Story of flight in egypt – मिस्र में उड़ान की कहानी
The story of “The Flight into Egypt” is a significant event in Christian tradition, recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:13-23). It describes how the Holy Family—Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus—fled to Egypt to escape King Herod’s massacre of male infants in Bethlehem, an event known as the “Massacre of the Innocents.”
After the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the Magi (or Wise Men) from the East visited King Herod in Jerusalem, seeking the newborn “King of the Jews.” Herod, feeling threatened by the prophecy of a new king, asked the Magi to report back to him once they found the child, pretending that he too wanted to worship him. However, after visiting Jesus, the Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they left for their country by another route.
Following the departure of the Magi, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to take Mary and the child Jesus and flee to Egypt because Herod was seeking to kill the child. Joseph obeyed, and the family left for Egypt in the middle of the night, escaping Herod’s wrath.
Herod, realizing that he had been deceived by the Magi, ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. This tragic event is known as the “Massacre of the Innocents.”
The Bible does not provide details about the Holy Family’s life in Egypt, but it is believed that they lived there for several years until the death of King Herod. Egypt was a common place of refuge for those fleeing danger, and it was relatively close to Judea. Various apocryphal texts and later Christian traditions provide additional stories and miracles attributed to Jesus and the Holy Family during their time in Egypt.
After Herod’s death, an angel appeared to Joseph in another dream, telling him it was safe to return to Israel because those seeking the child’s life were dead. Joseph returned with Mary and Jesus, but instead of going back to Bethlehem, they settled in the town of Nazareth in Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.
The Flight into Egypt is seen as the fulfillment of the prophecy found in Hosea 11:1, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” It also symbolizes the theme of God protecting His chosen ones from danger. Additionally, the story highlights the vulnerability of the Holy Family and their reliance on divine guidance to navigate the challenges they faced.
The event is commemorated in Christian art, literature, and liturgy and is particularly celebrated in the Coptic Christian tradition, where it is believed that the Holy Family’s journey through Egypt left a lasting spiritual legacy.
Story of flight in egypt – मिस्र में उड़ान की कहानी
