Herod had not been honest in saying that he wanted to go and worship Jesus. He feared that the Saviour would grow up to be a king, and take his kingdom from him. He wanted to find the child, that he might have Him put to death. The wise men prepared to return and tell Herod. But the angel of the Lord appeared to them in a dream, and sent them home another way.

Herodes var ikke ærlig, da han sagde, at han ville komme og tilbede Jesus. Han frygtede for, at Frelseren engang skulle blive konge og tage riget fra ham. Han ønskede at finde barnet, så han kunne slå det ihjel. Vismændene forberedte sig på at vende tilbage til Herodes og lade ham det vide. Men Herrens engel åbenbarede sig for dem i en drøm og sendte dem hjem ad en anden vej.