The Crown and the Cross: The Life of Christ by Frank G. Slaughter Page A

would have any sons when the time came for the scepter of kingship to pass on to another. He had married many women and had many offspring by them, yet his constant fear that one of them would assassinate him and seize the throne led him to destroy many of his own offspring, while sending others into virtual banishment.
    The tall Magus did not belabor the point. “We have seen His star in the East,” he said quietly, “and have come to worship Him.”
    Herod shuddered and his body seemed to shrivel beneath the mantle of Tyrian purple about his shoulders. The seers of the East knew the stars like the streets of their own cities. If a new one had appeared and guided these men across the desert from the land of Yemen, whose kings also professed the Jewish faith, it could mean that the birth of the king they had announced was indeed no ordinary event but a sign auguring the coming of the Anointed One.
    “What of this star?” Herod demanded.
    “We are not of one opinion concerning its nature, noble king,” another of the Magi admitted. “Some of us believe several bright stars are lying close together at this particular time. Others think it is a new star of unusual brightness.”
    “When did you first see it?”
    “More than a year ago.”
    Herod frowned. If the men spoke truth, and he had no reason to believe they did not, valuable time had been lost and he must waste no more in finding out where this King of the Jews had been born.
    “Rest here a while,” he told the Magi. “I will see that you are given refreshment and we will speak again soon about where this babe may be found. It may be that someone among the priests and scholars will know from the ancient writings the location of His birth.”
    As soon as the visitors were out of the room Herod summoned the high priest and others among the priestly hierarchy who worked closely with him in Jerusalem. Belonging to the party known popularly as the Sadducees, the chief priests had perhaps known more prosperity and favor during the reign of Herod than in any previous period since the kingdom of Solomon, and were heavily obligated to him. To them Herod put the question, “Where shall the Christ be born?”
    The least learned among the priests knew the answer, for the prophet Micah had written long ago: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
    Even Herod understood that this prophecy referred to no ordinary king. The phrase “whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting,” must mean that the ruler who would one day come out of Bethlehem had been eternal with God from the beginning. And that description fit only the Messiah.
    Herod knew now that he must take immediate steps to destroy this newborn child who threatened everything for which he had worked. After sending the priests and scribes away, he called the wise men from Arabia to him again.
    “Go and search carefully for the young Child,” he told them. “When you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
    The Magi left Jerusalem at once. Hardly were they outside the city when the star, which they had not been able to see for several nights and whose absence had led them to go to Jerusalem and ask Herod where the newborn king might be found, shone bright and clear before them. Nor did it falter in its brilliance all the way to Bethlehem and the home of Joseph the carpenter.

Chapter 5

    When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.
    Matthew 2:14
    Joseph and Mary had been disturbed by the coming of the shepherds to the inn on the night Jesus was born and the strange story they told of a voice from heaven announcing the birth of the Christ. In spite of the visits of the angel to Mary before her conception and to Joseph in the dream, they did not yet really