Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 2:5

"And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet," — Matthew 2:5 (ASV)

All the chief priests and teachers of the law (i.e., those who served as leaders of the Jews) who were living in Jerusalem were quickly consulted. The majority of the teachers of the law were Pharisees; the priests were Sadducees. Since these two groups barely got along, Herod may have consulted each group separately. Herod’s request of them implies that “the Christ” and “the king of the Jews” were recognized titles of the same expected person. The Jewish leaders answered the question by referring to what stands written in the OT, suggesting the authoritative and regulative force of the document referred to. THE HERODIAN FAMILY Several generations that descended from Herod the Great walk across the pages of the New Testament. Those mentioned are in capital letters, together with the relevant passages in Scripture.