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Mat 2:4. Πάντας, all) i.e., all who were in Jerusalem at that time.-ἀρχιερεῖς, chief priests) The writers of the New Testament seldom speak of ἰερεῖς, priests, but generally of ἀρχιερεῖς, chief priests. This word had distinct significations in the singular and plural number: the singular ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς signifies the High Priest; the plural ἀρχιερεῖς, either with or without the definite article, signified those priests who were more nearly related to the High Priest, and had from that circumstance greater influence than the rest.-See Act 4:6.-γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ, scribes of the people) With the LXX. γραμματεὺς (scribe) corresponds to the Hebrew שטר;[80] in which sense ΤΟῪς ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΕῖς ΤΟῦ ΛΑΟῦ (the scribes of the people), occurs in 1Ma 5:42, cf. also Deu 20:5. They render also ספר[81] by γραμματεὺς. And that signification suits also the present passage, where a Theological Reply is spoken of. The scribes of the people are spoken of in contradistinction to the chiefs of the priests: and were private men or doctors, well versed in the Scriptures; cf. note on ch. Mat 22:35.-ἐπυνθάνετο, inquired. He ought to have done so before.-ΠΟῦ Ὁ ΧΡΙΣΤῸς ΓΕΝΝᾶΤΑΙ, where Christ is born) He makes the question of the Magi his own. The present tense of the verb γεννᾶται (is born), accords with the general expectation of the coming of the Messiah, which prevailed at that time.
[80] i.e. ש̈טֵר a scribe (LXX. γραμματεὺς, γραμματοεισαγωγεύς); hence from the art of writing having been especially used forensically, a magistrate, prefect of the people: specially ש̈טְרִים is used of the prefects of the people of Israel in Egypt, Exo 5:6-19, and in the desert, Num 11:16 (used of the seventy elders), Deu 20:9 etc., etc.; magistrates in the towns of Palestine, Deu 16:18, etc., etc.; used of the superior magistrates, Pro 6:7.-Gesenius.-(I. B.)
[81] i.e. ס̇פר a scribe, Psa 45:2, Ezr 9:2-3; specially (a) the king’s scribe; 2Sa 8:17; 2Sa 20:25; 2Ki 12:17; 2Ki 19:2; 2Ki 22:3-4; (b) a military scribe who has the charge of keeping the muster-rolls, Jer 37:15; Jer 52:25; 2Ki 25:19; (c) in the later books a person skilled in the sacred writings, γραμματεύς, 1Ch 27:32; Ezr 7:6, etc., etc.; orסָפִרִ 1) a scribe, a royal scribe accompanying a satrap or governor of a province, Ezr 4:8-9; Ezr 4:17; Ezr 4:23; (2) γραμματεύς-one skilled in the sacred books, Ezr 7:12; Ezr 7:21.-Ibid.-(I. B.)