Ic was ( as it ſeems )) ſo received a Tradition, and Interpretation of Micah 5. 2. that they gave him an Anſwer wichour any Heſita- ticn, telling him, He was to be born in Bethlehein of Judea : This tiey coniwm by the Prophecy of the Prophet Mica, ch. 5. v. 2. SO confirminzz the Son of the Virgin Mary ( at unawares) to be the Seth trom the Teſtimony of the Propher Micah. The words 1n jiicah fomerhing vary from thoſe here mentioned ; they are thus, But thi Bethlebem-Ephrata, thy thou be little amongſt the 77291 -nds of Tudah, yet out of thee ſhall come forth unto te one, that us, to ve Ruler of hrael , whe goings forth have been of Old, from Everlaſting. We muſt know that the Writers of the New Teſtament in their Quora:ions our of the Old Teftcment, ordinarily quote only fo much % them as makes to their purpoſe, and nctalways in the very terin: 19 Which they are found in che Old Teſtament, bur keepiug to rhe Senie, 2, Thar it is more rhan probable that the Evangeliſt keeps to the words in which the Prieſts and Scribes delivered 1n cheir Anirrer to the Ring ; fer in this Relation he 1s bur recirin;; their Anſwer. The ſole Queſtion propunded ro them was, What the place was where the Meſſiah, according, to their Records, was to be born 2 tacy Anſwer, in Bethlehem-Fud:i they prove their Anſwer trom me Teſtimony of the Propher. It any obje& that the Prophet calls it bethleh2m-Ephrat2, not Bethlehem-Fudah : The Anſwer 18, thar it k in Senfe the ſame, for Bethlehem-Ephrata was within the Tribe & Jadzh. Te ſhould feem by Gen. 35. 19. avd 48. 7. that it was tormerly in Z:c53's time called Ephrah. Some think char it was a Town within Caleb's portion, and c:!;ed Ephratah from his ſecond Wite, whoſe name was Erbr.ib, or Ephratah, 1 Chron. 2. 19, 50. if I were not rhe ſame place only fortified anew. We read of ano- ter Bthiohom in Tud:h, builded by Rehoboam, 2 Chron. 11. 6. Whether it had this Addition from irs old Name, in Facob's rime, or lom Cates Wite, Or t9 diſtinguiſh it trom Bethlehem belonzing 0 Ie Tribe of Zabuln, is hard to fay. Ir is plain, that that B#h- {27:15 meant, both by Micah and Mzither, which was in Judah , PLibly in Tract of time rhe Addirion Frbratah was loſt, Bur ſay one, there ts a Comradiion herwixr Mrcah and Matthew z Meah liith It was the leaſt ; 3M:tchew ſaith it was nt the lealt. Anſ. Here 29 Conrradi&tion ; contider Bethlehem ic ſelf, ic was bur a ſmall City; (1tit were in CaleZ's Lor, it is nor named, ) bur in other re- 'pette it was nor the leaſt, Ir was of old, famous for Tbzan, one of me fudges, for Elimelech, Braz, eſſe, David, and now laft of all for tie Lirth of Chriſt, with reſpe#t ro which the Evangeliſt calls ir not wn, = ne rectter rac Scrives and Prieſts words, they might _— ne le1ft upon the account of Boaz, Jeſſe and David, all ry were born or dwelt there ; and particularly with reſpett to OR who was born there : The Prophet calls it the leaft with **PLtt 10. 155 Stare in his time, the Evangeliſt not the leaſt wich
reſpedt to irs Srate then, its Scate being magnified by the Birth of Chriſt, Micah ſaith, amongſt the Thouſands, Matthew amongſt the Princes. It 1s the ſame thing for Nun. 1. 16. their Princes were Heads of Thouſands in Iſrael. The Jews would by no means have this Text interpreted of Chriſt, bur either of Zorobabel or David: bur as ro Zorobabel, he was born in Babylon, nor in Bethlehem : and David was dead long betore this Prophecy ; neither could the fol- lowing words | whoſe goings forth have been old even from Everlaſt- ing ] agree to Zorobabel, or David : Zorobabels name tells us where he was born ; and we never read that Bethlehem was thus celebra- red with reterence to David, tho he was born there, 1 Sam. 15. x. and 17. 58. upon which account ir is called the Cicy of David, Luke 2. 4. The Prophecy certainly related ro Chriſt, and him only, and ſo is interpreted by the Chaldee Paraphraſt, who ſome think was one of this Councel called by Herod in this Cauſe.
7 Then Herod when he had privily called the wiſe men enquired of them diligently what time the far appeared.
Herod having heard the Anſwer of the Prieſts and Scribes, did not think fic ro make any noiſe of it amongſt the People z he knew the Jews were apt enough to rebel, and being ſo Jare a Conqueror had no reaſon to preſume much of their Gocd-Will cowards him ; he therefore calls che-Wiſe Men privily, and takes no notice of any King they talker of, bur only 1nquireth the rime, When this new Star firſt appeared, To what end he made this enquiry, may be learned from v. 15, only rhar he might be able ro Govern himſelf in his bloody Decree, thac he might neither deſtroy more Children than would ſerve his preſent Defign, nor yer leave this Child behind,
8 And he ſent them to Bethlehem. and ſaid, Go. and ſearch diligently for the young child z and when you have found h:m2, bring me word again, that I may come and worſhip him alſo.