When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (2:3-6)
I can’t help but wonder why the rabbis and scholars didn’t follow the Magi to see Jesus.
I always assumed they just didn’t know that the Magi were in town looking for the Messiah. But since the text says everyone in Jerusalem, along with King Herod, were disturbed by what the Magi were saying, maybe the priests did know. But if they knew that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, and that the Magi were looking for Him, wouldn’t you assume that the rabbis would leap for joy that their long-awaited liberator and king is finally here?
Maybe they were too afraid of Herod’s wrath if they acknowledged the birth of their long-awaited Messiah. Or maybe they aligned themselves up with Herod’s kingdom so much that they didn’t realize the True King had arrived. I don’t know.
But it is interesting that three (supposedly)
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