1Als Jesus zur Zeit des Königs Herodes in Betlehem in Judäa geboren worden war, siehe, da kamen Sterndeuter aus dem Osten nach Jerusalem2und fragten: Wo ist der neugeborene König der Juden? Wir haben seinen Stern aufgehen sehen und sind gekommen, um ihm zu huldigen.3Als König Herodes das hörte, erschrak er und mit ihm ganz Jerusalem.4Er ließ alle Hohepriester und Schriftgelehrten des Volkes zusammenkommen und erkundigte sich bei ihnen, wo der Christus geboren werden solle.5Sie antworteten ihm: in Betlehem in Judäa; denn so steht es geschrieben bei dem Propheten:6Du, Betlehem im Gebiet von Juda, / bist keineswegs die unbedeutendste / unter den führenden Städten von Juda; / denn aus dir wird ein Fürst hervorgehen, / der Hirt meines Volkes Israel. (Mi 5,1)7Danach rief Herodes die Sterndeuter heimlich zu sich und ließ sich von ihnen genau sagen, wann der Stern erschienen war.8Dann schickte er sie nach Betlehem und sagte: Geht und forscht sorgfältig nach dem Kind; und wenn ihr es gefunden habt, berichtet mir, damit auch ich hingehe und ihm huldige!9Nach diesen Worten des Königs machten sie sich auf den Weg. Und siehe, der Stern, den sie hatten aufgehen sehen, zog vor ihnen her bis zu dem Ort, wo das Kind war; dort blieb er stehen.10Als sie den Stern sahen, wurden sie von sehr großer Freude erfüllt.11Sie gingen in das Haus und sahen das Kind und Maria, seine Mutter; da fielen sie nieder und huldigten ihm. Dann holten sie ihre Schätze hervor und brachten ihm Gold, Weihrauch und Myrrhe als Gaben dar.12Weil ihnen aber im Traum geboten wurde, nicht zu Herodes zurückzukehren, zogen sie auf einem anderen Weg heim in ihr Land.
Die Flucht nach Ägypten
13Als die Sterndeuter wieder gegangen waren, siehe, da erschien dem Josef im Traum ein Engel des Herrn und sagte: Steh auf, nimm das Kind und seine Mutter und flieh nach Ägypten; dort bleibe, bis ich dir etwas anderes auftrage; denn Herodes wird das Kind suchen, um es zu töten.14Da stand Josef auf und floh in der Nacht mit dem Kind und dessen Mutter nach Ägypten.15Dort blieb er bis zum Tod des Herodes. Denn es sollte sich erfüllen, was der Herr durch den Propheten gesagt hat: Aus Ägypten habe ich meinen Sohn gerufen. (Hos 11,1)
Der Kindermord in Betlehem
16Als Herodes merkte, dass ihn die Sterndeuter getäuscht hatten, wurde er sehr zornig und er sandte aus und ließ in Betlehem und der ganzen Umgebung alle Knaben bis zum Alter von zwei Jahren töten, genau der Zeit entsprechend, die er von den Sterndeutern erfahren hatte.17Damals erfüllte sich, was durch den Propheten Jeremia gesagt worden ist:18Ein Geschrei war in Rama zu hören, / lautes Weinen und Klagen: / Rahel weinte um ihre Kinder / und wollte sich nicht trösten lassen, / denn sie waren nicht mehr. (Jer 31,15)
Die Rückkehr aus Ägypten
19Als Herodes gestorben war, siehe, da erschien dem Josef in Ägypten ein Engel des Herrn im Traum20und sagte: Steh auf, nimm das Kind und seine Mutter und zieh in das Land Israel; denn die Leute, die dem Kind nach dem Leben getrachtet haben, sind tot.21Da stand er auf und zog mit dem Kind und dessen Mutter in das Land Israel.22Als er aber hörte, dass in Judäa Archelaus anstelle seines Vaters Herodes regierte, fürchtete er sich, dorthin zu gehen. Und weil er im Traum einen Befehl erhalten hatte, zog er in das Gebiet von Galiläa23und ließ sich in einer Stadt namens Nazaret nieder. Denn es sollte sich erfüllen, was durch die Propheten gesagt worden ist: Er wird Nazoräer genannt werden.[1] (Ri 13,5; Mk 1,24)
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[1] from the east came to Jerusalem, (1Mo 25,6; 1Kön 4,30; Lk 1,5; Lk 2,4; Lk 2,15; Joh 7,42)2saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[2] and have come to worship him.” (4Mo 24,17; Jer 23,5; Jer 30,9; Sach 9,9; Mt 8,2; Mt 27,11; Mt 27,37; Offb 22,16)3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (Mt 1,17)5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:6“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (2Sam 5,2; Hes 34,23; Mi 5,2; Joh 21,15; Offb 7,17)7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.8And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”9After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.11And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (2Mo 30,23; 1Sam 9,7; Ps 45,8; Ps 72,10; Jes 60,6; Joh 19,39; Offb 18,13)12And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (1Mo 20,6; 1Mo 31,11; 4Mo 12,6; Hi 33,15; Mt 2,13; Mt 2,19; Mt 2,22; Mt 27,19)
The Flight to Egypt
13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” (Mt 1,20; Mt 2,12; Mt 2,19; Mt 2,22)14And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hos 11,1; Mt 1,22)
Herod Kills the Children
16Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: (Mt 1,22; Mt 27,9)18“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (1Mo 42,13; 1Mo 42,36; Jer 31,15; Kla 5,7)
The Return to Nazareth
19But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,20saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” (2Mo 4,19)21And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. (Mt 2,12)23And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. (Mt 1,22; Mt 4,13; Mk 1,9; Lk 1,26; Lk 2,39; Lk 4,16; Joh 1,45)
Matthäus 2
Nuova Riveduta 2006
von Società Biblica di Ginevra
Arrivo dei magi
1Gesù era nato in Betlemme di Giudea, all’epoca del re Erode[1]. Dei magi[2] d’Oriente arrivarono a Gerusalemme, dicendo:2«Dov’è il re dei Giudei che è nato? Poiché noi abbiamo visto la sua stella in Oriente e siamo venuti per adorarlo».3Udito questo, il re Erode fu turbato, e tutta Gerusalemme con lui.4Riuniti tutti i capi dei sacerdoti e gli scribi[3] del popolo, s’informò da loro dove il Cristo doveva nascere.5Essi gli dissero: «In Betlemme di Giudea; poiché così è stato scritto per mezzo del profeta:6“E tu, Betlemme, terra di Giuda, non sei affatto la minima fra le città principali di Giuda; perché da te uscirà un principe, che pascerà il mio popolo Israele”[4]».7Allora Erode, chiamati di nascosto i magi, s’informò esattamente da loro del tempo in cui la stella era apparsa;8e, mandandoli a Betlemme, disse loro: «Andate e chiedete informazioni precise sul bambino e, quando lo avrete trovato, fatemelo sapere, affinché anch’io vada ad adorarlo».9Essi dunque, udito il re, partirono; e la stella, che avevano vista in Oriente, andava davanti a loro finché, giunta al luogo dov’era il bambino, vi si fermò sopra.10Quando videro la stella, si rallegrarono di grandissima gioia.11Entrati nella casa, videro il bambino con Maria, sua madre; prostratisi, lo adorarono e, aperti i loro tesori, gli offrirono dei doni: oro, incenso e mirra.12Poi, avvertiti in sogno di non ripassare da Erode, tornarono al loro paese per un’altra via.
Fuga in Egitto
13Dopo che furono partiti, un angelo del Signore apparve in sogno a Giuseppe e gli disse: «Àlzati, prendi il bambino e sua madre, fuggi in Egitto e restaci finché io non te lo dico; perché Erode sta per cercare il bambino per farlo morire».14Egli dunque si alzò, prese di notte il bambino e sua madre, e si ritirò in Egitto.15Là rimase fino alla morte di Erode, affinché si adempisse quello che fu detto dal Signore per mezzo del profeta: «Fuori d’Egitto chiamai mio figlio»[5].
Erode fa uccidere i bambini innocenti
16Allora Erode, vedendosi beffato dai magi, si adirò moltissimo, e mandò a uccidere tutti i maschi che erano in Betlemme e in tutto il suo territorio dall’età di due anni in giù, secondo il tempo del quale si era esattamente informato dai magi.17Allora si adempì quello che era stato detto per bocca del profeta Geremia:18«Un grido si è udito in Rama, un pianto e un lamento grande: Rachele piange i suoi figli e rifiuta di essere consolata, perché non sono più»[6].
Giuseppe ritorna dall’Egitto e si stabilisce a Nazaret
19Dopo la morte di Erode, un angelo del Signore apparve in sogno a Giuseppe, in Egitto, e gli disse:20«Àlzati, prendi il bambino e sua madre, e va’ nel paese d’Israele; perché sono morti coloro che cercavano di uccidere il bambino».21Egli, alzatosi, prese il bambino e sua madre, e rientrò nel paese d’Israele.22Ma, udito che in Giudea regnava Archelao[7] al posto di Erode, suo padre, ebbe paura di andare là; e, avvertito in sogno, si ritirò nella regione della Galilea23e venne ad abitare in una città detta Nazaret, affinché si adempisse quello che era stato detto dai profeti, che egli sarebbe stato chiamato Nazareno.