Matthew 2:16

The Slaying of the Children at Bethlehem

16. and sent forth, and slew i. e. he sent assassins to slay.

all the children Lit. all the male children.

coasts i. e. borders or neighbourhood.

from two years old and under If we adopt the hypothesis regarding the star mentioned above, a satisfactory explanation is given for Herod's directions, which otherwise it is difficult to explain. Even if the above theory is not the true one, the two years mentioned in the text are clearly connected with the astronomical appearances described by the Magi, in answer to Herod's "diligent inquiries."

Profane history passes over this atrocity in silence. But Josephus may well have found his pages unequal to contain a complete record of all the cruel deeds of a tyrant like Herod. Macaulay relates that the massacre of Glencoe is not even alluded to in the pages of Evelyn, a most diligent recorder of passing political events. Besides, the crime was executed with secrecy, the number of children slain was probably very inconsiderable, for Bethlehem was but a small town; and though it was possibly crowded at the time (Luke 2:7), the number of very young children would not have been considerably augmented by those strangers.

The whole scene must have been very different from that which is presented to us on the canvas of the great mediæval artists.