Then Herod] Not presently after the departure of the wisemen, but after Josephs going into Egypt with the childe. Either Herod had other businesse, or he might think the wisemen staid there still with Christ, or could not finde him, and so went home ashamed. that he was mocked] As he though; for he knew not that God had sent them home another way, verse 12. sent forth] Souldiers to kill the children without any legall tryall. all the children] Or, all the male-children. For the article is masculine in the Greek, and there was no need to kill the females, for it was a male he sought so for. So also it was in Egypt, Exodus 1:16. in all the coasts thereof] Lest Christ should be born out of the town. from two yeers old] Lest Christ should be born before the star appeared, and so escape. It was just with God to take away their children, who so lightly regarded his son, manifested to them so strangely by angels, shepherds, wisemen, and the star it self. and under, according to the time, &c.] Some think Herod committed not this murder till neer two yeers after the wisemens coming to him, and that he went first to Rome, to cleer himself of things objected to him, by his sons. Others, that he would be sure to take time enough, before, and after, that Christ might not scape him: so he enlarged the place to the same purpose. Others, that those words, according to the time, &c. must not be referred to, from two yeers old, but onely to the last words, and under. That is, Herod killed onely such as were born before the wisemen came to Bethlehem, and not those that were born after. Others conceive, that the star appeared at Christs conception, and God directed the wisemen to come after his birth; for such tokens use to go before the things they portend: And Herod might put off the businesse, till he was further provoked: For many crosses fell on him in his last yeer, as Josephus reports.