Talk About Overkill

When Herod was king of Judea (Luke 1:5a, NLT)
Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning.
Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead. (Matthew 2:16-18, NLT)

Herod was a wicked man who had no qualms about killing his wives and at least two of his sons. The emperor Augustus joked that it was preferable to be Herod’s pig than his son – a very insulting remark to any Jew (Macrobius, Saturnalia, 2.4.11).

Since I challenged you to read the Book of Luke, add these to your list. Both Josephus (37 – c. 100) and Macrobius (A.D. 395-423) reported these truths in their writings.

Prayer- God, when truth assails us may we be wise enough to pay attention. Amen.

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