Matthew 2:16-18

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Matthew 2:16-18
The third fulfillment of prophecy in this chapter comes from Jeremiah 31:15. The context in Jeremiah is the promise that God would restore both the Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern kingdom of Judah from their captivities in Assyria and Babylon. Rachel, the second wife of Jacob, had two children, Joseph and Benjamin. From Joseph came the two principle tribes of northern Israel - Ephraim and Manasseh. These, along with the rest of the Northern Kingdom had gone into Assyrian captivity in 722 B.C. From this came the picture of “Rachel weeping for her children….because they are no more.”
But the full story comes from the verses following Jeremiah 31:15. Verses 16 and 17 state, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your work will be rewarded,’ declares the Lord, ‘and they will return from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future,’ declares the Lord, ‘And your children will return to their own territory.’”
The point of the text is that even though Rachel had lost her children, God was going to restore her children to her in a new kingdom. Matthew’s quotation of Jeremiah is not intended to end on a sad note. Though Rachel had again lost her children, the purpose of Jeremiah’s prophecy was to connect a mourning nation to the hope of restoration. The prophecy of Jeremiah was about to be fulfilled. The Messiah had come and through Him God was going to dry the tearful eyes by building a new nation which no longer could be overthrown by her enemies.
Now notice what we have seen so far in Matthew two. The first prophecy announced the coming of the King (Micah 5:2). The second prophecy referred to this King leading an exodus out of Egypt. The third is of Rachel, the mother of those who were no longer considered the people of God, having her tears dried as her children are brought into the kingdom of the Messiah.
Berry Kercheville