John Calvin Commentary Matthew 2:3

"And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." — Matthew 2:3 (ASV)

Herod the king was troubled. Herod was not unfamiliar with the predictions that promised the Jews a King who would restore their distressing and ruinous situation to a prosperous condition. He had lived since childhood among that nation and was thoroughly familiar with their affairs. Furthermore, the report had spread everywhere and could not have been unknown to the neighboring nations.

Yet he is troubled, as if the matter were new and unheard of. This was because he did not trust in God and thought it pointless to rely on the promises of a Redeemer. It was also, and particularly, because—with the foolish confidence common to proud men—he imagined that the kingdom was secure for himself and his descendants.

But although, in the intoxication of his prosperity, he had previously viewed the prophecies with scorn, their recollection now suddenly alarmed him. For he would not have been so greatly moved by the simple tale of the Magi if he had not remembered the predictions, which he had formerly considered harmless¹⁸² and of no importance.

Thus, when the Lord allows unbelievers to sleep, He suddenly breaks their rest.¹⁸³

And all Jerusalem with him. This may be explained in two ways. Either the people were aroused in a tumultuous manner by the newness of the event, even though the good news of a king who had been born to them was warmly welcomed. Or, the people, accustomed to distresses and hardened by long endurance, dreaded a change that might bring about even greater calamities.

For they were so completely worn down, and almost exhausted by continuous wars, that their miserable and cruel bondage appeared to them not only tolerable but desirable, provided it was accompanied by peace.

This shows how little they had learned from God’s chastisements, for they were so numbed and stupefied that the promised redemption and salvation almost stank¹⁸⁴ in their nostrils. Matthew intended, I have no doubt, to express their ingratitude, in being so entirely broken by the long duration of their afflictions as to cast aside the hope and desire of the grace that had been promised to them.

¹⁸² “Lusoria;” alluding to the phrase used by Seneca and others, ;” alluding to the phrase used by Seneca and others, lusoria fulmina, “harmless thunderbolts.”“harmless thunderbolts.”

¹⁸³ “Il les resveille tout soudain, et leur fait bien sentir leur folie.” — “He awakes them all on a sudden, and makes them deeply feel their folly.”.” — “He awakes them all on a sudden, and makes them deeply feel their folly.”

¹⁸⁴ “Quodammodo foeteret,”,”