Verse 1. "Bethlehem."-Bethlehem being of so much interest as the birth-place of Christ, we here introduce another view of it, in addition to the one already given under Micah v., where also an account of the place has been supplied. "Herod the king"-This Herod was the son of Antipater, a principal person among the Idumeans, and who was the son of another Antipater, who had been appointed governor of Idumæa by Alexander Jannæus, king of the Jews. Idumæa was at this time considered part of the Jewish dominion, and its people had become proselytes to the Hebrew religion. The father of Herod connected himself with the leading men among the Jews, and took a prominent and active part in public affairs, being, as it were, the very life of the party of Hyrcanus II., king and high-priest of the nation, against that of Aristobulus, who disputed with him the sovereign power. It was the policy of Antipater, as of all his family, to aggrandize themselves through the favour of the Romans; and in this object, for which they spared no exertions, they very completely succeeded. Antipater was favourably considered by Pompey; but the governing power of the family was established by Julius Cæsar, by whom Antipater was made procurator of Judea, in recompense for important services which he had rendered during the war in Egypt. He also obtained permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. which had been destroyed by Pompey. This was in the year 44 B.c.; and the power thus conferred, Antipater retained till his death, in 40 B.C. His son Herod was only twenty-five years of age when his father intrusted to him the government of Galilee; and, after the death of Caesar, he was made governor of Syria by Cassius and Marcus. Soon after the death of Antipater, Mark Antony came into Syria, and confirmed his sons Herod and Phasael in the power of their father. But, for a time, they were obliged to give way before the superior force of Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, mentioned above, by which they were reduced to such extremities, that Phasael slew himself, and Herod fled to Rome. He there renewed his friendship with Antony, to whom he promised a large sum of money; and by him he was so warmly recommended to Octavius, as the son of that Antipater who had rendered such signal services to Cæsar in Egypt, that, through their joint influence with the senate, he was appointed king of Judea. Accordingly, in the year 37 B.C., Herod was conducted to the Capitol by Antony and Octavius, and there consecrated king, with the usual idolatrous rites and sacrifices; but three years elapsed before he was able, by the final overthrow of Antigonus, to obtain possession of the kingdom which had thus been bestowed upon him.

As the object of this note is only to indicate briefly the origin of the power of that family which supplied the kings and tetrarchs mentioned in the New Testament; and to enable us to state the more distinctly who they were, and what place they occupied, without stating other particulars than such as are necessary for this purpose, or for the illustration of the passages of Scripture which allude to them, we pass over the events of Herod's magnificent but very tyrannous and cruel reign. We need only mention that this was the Herod, surnamed "the Great," who rebuilt the Temple, on that more extensive scale, and in that style of magnificence, in which it appeared in the time of our Saviour. By this act he hoped to gain the affections of the Jews; but whatever gratitude they may have felt on this account, was soon lost in the hatred which his tyranny and barbarities produced, and in the disgust which his utter disregard of their peculiar notions and usages inspired. Perhaps no king was ever more thoroughly hated than Herod: but he also made himself feared. It was in the beginning of the last year of this king's reign, or at the end of the preceding year, that our Saviour was born.

"Wise men from the east."-The word rendered "wise men" is literally magi or magians (μáy), a title which originally belonged to the priests, who were also the learned men, of Persia, from which it came to have a more extensive application to all persons who cultivated science and learning, divine or human. The magians gave much attention

to the study of astronomy, which at this time, and at all times in the East, was much mixed up with astrology. As they were constantly studying the face of the heavens, and carefully noting every remarkable appearance, the luminous body which appeared on this occasion could not escape their notice. This they were instructed to consider as denoting the birth of "the king of the Jews." But it may be difficult to determine whether they obtained this information by the special favour of God, or spontaneously connected its appearance with the report which was then prevalent in the world that a mighty sovereign might be speedily expected to arise in Judea. This connection was sufficiently obvious; for it was a general belief among the ancients that stars or other luminous bodies appeared at the birth and death of distinguished persons. Indeed it seems that the Jews themselves have always expected that a star would appear at the time of the Messiah's coming. As the present magi are said to have come from the East, they probably came either from Mesopotamia or Persia, which were indeed the original and proper seats of the sect. Some however think, from the nature of the commodities which they offered (verse 11), that they must have come from Arabia. This is, however, by no means a necessary inference: Arabia, also, was rather to the south than the east of Judea.

9. "The star... went before them... and stood over where the young child was."-This renders it evident that the appearance was not that of a real star, which could not possibly indicate a particular house. It was doubtless a luminous meteor of some kind or other, the motions of which were supernaturally directed, and which is called a star either from its resemblance to a star, or from its brightness.

22. "Archelaus did reign."-Herod had an elder son, Antipater, whom he ordered to be put to death five days before he died himself. He then made a new will, appointing Archelaus his successor in the kingdom; Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Perea and Galilee; and Philip, tetrarch of Batanea, Gaulanitis, Trachonitis, and Paneas. When the will of Herod was read, Archelaus was hailed as king; but he abstained from assuming the regal title and power until Herod's will should have been approved by the Roman emperor. This approval he went to Rome to obtain, and ultimately succeeded, with the exception that he was to bear the title of ethnaich only, and not to assume that of king till he should prove himself worthy of it. His government was tyrannical and unpopular; and in the tenth year of his reign (A.D. 12) the Jews and Samaritans made such a representation of his conduct to Augustus, that he was deposed and banished to Vienne, in Gaul. The emperor then united Judea and Samaria to the province of Syria, of which Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was appointed prefect, or general governor; while Judea itself received a procurator, in the person of a Roman knight, named Coponius. Under this form of government, as a Roman province, Judea remained till ten years after the death of Christ, when the kingdom of Herod the Great was reconstructed by the emperor Claudius, and bestowed upon Herod Agrippa, who will come under our notice in the Acts of the Apostles.

"He was afraid to go thither."-The tyrannical and barbarous character of Archelaus was probably well known. He was the most cruel of Herod's surviving sons; and on one occasion caused 3000 citizens to be massacred in the Temple. It might well be supposed by Joseph, that a man of his savage character would not fail to pursue the design of his father, should he happen to learn that Jesus was still alive within his dominions. He therefore withdrew into the territories of Herod Antipas, who was not only of a milder disposition, but on such hostile terms with Archelaus that there was the least possible danger that he would, if demanded, give up the infant Jesus into his power.

23. “ Nazareth.”—As the town of Nazareth thus became the permanent residence of Christ, it has in all ages divided with Jerusalem and Bethlehem the principal interest which Christians have taken in the sites which are known to have been honoured by his presence.

Nazareth seems to have been a small and obscure place, the name of which does not occur in the Old Testament, nor are we aware that it is mentioned in the Jewish writings, otherwsie than as the birth-place of Jesus. It has never since been mentioned as a place of any note. It is situated about ten miles to the north-west of Mount Tabor, and twenty-five west from the point where the Jordan issues from the Sea of Galilee. It is within the territory which once belonged to the tribe of Zebulon. St. Luke defines its local position in mentioning that our Lord's townsmen, offended at the freedom of his discourse in the synagogue, "thrust him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill whereon the city was built, that they might cast him down headlong." This has been understood to imply that the city stood on the top of the hill; but it may quite as clearly mean, or perhaps more clearly, that it stood on the lower declivity of the hill, rising from its base, as is the case at present. The road to Nazareth is properly a descent into a hollow among mountains, at the base and on the slope of one of which the town now stands. Dr. Richardson well describes the situation. "The vale resembles a circular basin, encompassed by mountains: it seems as if fifteen mountains met to form an enclosure for this delightful spot; they rise round it like the edge of a shell, to guard it from intrusion. It is a rich and beautiful field, in the midst of barren mountains; it abounds in fig-trees, small gardens, and hedges of the prickly-pear, and the dense rich grass affords an abundant pasture. The village stands on an elevated situation on the west side of the valley." Such was the aspect of the spot where our Saviour was brought up, and spent nearly the whole of his life; and we are also to recollect that, before he was born, Nazareth had been the abode of his mother, and probably of Joseph. This we learn from Luke i. 26. This explains why they selected this place for their residence on returning from Egypt; when prevented from, what appears to have been their first intention, of settling in Judea, and probably at Bethlehem-from which they knew that the Messiah was to proceed, which they might have conceived to extend to his being brought up as well as born there.

Mr. Buckingham reckons the private dwellings of the town at 250. They are built of stone, which is a material always at hand; and are flat-roofed, being in general only one story, but are sufficiently spacious and commodious for the accommodation of a numerous poor family. The streets are steep, from the inclination of the hill on which they stand, narrow from custom, and dirty from the looseness of the soil. Of the public buildings, the Mohammedan mosque is at present the most conspicuous. It is a neat edifice, surrounded by a wall of good masonry, and furnished with a plain white minaret, surrounded, in the usual style, by a gallery, and surmounted by a crescent; the whole arising from the centre of the town, as if to announce the triumph of its dominion to those approaching from afar. (See Buckingham, vol. i. p. 147-8.) The other public buildings are the Greek church, ou the south-east edge of the town, at the foot of the hill; the Maronite church, opposite the Latin convent; and the convent itself, which Buckingham declares to be one of the largest and most commodious which he had seen in the Levant. It was thoroughly repaired and considerably enlarged in 1733; and represents a more ancient edifice, which is ascribed to the empress Helena, and some remains of which may still be seen, in the form of subverted columns, with fragments of capitals and bases of pillars, lying near the existing structure. The church of the Annunciation, within this convent, is said, by Burckhardt, to be the finest in Syria, after that of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. We shall have occasion to speak of it again hereafter; as, on account of the length to which the notes on this chapter have extended, it is our intention to reserve the notice of the several spots which are pointed out to the traveller, as connected with the history of Christ. The population of Nazareth has been variously estimated. Burckhardt says 3000; Buckingham, 2000; Richardson, 600 or 700. This progressive reduction would seem to imply that the numbers are rapidly declining; but nothing is

more uncertain than the conclusions which European travellers are often led to form on a cursory view of Oriental towns. The Mohammedans are probably not more than one-tenth of the whole; the rest are Christians of different denominations. "They are all," says Buckingham, "Arabs of the country, and notwithstanding the small circle in which their opposing faiths meet, it is said, to their honour, that they live together in mutual forbearance and tranquillity." Richardson also describes the Christians of Nazareth as a civil and industrious body of men; and adds, that the place is far better provided than Tiberias with every convenience and necessary of life.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not wor3 Chap. 12. 34. 4 Or, answerable to amendment of life. CHAP. III. The particulars contained in this chapter concerning the mission of John, and his baptism of Jesus, being also given by the other Evangelists, we shall reserve any observations that may be required, for the reason stated in the introductory note.

5 John 8. 39.

Chap. 7. 19. 7 Mark 1. 8. Luke 3. 16. John 1. 26. 8 Mark 1.9. Luke 3. 21.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Christ fasteth, and is tempted. 11 The angels minister unto him. 13 He dwelleth in Capernaum, 17 beginneth to preach, 18 calleth Peter, and Andrew, 21 James, and John, 23 and healeth

all the diseased.

THEN was 'Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4. But he answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was 'cast into prison, he departed into Galilee:

13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and

1 Mark 1. 12. Luke 4. 1. 2 Deut. 8. 3. 3 Psal. 91. 11.

7 Or, delivered up.

dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim :

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judæa, and from beyond Jordan.

* Deut. 6. 16. 5 Deut. 6. 13, and 10. 20. Mark 1. 14. Luke 4. 14. John 4. 43.

8 Isa. 9. 14. 9 Mark 1. 14. 10 Mark 1. 16.

Verse 8. "An exceeding high mountain."-There can be no means of knowing where this mountain lay; and the conjectures and traditions which apply to the subject claim very little attention. Some think that it was a mountain of Lebanon; but the received and long-established tradition would rather fix the scene of this part of our Lord's temptation to the mountainous wilderness between Jerusalem and Jericho; that is, among the mountains which bound the plain of Jericho on the west. In this region there is one very high mountain-the highest in Judea-which is supposed to be the particular one here mentioned, and which bears the name of Quarantania, in allusion to the forty days' fast of our Saviour. It appears, however, that the name extends to all this desolate district, as well as to the particular mountain. Purchas quotes Vitriacus, bishop of Acre, as speaking of the state of religion in Judea under the Christian princes; mentioning, among other things, holy and venerable places there, sorted and fitting for men's devouter humours, some choosing to live in the desert called Quarantena, where our Lord was tempted, living hermiticall lives in petie cells." An old rhyming traveller, about the beginning of the fifteenth century, whose