Main Text: Matt 2: 13 - 23
Following the story of wise men is the story of Jesus' exile to Egypt. On this text, it is obvious that Matthew use the envelope structure of Jewish Narrative. Verse 13 - 15 function as the head of the envelope, while verse 19 - 23 as the tail of it.
Trough this way, it left verse 16 - 18 as the main idea of the text.
Critically enough, the text obviously tell us that after the departure of those wise men. Herod become furious and release the decree of infanticide for all Jewish boy in Bethlehem area and around.
Just at the beginning of his life, Christ had bring hundreds of babies killed.
The interesting part of it, only the Gospel of Matthew record this incident.
Matthew wrote it as the fulfillment of the Prophecy.
Looking back on that prophecy, it can be found on the book of Jeremiah 31:15
However, as i read trough the whole prophecy itself. This is not such a sad prophecy.
Jeremiah predict that after the tears comes hope from the Lord himself to those who wait in the Lord.
This is one of those text that i honestly hard to accept, how could such a loving God allow the death of these little children as the cost of Christ birth?
May the Lord grant me his wisdom to answer this question....
