Matthew 2:1-12
Lesson 2
Lesson 2
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
The wise men.
Mary and Jesus.
By Italian artist and architect Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520).
By Italian artist and architect Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520).
Study Tip:
Use the five W's technique employed by investigative journalists as you study.
As you read each passage, ask yourself who, what, when, where, and why
Use the five W's technique employed by investigative journalists as you study.
As you read each passage, ask yourself who, what, when, where, and why
Where is -
Jerusalem -
The name Jerusalem is Hebrew for "foundation of peace." Jerusalem is also called Mount Zion, David's city, Ariel (Isaiah 29:1), Salem, Jebus (Judges 19:10, 1 Chronicles 11:4-5), and the Holy City. Jerusalem is fourteen miles west of the Dead Sea and thirty-three miles east of the Mediterranean. It sits in the Judaean Mountains, approximately 2,500 feet above sea level. Surrounded by valleys on three sides, Jerusalem dominated the area and, in Jesus' time, was the epicenter of Jewish life, government, and religion. The ancestral home of Israel's King David, ancient Egyptian texts cite Jerusalem as far back as the 19th century BC. It is first mentioned in the Bible under the name Salem (Genesis 14:18) and is first called Jerusalem in Joshua 10:1. Originally, the city covered about eight acres but was continually rebuilt and expanded.
After the crucifixion, early Christians fled Jerusalem or faced persecution at the hands of Jews. Throughout the centuries, Jerusalem has been occupied by Assyria, Egypt, Babylon (2 Kings 25), Persia, Greece, and Rome. A Jewish revolt against Rome began in AD 68. The Roman army, under General Titus, surrounded Jerusalem on Passover AD 70 with orders to smash the rebellion. Eighty thousand Roman soldiers laid siege to the city. In five months, Jerusalem fell. Titus destroyed the city and murdered its citizens. The Romans killed an estimated 1,000,000 Jews during the revolt and took tens of thousands captive. Rome rebuilt Jerusalem, named it Colonia Aelia Capitolina, banned Jews, and constructed a temple to the pagan god Jupiter. In AD 614, the Persians captured the city, and again, Jerusalem's citizens were killed. The European Crusaders occupied Jerusalem in 1099, and later the Turks. Today, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and holds religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Jerusalem -
The name Jerusalem is Hebrew for "foundation of peace." Jerusalem is also called Mount Zion, David's city, Ariel (Isaiah 29:1), Salem, Jebus (Judges 19:10, 1 Chronicles 11:4-5), and the Holy City. Jerusalem is fourteen miles west of the Dead Sea and thirty-three miles east of the Mediterranean. It sits in the Judaean Mountains, approximately 2,500 feet above sea level. Surrounded by valleys on three sides, Jerusalem dominated the area and, in Jesus' time, was the epicenter of Jewish life, government, and religion. The ancestral home of Israel's King David, ancient Egyptian texts cite Jerusalem as far back as the 19th century BC. It is first mentioned in the Bible under the name Salem (Genesis 14:18) and is first called Jerusalem in Joshua 10:1. Originally, the city covered about eight acres but was continually rebuilt and expanded.
After the crucifixion, early Christians fled Jerusalem or faced persecution at the hands of Jews. Throughout the centuries, Jerusalem has been occupied by Assyria, Egypt, Babylon (2 Kings 25), Persia, Greece, and Rome. A Jewish revolt against Rome began in AD 68. The Roman army, under General Titus, surrounded Jerusalem on Passover AD 70 with orders to smash the rebellion. Eighty thousand Roman soldiers laid siege to the city. In five months, Jerusalem fell. Titus destroyed the city and murdered its citizens. The Romans killed an estimated 1,000,000 Jews during the revolt and took tens of thousands captive. Rome rebuilt Jerusalem, named it Colonia Aelia Capitolina, banned Jews, and constructed a temple to the pagan god Jupiter. In AD 614, the Persians captured the city, and again, Jerusalem's citizens were killed. The European Crusaders occupied Jerusalem in 1099, and later the Turks. Today, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and holds religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
