Ah, the tale of King Herod, the original bad guy of the New Testament! You know the story – three wise men, a star in the East, and a king with a serious case of baby fever. But, hold onto your frankincense, folks, because this tale might just be a historical hiccup! In other words… like most of the bible, it just didn’t happen.
Let’s set the scene: King Herod, upon hearing about the birth of the future “King of the Jews,” gets a tad jealous. I mean, there’s only room for one king in Judea, right? So, he sends the wise men to find baby Jesus, planning a royal ambush. But, plot twist! The wise men pull a fast one, and Herod, feeling duped, orders the massacre of all male babies in Bethlehem. Yikes!
But here’s where things get fishy. Historical records tell us that Herod the Great kicked the bucket in 4 BC, and that’s after a reign filled with architectural wonders and political intrigue. He died in Jericho, after suffering an illness that, let’s just say, wasn’t a walk in the park. We’re talking intense pain, fever, and some seriously unpleasant symptoms. Not the way you want to go out!
Now, here’s the kicker – Jesus’ birth is tied to a census conducted by Quirinius in 6 AD. Do the math, folks! That’s a whole decade after Herod’s grand exit. So, how’s our villainous king ordering baby hunts from beyond the grave? It’s like a biblical episode of Unsolved Mysteries!