And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

And being divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

and having been divinely warned in a dream not to turn back unto Herod, through another way they withdrew to their own region.

But being forbidden by God in a dream to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by a different route.

And it was made clear to them by God in a dream that they were not to go back to Herod; so they went into their country by another way.

And having received a response in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back by another way to their own region.

But afterward, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.

Warned of God - This was done, doubtless, because, if they had given Herod precise information where he was, it would have been easy for him to send forth and kill him. And from this we learn that God will watch over those whom He loves; that He knows how to foil the purposes of the wicked, and to deliver His own out of the hands of those who would destroy them.
In a dream - See the note at Matthew 1:20.

And being (k) warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
(k) God warned and told them of it, even though they did not ask him.

Being warned of God in a dream,.... It is likely they made a short stay at Bethlehem, might lodge there a night; at least laid themselves down a while to take some refreshment in sleep, after they had paid their respects to him that was born king of the Jews, and performed the whole business they came about; when in a dream they received a divine oracle, were admonished and counselled by God,
that they should not return to Herod: which would have been going back again, and out of their way; there being a nearer one from Bethlehem to their own country, than to go by Jerusalem, though Herod had charged them to return to him. Whether they had promised him they would, is not certain; it is probable they might; however, they thought it most advisable to hearken to the divine oracle; wherefore,
they departed into their own country another way. What became of these persons afterwards, and whether they were spiritually and savingly enlightened into the knowledge of Christ; what a report they made of him when they came into their own country, and the success thereof, we have no account of, either in sacred or profane history.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed--or, "withdrew."
to their own country another way--What a surprise would this vision be to the sages, just as they were preparing to carry the glad news of what they had seen to the pious king! But the Lord knew the bloody old tyrant better than to let him see their face again.

Being warned of God in a dream. Probably they were suspicious of Herod, for they could not fail to know his character, and asked God to guide them. He did so by a dream, and hence they avoided Jerusalem on their return.