King Herod the Great.
Herod and the Massacre of the Innocents
After hearing from the Magi that a new “king of the Jews” had been born, King Herod the Great ordered the killing of every boy in and around Bethlehem under the age of two, hoping to eliminate a potential rival. The account is in Matthew 2:16–18.
What was the name of the king who ordered the massacre of all boys under two years old in Bethlehem?
👉 King Herod the Great.
A narrow escape
Joseph was warned in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus before Herod’s order was carried out, so the family escaped just in time. Herod was known historically for his brutality — he had several of his own family members executed out of paranoia about losing power — so the Gospel’s account fits what’s known of his character, even though the massacre itself isn’t recorded outside the Bible.