The ancient Jewish and Roman sources were not reluctant to criticize Herod. His many atrocities gave him a reputation as a cruel tyrant. However, only St. Matthew’s gospel reports of the slaughter of the innocents making scholars question the incidents historicity. St. Matthew had a theological intention in telling the story which colored his presentation. He wished to draw a parallel between Moses as the first law giver and Jesus as the giver of a new law. Just as Moses was saved from the killing of the Hebrew boys in Pharaoh’s time, so Jesus was saved in his. All of which should serve as a reminder to us of how precious life is so that we will work to ensure every child a bright future.
