A Visual Guide to Bible Events by James C. Martin

Author:James C. Martin [Martin, James C., John A. Beck and David G. Hansen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL006160, REL006650, Jesus Christ—Travel, Palestine—Description and travel, Bible—New Testament Gospels—Geography
ISBN: 9780801017278
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

Tetradrachm of Cleopatra VII.

Scuola Nuova tapestry (Brussels, AD 1524–31) with the scene of the massacre of the innocents.

Another reason Egypt was such a desirable haven is that it held thriving Jewish communities. During earlier assaults on the Promised Land, Jews fled to various places throughout Upper and Lower Egypt (Isa. 11:11). Descendants of those Jewish refugees remained and formed the largest and most affluent Jewish population in the Diaspora.14 This included the descendants of the true Zadokite priesthood functioning at the temple of Onias in Leontopolis.15

Perhaps the reason the Lord instructed Joseph to take the family to Egypt was not only to escape from Herod but also to go toward faithful members of their extended Jewish family who might welcome them and provide support during their time of exile. It is strikingly ironic that Jesus left the Promised Land for Egypt ahead of the killing in Bethlehem. Just as God had instigated Jacob’s move to Egypt centuries earlier, now the Lord instructed Joseph to take Mary and Jesus. It made perfect sense in terms of what Egypt had to offer: a harbor of safety from Herod’s soldiers and a community of Jewish families who wished to separate themselves from the corrupt leadership of the Jerusalem Temple.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.