Bible Discussion Thread

Verse 19, Herod is a name used by several kings. Herod the Great died in 4BC, that is 4 years before Jesus was born. Herod Archelaus born 23 BC - died AD 18 the man that took over his rule, must be the dead Herod spoken of in verse 19 and not Herod Antipas or Herod the Great. Herod Antipas killed John the Baptist yet John baptized the adult Jesus. So verse 22 must mean that as Joseph was preparing to return to Israel someone told him that Herod Archelaus was still alive and ruling. This could be misinformation given by someone Joseph knew. So still following the Lords message to return to Israel because Herod was dead, Joseph went to Nazareth in fear because of the rumor he heard. So Jesus at this point in time could have been 18 years old. Still called a young child because he had not yet been baptized and was still in his teens. Child is a word that a person retains throughout their life. One is always a child of their parent. Asking an 80 year old person how many children they have, the reply could be, my first child is 60 years old, my second child is 55, etc.