To WITHDRAW — to give ground, to retire, to get out of the way. It is the structural verb of Matthew 2, sounding four times in twelve verses: the magi withdraw to their own country (v12), 'when they had withdrawn' (v13), Joseph withdraws to Egypt (v14), and at the close he withdraws into Galilee (v22). ⚠ Matthew then keeps the word for what Jesus does when a threat is real — he withdraws when John is arrested (4:12), when the Pharisees take counsel against him (12:15), when John is beheaded (14:13). The Messiah's first recorded movement is a retreat, and the retreat becomes a habit. → first discussed at Matt 2:12