In verse 2 of Matthew Chapter 2 the Magi ask, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
There is a lot to unpack here. The Magi were learned men. They came from the East, probably Persia. They believed in acting on what they learned. That’s why they were there visiting with King Herod.
The scripture tells us King Herod was disturbed when he heard this from the Magi, and the whole town was as well.
He asked his cabinet if they knew anything about this star thing and they told him, yes its going to be “In Bethlehem in Judea,” and continue with “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Interesting that King Herod and his cabinet knew all this, but didn’t act. They already knew about the One, they could even quote Micah the prophet, but unlike the Magi, they did not go looking for the One or His star.
Then King Herod demonstrates his true colors. While stating he wanted to know where the One was so he could also go and worship, but concerned about his own power, he wanted to eliminate the One.
Exactly like the leaders we have today. Saying on thing, doing another.
As it says in Ecclesiastes, “there is nothing new under the sun.”