While Matthew’s reading of Hosea
goes beyond the original meaning of the text, it serves
his theme of continuity well, connecting the new Jesus story to the ancient
story of Israel. This is developed further in his use of the story of Moses. As
Joseph was the one who brought his people into Egypt, Moses is the reason why
they leave. By the first century AD the story of Moses had been developed; We
know this through the writing of Philo and Josephus. In the expanded narrative
Pharaoh was warned by astrologers/wise men that a liberator of Israel was about
to be born who would threaten his crown. Pharaoh and his advisers decided that
the best way to safeguard the throne was to kill all the Hebrew children. At
the same time Moses’ father receives notice in a dream that his pregnant wife
will bear the child who will save Israel. Forewarned the parents save the life
of their child. Jesus, like Moses before him, begins his life as a refugee in
flight from a wicked king. (Denis McBride, Where Does the Jesus Story Begin?
Reflections on the Beginning of the Gospels [London: Redemptorist Publications,
2006], 74)
On p. 75, McBride produces the following table showing the
typological parallels between Moses and Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew:
|
Moses |
Jesus |
|
In the expanded tradition mentioned by Josephus in Antiquities
2.210-16, Amran, the pious father of Moses, is worried about his wife’s
pregnancy after hearing that Pharaoh has ordered the death of Hebrew male
infants. God appears to him in a dream, counsels him not to despair, and
prophesies his son’s future greatness. |
Joseph, the just father of Jesus, is concerned about his wife’s
pregnancy and is planning to divorce her. The angel of the Lord appears to
him in a dream, counsels him not to be afraid, and prophesies his son’s
future greatness. |
|
Moses is celebrated as the great “saviour” of the people of
Israel. |
“You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from
their sins” (Matthew 1:21). |
|
In Antiquities 2.205, 234, Josephus says that Pharaoh
heard of Israel’s new liberator from the scribes. In Jerusalem targum on
Exodus 1:15, the two magicians, who are sons of Balaam, are the source of the
information. |
King Herod hears of the birth o the King of The Jews from the
chief priests, the scribes, and the magi. |
|
When Pharaoh hears the prophecy of the liberator, he is “seized
with fear” (Antiquities 2.206) |
“When King Herod heard this he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him” (Matthew 2:3). |
|
At the time of the birth of Moses, Pharaoh gives the order to
slaughter every male Hebrew child (Exodus 1). |
Around the time of Jesus’ birth, Herod orders the slaughter of
all male children two years and under (Matthew 2:16). |
|
Moses is kept safe as an infant by divine providence. Later he
must flee his homeland because Pharoah seeks to kill him (Exodus 2:1-10). |
By divine providence Jesus is kept safe and is taken from his
homeland because Herod seeks to kill him (Matthew 2:13-14). |
|
Following the death of Pharaoh, Moses is commanded by God to
return to Egypt “for all those who wanted to kill you are dead” (Exodus
4:19). |
Following the death of Herod, Joseph is commanded by an angel to
return to Israel, “for those who sought the child’s life are dead” (Matthew
2:19-20). |
|
Moses takes his wife and child and returns from exile to Egypt
(Exodus 4:20). |
Joseph takes his wife and son and returns from exile to Israel
(Matthew 2:21). |
