The wise men had given costly presents to Jesus, and in this way God provided for the expenses of the journey and 27 their stay in Egypt, until they should return to their own land. Herod was very angry when he found that the wise men had gone home another way. He knew what God by His prophet had said about Christ's coming. He knew how the star had been sent as a guide to the wise men. Yet he was determined to destroy Jesus. In his wrath he sent soldiers to kill "all the children that were in Bethlehem, . . . from two years old and under." Matthew 2:16.

Vismændene havde skænket Jesus kostbare gaver og på denne måde sørgede Gud for udgifterne til rejsen og deres ophold i Ægypten, indtil de atter skulle tilbage til deres land. Herodes blev meget vred, da han erfarede, at vismændene var draget en anden vej hjem. Han vidste, hvad Gud havde talt ved sin profet om Kristi komme. Han vidste, at stjernen var sendt for at vejlede vismændene. Og alligevel besluttede han at udrydde Jesus. I sin vrede sendte han soldater til Betlehem og lod "alle drengebørn på to år og derunder myrde". Matt. 2,16.