Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 2:20

"Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child`s life." — Matthew 2:20 (ASV)

They are dead — The use of the plural is noticeable, as Herod alone had been named. Possibly, however, others may have been implicated in the scheme, or the turn of the phrase may have been suggested to the one recording the dream by the parallel language of Exodus 4:19 in reference to Moses.