Matthew 2:3

Matthew 2:3

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

a. NLT: King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.

b. NIV: When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

c. Amplified Bible: When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed and troubled, and the whole of Jerusalem with him.

d. Young’s Literal Translation: And Herod the king having heard, was stirred, and all Jerusalem with him,

e. Worrell Translation: And the king Herod, hearing it, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

1. “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled…”

a. when [1161 * de] [Strong:  a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. Herod [2264 * Herodes] [Strong: compound of heros (a "hero") and 1491; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings:--Herod.]

c. king [935 * basileus] [Strong: probably from 939 (through the notion of a foundation of power); a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively):--king.]

d. heard [191 * akouo] [Strong: a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

e. troubled [5015 * tarasso][Thayer:  to agitate, trouble (a thing, by the movement of its parts to and fro) to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity, to disquiet, make restless,  to stir up, to trouble, to strike one's spirit with fear and dread, to render anxious or distressed, to perplex the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubts.

1). Herod was a very cruel and wicked king and had fits of paranoia as well. He had his wife’s brother murdered and three of his sons murdered. He was no doubt demon possessed and oppressed. Here, he was troubled because he believed he would lose his kingdom and as he had demonstrated in other examples, would go to any length to keep it.

2. “…and all Jerusalem with him.”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. all [3956 * pas]   including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

c. Jerusalem [2414 *  Hierosoluma] Strong: of Hebrew origin (3389); Hierosolyma (i.e. Jerushalaim), the capitol of Palestine:--Jerusalem.]

d. with [3326 * meta] [Strong: a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between 575 or 1537 and 1519 or 4314; less intimate than 1722 and less close than 4862):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.]

e. him [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

1).  Alfred Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Book 2, Chapter 8: “But the people of Jerusalem had far other reason to fear. They knew only too well the character of Herod, and what the consequences would be to them, or to any one who might be suspected, however unjustly, of sympathy with any claimant to the royal throne of David.”

2). Edersheim adds, Their feelings on this matter would be represented, by the expressions in the Sanhedrin, recorded in John 11:47-50.

a). John 11:47-50 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

11:49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.