64
The sojourn of Joseph and Mary with Jesus in Egypt was in fulfillment of what prophecy?
Matthew: That “spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son” ([ii, 15]).
This may be found in [Hosea xi, 1], and clearly refers to the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
65
Jesus was subsequently taken to Nazareth. Why?
Matthew: “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, He shall be called a Nazarene” ([ii, 23]).
The Bible contains no such prophecy. Fleetwood admits that “the words are not to be found” in “the prophetical writings,” and Farrar says, “It is well known that no such passage occurs in any extant prophecy” (Life of Christ, p. 33). The only passage to which the above can refer is [Judges xiii, 5]. Here the child referred to was not to be called a Nazarene, but a Nazarite, and Matthew knew that “Nazarene” and “Nazarite” were no more synonymous than “Jew” and “priest.” A Nazarene was a native of Nazareth; a Nazarite was one consecrated to the service of the Lord. Matthew likewise knew that this Nazarite referred to in Judges was Samson.