Even though he was obviously near the end of his life (he died in 4 B.C.), he felt threatened by the report of a newborn king. Since all of Jerusalem knew how violent Herod could be, the people were disturbed when he was upset. When Herod summoned the men who were authorities on the Old Testament Scriptures, they immediately told him that Bethlehem in Judah was the place where the Messiah was to be born. The prophet Micah had clearly foretold this (Micah 5:2). Although Bethlehem was a small, undistinguished