Joseph Warned to Flee to Egypt

An angel woke Joseph with a warning: Herod was coming for the child. That same night he took Mary and Jesus and fled to Egypt.

After the wise men departed, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, staying there until he was told to return, because Herod would seek to destroy the child. Joseph rose and left by night. The family stayed in Egypt until Herod's death, which Matthew sees as fulfillling the word of the prophet, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.' Soon afterward Herod, furious at being deceived by the wise men, killed all the children two years old and under in Bethlehem and its coasts. Joseph's immediate obedience to the dream preserved the life of Jesus.

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Details

Category: Gospels
Dreamer: Joseph (husband of Mary)
Interpretation: A direct warning to protect the child Jesus from Herod by fleeing to Egypt.

Key Chapters

Matthew 2 The Visit of the Wise Men 4 min read Joseph obeys at once, leaving by night, and God protects His Son through a fathe...

Key Passages

Arise and Flee into Egypt

Matthew 2:13-15

Joseph obeys at once, leaving by night, and God protects His Son through a father's quiet obedience.

A¹³nd when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

¹⁴ When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: ¹⁵ And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.