Herod waited anxiously for the return of the wise men; for he was impatient to carry out his determined purpose to destroy the infant King of Israel. After he had waited long for the knowledge he desired, he feared his purpose might be thwarted. He reasoned thus: Could those men have read the dark deed he premeditated? Could they have understood his design, and purposely avoided him? This he thought was insult and mockery. His impatience, envy, and hatred, increased. He was stirred by his father, the devil, to seek the accomplishment of his purpose by a most cruel act. If he should fail in carrying out his murderous intent by pretense and subtlety, he would, by power and authority, strike terror to the hearts of all the Jews. They should have an example of what their king would meet, should they seek to place one upon the throne in Jerusalem. {2SP 26.2}

Herodes ventede ivrigt efter at de vise mænd kom (27) tilbage; for han var utålmodig efter at gennemføre sin beslutning, at udslette Israels barnekonge. Efter lang venten for at få den kundskab han ønskede, var han bange for at hans fortsæt blev modarbejdet. Han tænkte sådan: Kunne de mænd have læst den mørke gerning han havde udtænkt? Kunne de have forstået hans plan, og undgået ham bevidst? Dette mente han var en hån og latterliggørelse. Han utålmodighed, misundelse og had blev større. Han blev oprørt af sin fader, djævelen, til at udrette sin hensigt ved den mest grusomme handling. Hvis han undlod at gennemføre sine morderiske intentioner under påskud og list, ville han vække rædsel i alle jødernes hjerter med kraft og myndighed. De skulle have et eksempel på hvad deres konge ville møde, om de ville sætte ham på tronen i Jerusalem.