The Gentiles come unto Christ with their offerings, and that so openly that the Jews can not pretend ignorance. 3. The Jews with Herod conspire against him. 13. He thereupon flieth from them into Egypt. 16. They afterward, seeing their subtlety prevailed not, imagined to oppress him by open persecution. 19. But they at length died and he returneth to the land of Israel: all according to the Scriptures.The Gentiles come vnto Christ with their offerings, and that so openly that the Iewes can not pretend ignorance. 3. The Iewes with Herode conspire against him. 13. He thereupon flyeth from them into Ægypt. 16. They afterward, seeing their subtiltie preuailed not, imagined to oppresse him by open persecution. 19. But they at length dyed and he returneth to the land of Israel: al according to the Scriptures.
When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda in the days of Herod the King, behold there came magi: the Magi, the wise men from the East from the East to Jerusalem,WHEN IESVS therfore was * borne in Bethlehem of Iuda in the dayes of Herod the King, behold there came Sages from the East to Hierusalem,Cum ergo natus esset Jesus in Bethlehem Juda in diebus Herodis regis, ecce magi ab oriente venerunt Jerosolymam,
2saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to adorare: to worship, to do homage to him.saying, where is he that is borne King of the Iewes? for we haue seene his starre in the East, and are come to adore him.dicentes : Ubi est qui natus est rex Judæorum ? vidimus enim stellam ejus in oriente, et venimus adorare eum.
3And Herod the King hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.And Herod the King hearing this, was troubled, & al Hierusalem with him.Audiens autem Herodes rex, turbatus est, et omnis Jerosolyma cum illo.
4And assembling together all the high Priests and the Scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.And assembling together al the high Priestes and the Scribes of the people, he enquired of them where Christ should be borne.Et congregans omnes principes sacerdotum, et scribas populi, sciscitabatur ab eis ubi Christus nasceretur.
5But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the Prophet:But they sayd to him: In Bethlehem of Iuda. For so it is written by the Prophet:At illi dixerunt : In Bethlehem Judæ : sic enim scriptum est per prophetam :
6And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the Princes of Juda: out of thee shall come forth the dux: leader, ruler, governor that shall rule my people Israel.* And thou Bethlehem the land of Iuda art not the least among the Princes of Iuda: out of thee shal come forth the Capitaine that shal rule my people Israel.Et tu Bethlehem terra Juda, nequaquam minima es in principibus Juda : ex te enim exiet dux, qui regat populum meum Israël.
7Then Herod secretly calling the Sages, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them;Then Herod secretly caling the Sages, learned diligently of them the time of the starre which appeared to them;Tunc Herodes clam vocatis magis diligenter didicit ab eis tempus stellæ, quæ apparuit eis :
8and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go, and inquire diligently of the child; and when you shall find him, make report to me, that I also may come and adore him.and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Goe, & inquire diligently of the childe; and when you shal finde him, make reporte to me, that I also may come and adore him.et mittens illos in Bethlehem, dixit : Ite, et interrogate diligenter de puero : et cum inveneritis, renuntiate mihi, ut et ego veniens adorem eum.
9Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over, where the child was.Who hauing heard the king, went their way; and behold the starre which they had seene in the East, went before them, vntil it came and stood ouer, where the childe was.Qui cum audissent regem, abierunt, et ecce stella, quam viderant in oriente, antecedebat eos, usque dum veniens staret supra, ubi erat puer.
10And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.And seing the starre they reioyced with exceeding great ioy.Videntes autem stellam gavisi sunt gaudio magno valde.
11And entering into the house, they found the child with Marie his mother, and falling down adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.And entring into the house, they found the childe with MARIE his mother, & faling downe adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him * guiftes; gold, frankincense, and myrrhe.Et intrantes domum, invenerunt puerum cum Maria matre ejus, et procidentes adoraverunt eum : et apertis thesauris suis obtulerunt ei munera, aurum, thus, et myrrham.
12And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.And hauing receiued an answer in sleepe that they should not returne to Herod, they went backe another way into their contrey.Et responso accepto in somnis ne redirent ad Herodem, per aliam viam reversi sunt in regionem suam.
13And after they were departed, Behold an Angel of our Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt; and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.And after they were departed, Behold an Angel of our Lord appeared in sleepe to Ioseph, saying: Arise, & take the childe and his mother, and fly into Ægipt; and be there vntil I shal tel thee. For it wil come to passe that Herod wil seeke the childe to destroy him.Qui cum recessissent, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph, dicens : Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem ejus, et fuge in Ægyptum, et esto ibi usque dum dicam tibi. Futurum est enim ut Herodes quærat puerum ad perdendum eum.
14Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:Who arose, & tooke the childe and his mother by night, and retired into Ægypt: and he was there vntil the death of Herod:Qui consurgens accepit puerum et matrem ejus nocte, et secessit in Ægyptum :
15that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of our Lord by the Prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my Son.that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of our Lord by the Prophet, saying: Out of Ægypt haue I called my Sonne.et erat ibi usque ad obitum Herodis : ut adimpleretur quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam dicentem : Ex Ægypto vocavi filium meum.
16Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the Sages, was exceeding angry; and sending murdered all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two year old and under, according to the time which he had diligently sought out of the Sages.Then Herod perceauing that he was deluded by the Sages, was exceeding angrie; and sending murdered al the men children that were in Bethlehem, & in al the borders therof, from two yaere old and vnder, according to the time which he had diligently sought out of the Sages.Tunc Herodes videns quoniam illusus esset a magis, iratus est valde, et mittens occidit omnes pueros, qui erant in Bethlehem, et in omnibus finibus ejus, a bimatu et infra secundum tempus, quod exquisierat a magis.
17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the Prophet saying:Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Ieremie the Prophet saying:Tunc adimpletum est quod dictum est per Jeremiam prophetam dicentem :
18A voice in Rama was heard, crying out and much weeping: Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.* A voice in Rama was heard, crying out & much weeping: Rachel bewayling her children, & would not be comforted, because they are not.Vox in Rama audita est ploratus, et ululatus multus : Rachel plorans filios suos, et noluit consolari, quia non sunt.
19But when Herod was dead, behold an Angel of our Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,But when Herod was dead, behold an Angel of our Lord appeared in sleep to Ioseph in Ægypt,Defuncto autem Herode, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph in Ægypto,
20saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child.saying: Arise, and take the child & his mother, and goe into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child.dicens : Surge, et accipe puerum, et matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israël : defuncti sunt enim qui quærebant animam pueri.
21Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.Who arose, & took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.Qui consurgens, accepit puerum, et matrem ejus, et venit in terram Israël.
22but hearing that Archelaus reigned in Jewry for Herod his father, he feared to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the partes: regions, districts (not lodgings, nor a fourth part) of Galilee.but hearing that Archelaus raigned in Iewrie for Herod his father, he feared to goe thither: and being warned in sleep retyred into the quarters of Galilee.Audiens autem quod Archelaus regnaret in Judæa pro Herode patre suo, timuit illo ire : et admonitus in somnis, secessit in partes Galilææ.
23And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by the Prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarite.And coming he dwelt in a citie called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was sayd by the Prophetes: That he shal be called a Nazarite.Et veniens habitavit in civitate quæ vocatur Nazareth : ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per prophetas : Quoniam Nazaræus vocabitur.
Annotations
1Behold. Our Lord's apparition or Epiphany to these Sages, being Gentiles, their Pilgrimage to him, and in them the first homage of Gentility done unto him the twelfth day after his Nativity, and therefore is Twelfthday highly celebrated in the Catholic Church for joy of the calling of us Gentiles. His baptism also and first miracle are celebrated on the same day.
2Star. Christ's Nativity depended not upon this star, as the Priscillianists falsely surmised; but the star upon his nativity, for the service whereof it was created. St. Gregory hom. 10.
2Are come to adore. This coming so far of devotion to visit and adore Christ in the place of his birth, was properly a Pilgrimage to his Person; and warrant the Faithful in the like kind of external worship done to holy Persons, places, and things.
4Inquired of them. The high Priests were rightly consulted in question of their law and religion; and so they never fail, and often forced to say the truth by privilege of their unction; as here, and after, they did concerning the true Messias.
11Adored him. This body (saith St. Chrysostom) the Sages adored in the crib, Let us at the least imitate them, thou seest him not in the crib, but on the Altar; not a woman holding him, but the Priest present, and the Holy Ghost poured out abundantly upon the Sacrifice. Hom. 24. in 1 Cor. Hom. 7. in Matt. Hom. de sancto Philogonio.
11Treasures. These treasures are as it were the first fruits of those riches, and gifts, which (according to the Prophecy of David and Esay) Gentility should offer to Christ and his Church, and now have offered, specially from the time of Constantine the Great. As also these three Sages, being principal men of their Country, represent the whole state of Princes, Kings, and Emperors, that were (according to the said Prophecies) to believe in Christ, to humble themselves to his cross, to foster, enrich, adorn and defend his Church. Whereupon it is also a very convenient and agreeable tradition of antiquity, and a received opinion among the Faithful, not lacking testimonies of ancient writers, and much for the honour of our Saviour, that these three also were kings: to wit, either according to the state of those Countries, where the Princes were Magi; and Magi the greatest about the Prince; or as we read in the Scriptures, of Melchisedech King of Salem, and many other Kings that dwelt within a small compass; or as Job's three friends are called Kings. These are commonly called the three kings of Colen, because their bodies are there, translated thither from the East Country; their names are said to have been Gaspar, Melchior, Baltasar.
11Gifts. The Sages were three, and their gifts three, and each one offered every of the three, to express our Faith of the Trinity. The Gold, to signify that he was a King, the frankincense, that he was God; the myrrh, that he was to be buried as man. Aug. ser. 1. de Epiph.
15Out of Egypt. This place of the Prophet (and the like in the new Testament) here applied to Christ, whereas in the letter it might seem otherwise; teacheth us how to interpret the old Testament, and that the principal sense is of Christ, and his Church.
16Murdered. By this example we learn how great credit we owe to the Church Canonizing of Saints, and celebrating their holy-dates: by whose only warrant, Saints without any word of Scripture, these holy Innocents have been honoured for Martyrs, and their holy-day kept ever since the Apostles time, although they died not voluntarily, nor all perhaps circumcised, and some the children of Pagans. Aug. ep. 28. Origen hom. 3. in diversis.