Slaughter of the Innocents

Illustration of Slaughter of the Innocents
Era
Life of Christ
Date
c. 5-4 BC โ‰ˆ Approximate
Reference
Matthew 2:13-18

When the wise men failed to return and report the child's location as Herod had demanded, the paranoid king ordered the killing of every male child two years old and under in Bethlehem and its surrounding region, hoping to eliminate any threat to his throne. Joseph, warned in a dream, had already fled with Mary and the infant Jesus to Egypt, escaping the slaughter that Matthew connects to Jeremiah's prophecy of Rachel weeping for her children. The atrocity reveals both the lengths earthly power will go to preserve itself against a rumored rival, and God's providential protection of his Son even amid the surrounding horror and grief of other families.

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Key Passage

Slaughter of the Innocents

Matthew 2:13-18

A13nd when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 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 enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Read full chapter: Matthew 2 โ†’

Meanwhile in the World

The Roman Empire is at its peak under Augustus and Tiberius (Pax Romana). Rome controls the entire Mediterranean world. Roads, common language (Greek), and peace make travel and communication easy - the 'fullness of time.' Herod the Great rules Judea as a client king.

When: c. 5 BC - AD 33

Key Civilizations: Roman Empire (Pax Romana)

Biblical Parallels: Matthew 1-28 , Mark 1-16 , Luke 1-24 , John 1-21

Explore Related

Characters

Jesus Jesus is portrayed in the Bible as the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah whose coming fulfilled Oldโ€ฆ Joseph (Father of Jesus) Joseph was a righteous carpenter from Nazareth in the first century who became the earthly father of Jesusโ€ฆ Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, was chosen by God to conceive and bear his Son Jesus through the powerโ€ฆ Herod the Great Herod the Great ruled as the Roman-appointed king of Judea from 37 to 4 BC, a period that overlaps with theโ€ฆ

Places

Bethlehem Bethlehem, known as the City of David, served as the hometown of Israel's greatest king and the place whereโ€ฆ Egypt Egypt served as the place of bondage for the Israelites, who were enslaved by a Pharaoh who feared theirโ€ฆ