was raped (Deut 22:25–27) and would have saved himself the obligation of paying out the amount of money he had pledged to her if she were divorced (ketuba). Instead, he chose not to expose her to public disgrace. Throughout Matthew’s infancy narrative, God directs persons in dreams (1:20; 2:12, 13, 19, 22; see also 27:19). Joseph’s righteous intentions ordained by the law are vetoed by no less an authority than an angel of the Lord who appears to him in a dream. While Joseph knew that Mary was pregnant,