Mat 2:16-18 | TNotes | STEP | 2:16 kill all the boys: Herod was notorious for his viciousness—he killed his own son to protect his throne, which led to the saying, “It is safer to be Herod’s swine [Greek hus ] than his son [Greek huios ],” because Herod kept kosher. • two years old and under: Herod calculated the probable age of the child from the wise men’s report .

cGen 35:18-20►

dJer 31:15-17►

‏ Matthew 2:16-18

2:16 ^a kill all the boys: Herod was notorious for his viciousness—he killed his own son to protect his throne, which led to the saying, “It is safer to be Herod’s swine [Greek hus] than his son [Greek huios],” because Herod kept kosher.

• two years old and under: Herod calculated the probable age of the child from the wise men’s report.
2:18 ^b Ramah, a village near Bethlehem, is the place of Rachel’s burial (Gen 35:18-20 ^c; Jer 31:15-17 ^d).