Herod uses the scriptures for evil.

Matthew 2.4-6.

Christian myths say there were only three magi who sought the baby Jesus. The scriptures say no such thing. The magi brought three gifts, but Matthew says nothing about how many magi there were. One magus could bring all three himself. Likewise there could’ve been a hundred magi, each of whom could’ve brought a stocking-stuffer sized amount of gold, incense, and myrrh for Jesus. We don’t know.

But the magi, and possibly their entourage, left Jerusalem abuzz—all the more because they were asking about the newborn king of Judea, Mt 2.2 and the current king of Judea was pretty sure he didn’t have any newborn kids or grandkids around. Sounded like treason to him.

It didn’t help that Pharisees, as part of their End Times timeline, claimed a Messiah—one of the titles of the king of Israel—would show up and usher in the age to come. And Messiah would be a descendant of King David ben Jesse… and the last century and a half of Judean kings had not been descendants of David. They were head priests; they were descendants of Aaron ben Amram. As for King Herod, he was an Idumean Edomite; he wasn’t even descended from Israel.

So yeah, he was the wrong person to talk to about some newborn king of Judea. But Herod wasn’t one of those idiots who think they already know it all, and only surrounds himself with toadies who tell him so. He was a crafty old buzzard who knew knowledge is power, and went straight to the priests to learn what was up.

Matthew 2.4-6 KWL

4Assembling all the people’s head priests and scribes,

Herod is asking them where Messiah is born.

5They tell Herod, “In Bethlehem, Judea.

For this was written by the prophet:

6‘And you,¹ Bethlehem,’—land of Judah—

in no way ‘are the least of the chiefs of Judah:

A leader will come from you¹

who will shepherd my people, Israel.’ ” Mc 5.2

Quoting, of course, the prophet Micah of Morešet-Gath. In English-language bibles this is Micah 5.2, but in Hebrew this is verse 1, where the chapter begins. The previous verse ends in the paragraph-marker ס, meaning verse 2 isn’t part of Micah’s previous prophecy; it’s a new vision—a vision of a savior.

Micah 5.2 KWL

You,¹ Bethlehem Efrátah, little among Judah’s clans:

From you¹ will come forth

one who becomes the ruler of Israel.

His origin is of ancient times,

from eternal days.

The scribes left out that last part, ’cause they figured Herod didn’t need to know that part. He kinda did, though. I’ll get to why in the next section. But Herod was only interested in where Messiah might be—so he could go kill him. Mt 2.16 Spoiler, but I’m pretty sure you already know the story by now.

Why give up Messiah’s location so easily?

It was already well-known Herod bar Antipater was a murderous king. If you read his biography, you’ll notice he killed lots of people to gain, and cling to, power. Including family members. Including wives and kids.

Considering the sort of murderous despot Herod was, why on earth would the scribes give up Messiah’s location so easily? Two reasons.

First, most of the priests were were Sadducees, and didn’t believe as Pharisees did. Those End Times timelines which told of Messiah taking over Israel and the world were Pharisee timelines, based on Pharisee interpretations of Daniel and other prophets—books which Sadducees didn’t consider bible. Sadducee bibles only consisted of the Torah, the first five books of our Old Testament. Since Sadducees didn’t believe in angels—despite there being lots of angels in the Torah—it appears they only selectively believed in their own scriptures.

So since a future, final Messiah was part of Pharisee teachings, and came from other passages in our Old Testament, Sadducees didn’t believe in him. Asking where Messiah would be born is kinda like asking me about Xenu. Scientologists are trying to shush people who talk about Xenu, lest non-Scientologists make fun of them. I don’t believe in Xenu (and figure the cat’s out of the bag anyway), so spilling their secrets doesn’t worry me any. And Sadducees felt the very same way about Messiah. They didn’t care where he might be born, ’cause they didn’t believe he would be born.

Which is probably why Herod called for the priests and their scribes in the first place. Herod wasn’t dumb. He’d been around Jews long enough to know Messiah was one of those Pharisee beliefs Sadducees didn’t care about, so he went straight to the Sadducees, who wouldn’t be hesitant to tell him all about it.

Second, if there were any Pharisees among the scribes, or any Pharisee-friendly scribes: Most Pharisees were determinists: They believed if God decreed it would happen, ain’t nothing gonna stop it from happening. Try as Herod might to fight God’s plan, he was predestined to fail. So if they told Herod where Messiah would be born, it’s not like Herod could ever stop him, for God had decreed it, and it will happen.

Nevermind all the really awful things Herod might do anyway. Determinists tend not to worry about such things—and it’s mighty naïve of them. There’s a lot God hasn’t foretold, and a lot of evil we might prevent if only we either spoke up, or in this case, kept our mouths shut.

Since the scriptures generally point to Jesus, Herod took advantage of this knowledge to try to kill the newborn Messiah. ’Cause evil people can totally misuse the scriptures for their own evil gain. Cult leaders misquote it all the time to defend their control-freak behavior. Heretics misquote it to defend their misguided ideas. Even earnest Christians get it wrong because we prefer our feel-good ideas to the Holy Spirit’s true intent. The idea the scriptures will produce nothing but good: They do produce good—in the right hands. They produce evil in the wrong ones.

Lastly I should bring up the part of Micah which Matthew doesn’t quote. The priests might have read the entire passage to Herod, but then again they might not have; they might’ve only told him the part he wanted to know. But y’notice Micah refers to one whose “origin is of ancient times, from eternal days.” This future ruler is gonna be like the great heroes of mythology. But unlike them, not fiction—he’s gonna do those fantastic things for real. This wouldn’t be someone Herod could easily take down.

Now, Herod might’ve heard this part, and this is why it moved him to kill every toddler in Bethlehem. Or he didn’t, and murdering all the toddlers was just another callous, paranoid atrocity for him. Just another Tuesday.