Matthew 2:7

2:1-8 Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of Christ and his salvation. But no curious arts, or mere human learning, can direct men unto him. We must learn of Christ by attending to the word of God, as a light that shineth in a dark place, and by seeking the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, make it their business to worship him. Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his family, and was not himself likely to live till a new-born infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the dread of a rival. He understood not the spiritual nature of the Messiah's kingdom. Let us beware of a dead faith. A man may be persuaded of many truths, and yet may hate them, because they interfere with his ambition, or sinful indulgences. Such a belief will make him uneasy, and the more resolved to oppose the truth and the cause of God; and he may be foolish enough to hope for success therein.

7 . inquired of them diligently ] Rather, having accurately ascertained ; the word is used of scientific exactness. The reason of this inquiry appears in Matthew 2:16 . what time the star appeared ] Literally, the time of the star which was appearing , i. e. when it first appeared and how long it would continue.

Matthew 2:7 . Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, &c. — He thought it prudent to keep the matter as close as possible, lest the Jews, understanding the time of the birth of the Messiah, should, from thence, take occasion to rebel: for not having an hereditary right to the kingdom, and having been guilty of many acts of cruelty among them, he had no reason to presume upon their good-will toward him. He feared, likewise, lest, if it should be noised abroad that the Messiah was born, his purpose of destroying him should be prevented. But there is no wisdom or counsel against the Most High! He inquired of them diligently — Or, as the words ηκριβωσε παρ ’ αυτων , more properly signify, inquired of them the exact time, or, got exact information from them, what time the star appeared — That is, at what time it began to appear, judging, as probably the fact was, that the star first appeared at the time the child was born. His view in this was, that he might thereby form some conjecture concerning the age of the child to whose birth it referred. For on the one hand, it seems, he did not wish to destroy more children than the accomplishment of his design appeared to require; and on the other, not to leave this child alive.

Matthew 2:7-8 . Herod’s next step .— τότε Ἡρώδης … ἀστέρος : τότε , frequent formula of transition with our evangelist, cf. Matthew 2:16-17 ; Matthew 4:1 ; Matthew 4:5 ; Matthew 4:11 , etc. Herod wished to ascertain precisely when the child the Magi had come to worship was born. He assumed that the event would synchronise with the ascent of the star which the Magi had seen in its rising, and which still continued to be seen ( φαινομένου ). Therefore he made particular inquiries ( ἠκρίβωσε ) as to the time of the star, i.e. , the time of its first appearing. This was a blind, an affectation of great interest in all that related to the child, in whose destinies even the stars were involved.

(7) When he had privily called. —True to his nature to the last—himself probably a believer in astrology, and haunted by fears of what the star portended—the king’s next measure is to ascertain the limits of his danger. The English “what time the star appeared” is not quite accurate. Literally, the time of the star that was appearing — i.e., at what time the star, which was still visible ( Matthew 2:9 ), had first appeared. Enquired of them diligently.—Better, ascertained exactly.

7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men—Herod has so far succeeded in his murderous design: he has tracked the spot where lies his victim, an unconscious babe. But he has another point to fix—the date of His birth—without which he might still miss his mark. The one he had got from the Sanhedrim; the other he will have from the sages; but secretly, lest his object should be suspected and defeated. So he inquired of them diligently—rather, "precisely." what time the star appeared—presuming that this would be the best clue to the age of the child. The unsuspecting strangers tell him all. And now he thinks he is succeeding to a wish, and shall speedily clutch his victim; for at so early an age as they indicate, He would not likely have been removed from the place of His birth. Yet he is wary. He sends them as messengers from himself, and bids them come to him, that he may follow their pious example.

Matthew 2:7 . Αάθρα , privily ) lest anything should transpire. This argues insidious designs on the part of Herod.— ἠκρίβωσε , enquired diligently ) even to the smallest particle of time. Hence we perceive the craft of Herod,[88] and the simplicity of the Magi.— φαινομένου , appearing ) The Present Tense. Herod enquired the time at which the star which was now visible, had first become so.[89] [88] So great enmities did that monarch indulge in and foster, although he did not esteem as a fable the doctrine concerning Christ, but was by this time aware of the time and place of His nativity.— Vers. Germ . [89] In the original the passage stands thus—“Præsens tempus, quo conspici cœpta esset stella, quœ appareret , quaesivit Herodes.” This is evidently a misprint for—“Præsens. Tempus quo conspici cœpta esset stella, quœ appareret , quaesivit Herodes.” In his German Version Bengel renders the passage “ und vernahm von ihnen die Zeit, da der Stern erschienen ,” i.e. “ and ascertained accurately from them the Time when the Star appeared .” In his Harmony he renders it—“ und erlernte mit fleis von ihnen wann der Stern erschienen wäre ,” i.e. “ and learnt with diligence from them, when the star made its appearance .”—(I. B.)

Matthew 2:7 f. Λάθρα ] Inconsistently enough, as that could only arouse suspicion; but to adopt secret measures is natural to wickedness! The question after the time of the appearance [of the star] has its reason in this, that the mistrustful Herod already thinks of the possibility of his not seeing the Magi again, and that he will then still have a hold for taking further proceedings against the mysterious child ( Matthew 2:16 ). ἠκρίβωσε ] with the accusative does not mean: he investigated minutely ( ἀκριβόω περί τινος may mean this), but: after he had made them come to him secretly, he obtained from them a minute knowledge , and so on. Vulgate appropriately says: “Diligenter didicit.” Comp. Plat. Charm . p. 156 A; Xen. Mem . iv. 2. 10; Eur. Hec . 1192; Lucian, Jov. trag . 27, Piscat . xx.; Herodian, i. 11. 14. But the passages where it means to make exact (Aquila, Isaiah 49:16 ; Simonides, lxxxiv.; Xen. Cyr . ii. 1. 26) do not apply here. Euth. Zigabenus rightly says: προσεδόκησε γὰρ , ὅτι ὅτε οὗτος (the star) ἐφάνη , τότε πάντως ἐγεννήθη καὶ ὁ Χριστός . τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος ] Grotius: “Non initium, sed continuitas .” Herod asked: How long does the star appear? how long does it make itself visible? namely, since its rising in the east, where ye saw it arise ( Matthew 2:9 ). Thus the present is not to be taken either in the sense of the aorist or of the imperfect (de Wette, Bleek). πέμψας ] not contemporaneous with the εἶπε (de Wette), but prior to it; comp. Matthew 11:2

Herod having heard the answer of the priests and scribes, did not think fit to make any noise of it amongst the people; he knew the Jews were apt enough to rebel, and being so little a conqueror had no reason to presume much of their goodwill towards him; he therefore calls the wise men privily, and takes no notice of any King they talked of, but only inquires the time when this new star first appeared. To what end he made this inquiry may be learned from Matthew 2:16 ; only that he might be able to govern himself in his bloody decree, that he might neither destroy more children than would serve his present design, nor yet leave this Child behind.

Privily - Secretly, privately. He did this to ascertain the time when Jesus was born. Diligently - Accurately, exactly. He took pains to learn the precise time when the star appeared. He did this because he naturally concluded that the star appeared just at the time of his birth, and he wished to know precisely how old the child was.