Matthew takes great care in setting the scene for Jesus' birth. The gospel writer skillfully sketches the events immediately after Jesus' arrival. Matthew's focus in both cases is on the proper fulfillment of Scripture, detailing Jesus' identity in light of all the predicted indicators of the Messiah's arrival. In Matthew 2:13-23, the writer presents three separate scenes, each scrupulously designed to "fulfill" the Scripture text referred to by Matthew. Commentators have noted how this unit is also similar in style to a Greek epic poem. Its terse, short sentences are repeated in strictly similar form (compare v.13 with v.20, and v.14 with v.21), while a kind of refrain created by Matthew around "fulfillment" is repeated three separate times - in verses 15, 17 and 23.

"Fulfillment" is one …