Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
13. And when they had departed How many days elapsed from the departure of the Magi, till Joseph was ordered to flee into Egypt, is not known, nor is it of much importance to inquire: only it is probable that the Lord spared Mary, till she was so far recovered from childbirth as to be able to perform the journey.
The wise men's visit, meant to honor Christ, instead exposed Him to danger; obscurity had been His best protection. God knew Herod's murderous intent before Joseph did, and sent an angel to warn him as He had before. Those bound to Christ by faith now receive the heavenly counsel that strangers to Him never get.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 2:13-15
And when they were departed,.... That is immediately, or as soon as they were gone, or in a very little time after, probably the same night, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream; it is very likely the same angel who appeared to him in such sort, Mat 1:20 "saying arise", awake out of sleep, and rise from thy bed...