Did Herod Kill the Children in Bethlehem?

Alfred Edersheim

Herod the Great, the misnamed king of Judea during the time of Christ's birth, received his title more for the force of his rule and expensive building projects than for his moral scruples. Only by the authority of Rome did he obtain a kingdom—and even then, many rebellions marked his reign. His insecurity aroused a murderous suspicion in him that touched even his own family.

Despite his reputation, however, some critics have wondered why no other historian—at least in the accounts available to us—mentions Herod's murder of the children of Bethlehem. In fact, the only account we have comes from Matthew 2:16, which has led to claims that the slaughter is a myth.

Sadly, that this event is only recorded by Matthew attests to the cruelty Herod became known for. Other than the murder of several members of the Jewish nobility when he first captured Jerusalem, his paranoia led to the execution of his uncle, his children (along with the executions of 300 adherents to their cause), and even his wife. And this is but a small sample of the devastation left by his tyranny. Any perceived threat to his crown, real or imagined, earned brutal punishment.

Roman Forms of Crucifixion

Crucifixion wasn't always carried out the way we've seen it typically depicted in paintings and pictures.

Crucifixion wasn't always carried out the way we've seen it typically depicted in paintings and pictures. In fact, as noted in this chapter, a crucifixion victim likely wasn't nailed through the hands, since their structure cannot support the weight of a human body. Most likely victims were nailed through the wrist or, in some instances, had their arms tied rather than being nailed.

Nor were victims always crucified on the kind of cross typically shown in depictions of Christ's crucifixion. Note what The Anchor Bible Dictionary says in its article on crucifixion: