But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: (Matthew 2:22)
In his will Herod divided his domain into four parts, giving two to Archelaus and one each to Antipas and Philip (see pp. 63-65).
Archelaus proved to be the worst of the living sons of Herod. His tyranny and incompetence led the Jews and the Samaritans to appeal to Rome for his removal, which was granted in A.D. 6, tenth year of his reign. Augustus banished him to Gaul (now France), where he died.
Perhaps Joseph and Mary, understanding the prophecies of the Messiah as the Son of David, had intended to take up residence in Bethlehem.
Galilee.
A transliteration of the Heb. meaning Galil, or Gelilah, meaning “circle,” and thus a “circuit,” or “district.” Its populace was a mixture of Jew and Gentile, and the religious prejudices of dominantly Jewish Judea were less evident there. It had no large cities. The people lived mostly in rural areas and villages, and engaged in the common, toilsome pursuits of life. Its inhabitants were despised by the residents of the more sophisticated province of Judea (John 7:52; cf. Matt. 26:69; John 1:46).
From the account as given by Luke (ch. 2:39) it might appear that Joseph and Mary returned to Galilee immediately upon the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. However, Matthew makes it plain that the sojourn in Egypt intervened (see on Luke 2:39). There is no valid reason whatever for supposing the two accounts are in any way contradictory.