This document is about Herod_the_Great. For other homonyms, please refer to the Herod document.
A figure with the blood of the Edomites, he was a king with exceptional political skill. He was the only one to be given the title "the Great."
However, due to the limitations of his lineage, there were constant movements of opposition to his legitimacy, and he was a king who did not hesitate to brutally purge his opponents in reaction to this. In this context, upon hearing about the birth of Jesus Christ from the Magi, he ordered the massacre of infants.
Matthew 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was outwitted by the wise men, was exceedingly wroth, and sent forth and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully ascertained from the wise men.Matthew 2:17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying,Matthew 2:18A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.