Having been warned by an angel of Herod’s plot to destroy the Messianic Child, Joseph fled with his family to Egypt as he was instructed (Matthew 2:13). Though they were poor, because of the wise men’s gifts, they now have enough resources for their journey and temporary stay in that country.
When Herod finally died, an angel again appeared to Joseph telling him to return to Israel, “for those who sought the child’s life are dead” (Matthew 2:19-20). The first area they came to was Judea which was now ruled by Herod’s firstborn son, Archelaus. As bad as Herod was, Archelaus was, in some ways, worse than his father. In fact, when he succeeded to the throne, he killed three thousand Jews in the Temple compound during the Passover season. Even Herod never went to the extreme of killing people on the premises of the Temple. So, because of the new ruler’s reputation, Joseph decided against resettling in Bethlehem of Judea.
The family ended up settling in the Galilean town of Nazareth. Consequently, this move would stigmatise Jesus for the rest of his life. While Judeans looked down on Galileans in general, Galileans looked down on those among them who came from Nazareth. Nazareth was a town of ill repute. Since it was the base of a Roman garrison, Jews who lived there were viewed as traitors. Even one of His future disciples, when told that the Messiah was Yeshua of Nazareth, responded with: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45-46). Growing up in Nazareth made Jesus a despised and rejected individual, “so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23).
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