Topical Bible: Rulers: Wicked: Herod the Great, Killing the Infants in Bethlehem

◄ Rulers: Wicked: Herod the Great, Killing the Infants in Bethlehem ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Herod the Great, a ruler known for his architectural achievements and political acumen, is also infamously remembered for his tyrannical and ruthless actions, particularly the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem. This event is a significant episode in the New Testament, illustrating Herod's wickedness and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Historical Context

Herod the Great was appointed King of Judea by the Roman Senate in 40 BC and reigned until his death in 4 BC. His rule was marked by significant building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, but also by paranoia and brutality. Herod's reign was characterized by his efforts to maintain power at any cost, often resorting to violence against perceived threats, including members of his own family.

Biblical Account

The massacre of the infants is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. After the birth of Jesus, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem seeking the "King of the Jews," having seen His star. Herod, troubled by the news of a potential rival, sought to ascertain the child's location under the guise of wishing to worship Him. Matthew 2:3-4 states, "When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born."

Upon learning from the chief priests and scribes that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, Herod instructed the wise men to report back to him once they found the child. However, warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the wise men departed for their country by another route. Realizing he had been outwitted, Herod's wrath led to a horrific decree.

The Massacre

In a desperate attempt to eliminate the newborn King, Herod ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. This brutal act is recorded in Matthew 2:16 : "When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he sent and killed all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi."

Prophetic Fulfillment

The massacre fulfilled the prophecy spoken through Jeremiah, as noted in Matthew 2:17-18 : "Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: '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.'"

Theological Implications

Herod's actions underscore the spiritual battle between the forces of evil and God's redemptive plan. His attempt to destroy the Messiah highlights the opposition faced by Jesus from the very beginning of His earthly life. Herod's wickedness serves as a stark contrast to the innocence and divine purpose of Christ, emphasizing the need for a Savior in a world marred by sin and corruption.

Herod the Great's legacy is thus marred by his ruthless attempt to thwart God's plan, a futile endeavor that ultimately underscores the sovereignty and faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises.

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Matthew 2:16-18
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
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