:1]] (the Hebrew word for 'Branch' is 'Netzer') or a general theme of the Messiah being lowly and despised, as Nazareth was a city of low reputation ([[John-01#v46|John 1:46]]). *Related to*: [[Isa-11#v1|Isaiah 11:1]] --- #ai_prophecy