Herod the King (Luke 1:5; Matthew 2:1–18; Matthew 2:19–20)

King in the Days When Jesus Was Born

Herod the king, in whose days Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa; troubled by the Wise-men's question, he sought the young child, and when mocked by them sent forth and slew the male children of Bethlehem.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke date events by this Herod: “in the days of Herod the king” (Matthew 2:1), and “in the days of Herod, king of Judæa” (Luke 1:5). The Herod of Acts 12:1 is a different Herod, and so is Herod the tetrarch (Luke 3:19); neither is this study's subject.

When Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem asking, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2), “Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3). He gathered the chief priests and scribes, asked where the Christ should be born (Matthew 2:4), and sent the Wise-men to Bethlehem to search out the young child, saying, “bring me word, that I also may come and worship him” (Matthew 2:8).

Warned in a dream, the Wise-men left another way (Matthew 2:12). “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16). Joseph had been told in a dream to take the child and his mother to Egypt, “for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13), and they stayed there “until the death of Herod” (Matthew 2:15).

Weaknesses

• Troubled at news of one born King of the Jews
• Seeking the child's life
• Wrath

Themes

• A king and the King of the Jews
• The Wise-men
• Slaughter at Bethlehem
• Flight into Egypt

Herod is troubled (Matthew 2:1–3)

Wise-men from the east ask where the King of the Jews is born; Herod the king is troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

He asks the chief priests and scribes (Matthew 2:4–6)

Herod gathers the chief priests and scribes, who tell him the Christ should be born in Bethlehem of Judæa.

He sends the Wise-men to search (Matthew 2:7–13)

Herod privily calls the Wise-men, learns when the star appeared, and sends them to Bethlehem, asking word that he may come and worship.

He sends the Wise-men to search

“Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him” (Matthew 2:7–8).

“And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way” (Matthew 2:12). An angel of the Lord told Joseph, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13).

The male children of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16–18)

Seeing that he was mocked of the Wise-men, Herod is exceeding wroth and slays the male children in Bethlehem from two years old and under.

The male children of Bethlehem

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men” (Matthew 2:16).

The Gospel of Matthew sets beside this the words of Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not” (Matthew 2:18).

The death of Herod (Matthew 2:14–15; Matthew 2:19–20)

Joseph, the child and his mother stay in Egypt until Herod is dead, and then an angel tells Joseph to go into the land of Israel.

The Wise-men (Matthew 2:7–8; Matthew 2:16)

Sent them to search for the young child and bring him word; when they did not return he was exceeding wroth.

The chief priests and scribes (Matthew 2:4–6)

Gathered by him and asked where the Christ should be born; they answered, In Bethlehem of Judæa.

Jesus (Matthew 2:13; Matthew 2:19–20)

The young child whom Herod sought; Joseph was warned that Herod would seek the young child to destroy him.

Joseph (Matthew 2:13–15)

An angel told Joseph in a dream to take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, for Herod would seek the young child to destroy him.

Major sections

• Matthew 2:1–23

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