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Mat_2:22. Augustus, after the death of Herod and the complications connected with it,[372] divided the kingdom amongst his three sons in such a manner that Archelaus received the half of the four quarters of the kingdom, namely, Judea, Idumaea, and Samaria; Antipas, Galilee and Perea; Philip, Batanea, Trachonitis, and Auranitis. Both the latter were called Tetrarchs, but Archelaus obtained the title of Ethnarch, Josephus, Antt. xvii. 8. 1, xvii. 11. 4, which was to be exchanged for the title of king should he prove worthy of it. But after nine years he was banished by Augustus on account of his cruelty to Vienne (Josephus, Antt. xvii. 13. 2; B. J. ii. 7. 3), and died there. His territory was added to the province of Syria, and placed under the administration of a procurator.
βασιλεύειν is therefore here taken generally: regnare, as it often is in the classics. On ἀντί , compare Herod. i. 108; Xen. Anab. i. 1, iv. 2; 2Ch_33:20; 1Ma_3:1; 1Ma_9:31; 1Ma_13:4.
ἐφοβήθη ] for Archelaus resembled his father in his suspicious and cruel temper, Josephus, Antt. xvii. 11. 2 f.
ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν ] a well-known attraction: adverbs of rest with verbs of direction, Mat_17:20; Joh_7:35; Joh_8:21; Joh_11:8; Joh_18:3; Rom_15:24; LXX. Deu_1:37; 2Sa_17:18; Winer, p. 439 [E. T. 591]; Bernhardy, p. 349 f. ΓΑΛΙΛΑΊΑς ] in the portions of his district belonging to Galilee, (Mat_15:21, Mat_16:13; Act_2:10), so that he avoided Judea, and did not return to Bethlehem. The voluptuary Antipas was known to be more humane than Archelaus.
[372] Comp. Schneckenburger, neutest. Zeitgesch. p. 201 ff.; Hausrath, neut. Zeitgesch. I. p. 284 ff.; Keim in Schenkel’s Bibellex.