A nasty fellow. A very nasty fellow.
It was Herod that ordered the death of many innocent children in order to eliminate the threat of another King. What he didn't realise was that this Baby King would have a heavenly kingdom rather than an earthly one. According to history, Augustus, on hearing that Herod's son was to be killed along with all the other male boys two years and younger, said, "It was better to be Herod's sow, than his son."
The ancient historian James Ussher tells us that Herod imprisoned noble Jews that were to be executed on his death so that the people would have reason for sorrow, rather than rejoicing at his death.
As I said, a nasty fellow.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
“ A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. Matthew 2:16-22, NKJV
It was Herod that ordered the death of many innocent children in order to eliminate the threat of another King. What he didn't realise was that this Baby King would have a heavenly kingdom rather than an earthly one. According to history, Augustus, on hearing that Herod's son was to be killed along with all the other male boys two years and younger, said, "It was better to be Herod's sow, than his son."
The ancient historian James Ussher tells us that Herod imprisoned noble Jews that were to be executed on his death so that the people would have reason for sorrow, rather than rejoicing at his death.
As I said, a nasty fellow.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
“ A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. Matthew 2:16-22, NKJV
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