Quote:This is one thing that has really puzzled me about the NT. Even if Herod could have given the order, it doesn't make a lot of sense since Herod was merely a figurehead propped up by the Roman government. He didn't have the authority to order Roman soldiers to do something like this, on this scale-- and based on a silly prophecy? Te Roman government would have laughed at him.
Being an allied king of the Roman Empire was not like being Hamid Karzai or whoeverthefuck is running Iraq. The Roman Senate made Herod King in 40 BC at a time when there was a Parthian army holding the city. Both Mark Antony and Octavian confirmed Herod's status as king. The technical details of the arrangement meant that Herod needed Roman approval for any international moves. He could not declare war on anyone without Roman approval for instance, and any state marriages had to conform to Roman policy - a marriage with the Parthian Royal House would have been a no-no. Otherwise, internally, he was pretty much free to do as he wished. There were no taxes imposed by Rome. Instead a yearly tribute was imposed by treaty. There were generally no Roman soldiers in Herod's kingdom ( although the Tenth Legion did spend some time at Caesarea while the port was being built - a strategic brainstorm that would not have been lost on the Romans. Four legions were based in Syria to deal with the Eastern Theater. Herod had his own military force ( "army" might be too grandiose a term ) which he was free to use to police his realm.
However, no other writer - even the other 3 phony gospels - makes mention of the "slaughter of the innocents" at all. In that most "Jewish" of gospels ( Matthew) this story seems to be a rip-off of the Moses tale where the pharaoh also goes around slaughtering Jewish children in the hopes of forestalling an eventual rival. This theme was common in ancient literature. For example the birth stories of Sargon or Romulus and Remus. I'm afraid this is just some bullshit that "Matthew" made up to make a point.
This seems to be true of the gospels in general.
