Some scholars believe Matthew’s birth narrative was written (invented) for the purpose of making Jesus out to be Israel’s new Moses and to fulfill important Jewish prophecy.
–For Matthew, the history of Israel is recapitulated in Jesus. Jesus is Israel. Israel is the template for Jesus. For example, it is difficult to know the story of baby Moses in any detail and miss how Matthew uses it as the pattern for the story of baby Jesus in chapter 2. Note these rather remarkable parallels Matthew fully expects us to see.
1) Matt 2.13-14: Herod desires to slay Jesus so Joseph takes Mary and baby Jesus away
Ex 2.15: Pharaoh desires to slay Moses, so Moses goes away
2) Matt 2.16: Herod commands all male boys of Bethlehem, 2 and under, murdered
Ex 1.22: Pharaoh commands all male Israelite boys to be murdered
3) Matt 2.19: Herod dies
Ex 2.23: Pharaoh dies
4) Matt 2.19-20: The Angel of the Lord appears to Joseph, ‘go back for those seeking Jesus’s life are dead’
Ex 4.19: The Lord speaks to Moses, ‘go back for those seeking your life are dead’
5) Matt 2.21: Joseph took Jesus and Mary back to Israel
Ex 4.20: Moses took his wife and children and returned to Egypt
Source: https://wineskins.org/2020/12/10/jesus-a-baby-like-moses-matthews-jewish-nativity/
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Escaping Christian Fundamentalism 
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