16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18)
Thoughts: Bethlehem even today is a small town. There were not thousands of babies there, maybe not hundreds. So we should not expect archaeological evidence of this atrocity. The Roman historian, Macrobius, records that he had boys under two killed in the region of Syria (the Roman Province that included Judea). Herod was known for his building. He totally renovated the Second Temple (which became one of the wonders of the ancient world for a few years), he built the port of Caesarea, the fortress of Massada, and the fortress of Herodium. Herodium was a huge mountain plateau overlooking Jerusalem. Herod was eventually buried there. Herod killed the 45 wealthiest Jews in a play to preserve his power. Herod killed his wife and his son in a fit of jealousy to preserve his crown.
Herod had asked to find out where Jesus was born so that he could worship him. In reality, he wanted to kill him. To fake love for God and in its place have hatred is the ultimate evil thing. Herod was not interested if God had sent a righteous king, he was concerned that his power be preserved. In the end, we should seek God's will more than our own will. In contrast to Herod who did anything to keep his crown, is John the Baptist who readily pointed to Jesus and said, "He must increase and I must decrease." Let us choose to lay our crowns before Him.
Herod had asked to find out where Jesus was born so that he could worship him. In reality, he wanted to kill him. To fake love for God and in its place have hatred is the ultimate evil thing. Herod was not interested if God had sent a righteous king, he was concerned that his power be preserved. In the end, we should seek God's will more than our own will. In contrast to Herod who did anything to keep his crown, is John the Baptist who readily pointed to Jesus and said, "He must increase and I must decrease." Let us choose to lay our crowns before Him.
Prayer: Lord, keep me from lusting for my own power. Instead, help me to be willing to give up everything in order to please you.
Below: Bethlehem (see Church of Nativity) with the mountain of Herodium in center top; rt- Herodium from above
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