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. Matthew 2:16

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“Then Herod, having seen that he was mocked by the magicians, was exceedingly enraged and, having sent, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all her borders, from two years and under, according to the time which he exacted from the magicians” (CG).

In the previous verse, Matthew quoted Hosea comparing the movement of Jesus from Egypt to that of Israel at the Exodus. Now, the narrative returns to Herod, beginning with, “Then Herod, having seen that he was mocked by the magicians.”

The word translated as “mocked” is empaizó. It comes from “in” and “play.” Thus, it means to sport someone or mock them. Almost every use is a mocking direct against Jesus. However, in this case, it is the magicians who have mocked Herod through their departing to their own country without providing him the information he requested. Because of this, it next says, he “was exceedingly enraged.”

The word thumoó, enraged, is used only here in the New Testament. It signifies to be full of angry passion. Combined with the word “exceedingly,” one can get the mental image of Herod flipping his lid, seething in rage, and turning bright red in the face. He really blew a gasket over being duped. Thus, it next says, “and, having sent, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all her borders.”

This event has been called “the slaughter of the innocents” for eons. The term “innocent” has various nuances. From a biblical perspective in relation to sin, there are no innocents. We have all inherited Adam’s sin. However, these children had done nothing deserving of death. Therefore, they are innocent in the sense that Herod unjustly had them killed.

As tragic as this is, the number of male children that were this age is estimated to be very low. Bethlehem was not a large city. Even though the extended borders were included, the number still would not have been great. However, the fact that Herod did this stands as a witness to his depravity. If the city were much larger, it is clear that it would not have mattered to him if he killed hundreds or thousands.

The account itself has been called into question because there is no extrabiblical reference to it. However, that is both an argument from silence, and it is not unlikely that it is not mentioned if only a small number of children were killed.

It would have been devastating for the families who lost children, but in the larger picture, it would not have garnered the same attention that it probably would have today with media and the internet. Of those killed, it next says they were “from two years and under.”

Only males and only those up to two years of age were killed. Herod simply wanted any challenge to his authority to be stamped out. It didn’t do him any good, however, because his reign only lasted a short while longer, and as Barnes noted in the previous commentary, “he died of a most painful and loathsome disease in Jericho.”

The word translated as “two years old,” dietés, is also only found here in Scripture. It comes from two words indicating “twice” and “year.” Next, Matthew says that this killing of the children this age was “according to the time which he exacted from the magicians.”

Here is the second and last use of the word translated as “exacted,” akriboo. It was seen in Matthew 2:7. It signifies to learn carefully or inquire with exactness. Herod had carefully ascertained the information from the magicians, and he then used that information to kill these innocents in a desperate act of trying to overturn the prophetic word of God.

Life application: As noted above, the word “innocent” has to be taken in the context of what is being conveyed. Little children and babies are innocent in that they have not committed any intentional wrongdoing. They are in need of care for their very existence as well.

Unfortunately, those who need the most care of all are those targeted by the wicked people of the world, like Herod. Today, the Herods of the world are those who support the killing of unborn children through abortion, who target young minds for perverse agendas, like transgenderism, and who abuse little children through sexual perversion.

In today’s world, each of these vile practices is fully supported by those who hold to liberal values in any given country. The democrat party of the United States is fully behind these things. And with each new piece of legislation they pass, another one is quick to follow that is more depraved than the one before.

There is very little hope that they will change their ways, but individually, each still needs to hear about Jesus. It is our job to share the good news. For those who realize the wickedness they are committing, they normally will become staunch supporters of that which is right.

Therefore, even in your anger at the conduct of those on the left, be sure to at least offer them the gospel and tell them there is hope, even salvation, from the wickedness they are so mired in.

Lord God, may we be willing to share the gospel with everyone, even those who are so at odds with You in many ways. Satanists, pedophiles, murderers, and the liberal left in general all hold to stands that are contrary to what You accept, but we were once contrary to You as well. Help us to remember that we were also saved from eternal condemnation. May we be about sharing the good news with all people. Amen.