And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
This verse belongs to the flight into Egypt, when Herod waited anxiously for the wise men to return so he could carry out his determined purpose to destroy the infant King of Israel, and after waiting long for the knowledge he desired he concluded they had discerned his dark, premeditated deed and deliberately avoided him, which he took as insult and mockery, increasing his impatience, envy, and hatred, until, stirred by his father the devil, he resolved that if he failed by pretense and subtlety he would by power and authority strike terror into all the Jews as a warning of what would happen to any rival king set up in Jerusalem. The verse records Joseph's obedience to the angel's direction after Herod's death, when he arose and took Jesus and Mary from Egypt back into the land of Israel. On returning he hoped to settle in Judea, specifically in Bethlehem, choosing Bethlehem because he regarded Jesus as the heir to David's throne.
He feared settling in Judea because Herod's son ruled there, the son being Archelaus, who had succeeded Herod in Judea and whose rule had begun with violence. He specifically feared that Herod's son might continue his father's plan to kill Jesus. His fear left him uncertain where to live, so he waited for further direction about where to settle.
He was then divinely directed to a place of safety. God guided the family to Nazareth as that safe place, and they settled there.
This verse belongs to the flight into Egypt, when Herod waited anxiously for the wise men to return so he could carry out his determined purpose to destroy the infant King of Israel, and after waiting long for the knowledge he desired he concluded they had discerned his dark, premeditated deed and deliberately avoided him, which he took as insult and mockery, increasing his impatience, envy, and hatred, until, stirred by his father the devil, he resolved that if he failed by pretense and subtlety he would by power and authority strike terror into all the Jews as a warning of what would happen to any rival king set up in Jerusalem.
The verse records Joseph's obedience to the angel's direction after Herod's death, when he arose and took Jesus and Mary from Egypt back into the land of Israel.
On returning he hoped to settle in Judea, specifically in Bethlehem, choosing Bethlehem because he regarded Jesus as the heir to David's throne.
He feared settling in Judea because Herod's son ruled there, the son being Archelaus, who had succeeded Herod in Judea and whose rule had begun with violence.
He specifically feared that Herod's son might continue his father's plan to kill Jesus.
His fear left him uncertain where to live, so he waited for further direction about where to settle.
He was then divinely directed to a place of safety.
God guided the family to Nazareth as that safe place, and they settled there.