And after the carrying away to Babylon Jechoniah begat Shealtiel

and Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel

and Zerubbabel begat Abiud
and Abiud begat Eliakim
and Eliakim begat Azor
and Azor begat Sadoc
and Sadoc begat Achim
and Achim begat Eliud
and Eliud begat Eleazar
and Eleazar begat Matthan
and Matthan begat Jacob
and Jacob begat Joseph
the husband of Mary

of whom was born Jesus who is
called the Christ.

So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations

and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations

and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations.

7

I

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Birth of

Jesus

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name

JESUS

for it is he that shall 'save' his people from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name 'Immanuel ';

which is, being interpreted, 'God with us.' And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his

name

JESUS.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise men from the east Visit of the came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that Magi-Flight is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star into Egypt in the east, and are come to worship him. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come forth a governor, which shall be shepherd of my people Israel. Then Herod privily called the Wise men, and learned of them carefully what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out carefully concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went

before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully learned of the Wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she would not be comforted, because they are not.