Daily Bible Verse - 12/30/2007 - Isaiah 9:2

The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.

Isaiah 9:2

Commentary
The district of Galilee, located in the hill country of Zebulun and Naphtali, was inhabited by a mixed population of Israelites and heathen. Years after Joshua led the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan, Canaanites still inhabited the region (Judg. 1:30-33; 4:2). Galilee was also situated on a major trade route, which brought foreigners to the area. Thus it came to be frowned upon as "Galilee of the Gentiles" (9:1).
Yet God promised to send a "great light" on these "people who walked in darkness" (9:2). Who was this Light, who came for both Gentiles and Israelites? According to the Gospel of Matthew, it was Jesus Christ: "When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee .. that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah" (Matt. 4:12-17).
Jesus is the Light that God sent even to the Gentiles, the expression of His love for the whole world.

Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Is 9:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Daily Bible Verse - 12/29/2007 - Matthew 2:10-11

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:10-11

Commentary
"The young Child" (paidion, Gk.), and not "the Babe" (brephos, Gk.) as in Luke 2:16, has been moved from the manger, indicating that several months, or possibly more than a year, had passed before the Magi's visit (cf. vv. 7, 16).

Believer's Study Bible. 1997, c1995. C1991 Criswell Center for Biblical Studies. (electronic ed.) (Mt 2:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Notice that they saw Jesus with His mother. Ordinarily mention would be made of a mother first, then her child, but this Child is unique and must be given first place (see also vv. 13, 14, 20, 21). The wise men worshiped Jesus, not Mary or Joseph.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Mt 2:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?
The number of wise men is not given. The traditional notion that there were 3 stems from the number of gifts they brought. These were not kings, but Magi, magicians or astrologers-possibly Zoroastrian wise men from Persia whose knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures could be traced back to the time of Daniel (cf. Dan. 5:11).

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Mt 2:1). Nashville: Word Pub.