Flight to Egypt
Warned in a dream, Joseph took Mary and the child by night and fled to Egypt, beyond the reach of Herod.
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, for Herod would seek the young child to destroy Him. Joseph arose, took them by night, and departed into Egypt, where they stayed until the death of Herod. Matthew saw in this the fulfilllment of Hosea's words, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son': like Israel long before, God's Son was sheltered in Egypt and then called out of it. When Herod died, an angel told Joseph in another dream to return to the land of Israel, and because Herod's son Archelaus reigned in Judaea, the family turned aside into Galilee and settled in Nazareth.
Did You Know?
Joseph obeyed at once, taking the young child and His mother 'by night.'
Herod the Great died in 4 BC, one of the main reasons the birth of Jesus is dated a few years before AD 1.
Matthew records four dreams that guided Joseph in his first two chapters, and each time he obeyed.
Key Passage
Flight to Egypt
Matthew 2:13-15
13nd 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.
Meanwhile in the World
The Roman Empire is at its peak under Augustus and Tiberius (Pax Romana). Rome controls the entire Mediterranean world. Roads, common language (Greek), and peace make travel and communication easy - the 'fullness of time.' Herod the Great rules Judea as a client king.
