Wisemen (or, Scholars as The Message calls them), followed the Star to Bethlehem, on a journey to visit the "newborn King of the Jews" (this statement will come up again when Jesus is on the cross). When they arrived in Jerusalem, they began asking around to see if anyone knew where they could find Him. Herod, the King at the time, heard about their search and was terrified. He pretended to be friends with the Scholars so they would lead him to the baby King.
The Star reappeared and led the Scholars to the house of Mary, Joseph, and King Jesus (who was likely around two years old at the time, not a baby in the manger as most nativity scenes suggest - sorry to spoil that for you). They presented their gifts to Him (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) and returned home without telling Herod where Jesus was.
Because of Herod's jealousy and fear that a new King, the Messiah, was to be born in Bethlehem, he took matters into his own hands and ordered that the boys under two years of age be found and killed. An angel directed Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and "flee" to Egypt. The birth of Jesus, the new King, put the whole family in danger and they had to leave Bethlehem until Herod died.
Two Other Truths:
1. History books prove the accuracy of this chapter.
Herod was a real person. He is in the history books. When I would read the Bible growing up, I believed the characters were real, but I thought it happened so long ago that the Bible was the only record of the mentioned people. That is not the case at all. A quick Google search for King Herod will display many links to his life. His decree to kill all the male children under the age of two is recorded in history books outside the Bible.
2. The Old Testament provides information that actually happens in this chapter.
First, is the Judah territory. Judah was one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Twelve Tribes were The twelve sons of Jacob (Israel, Genesis 35:10), with the exception of Joseph (probably the most famous of Jacob's sons). Then, there is mention of Hosea who prophesied that Jesus would come from Egypt. Then, there is Jeremiah's revelation about the weeping for the dead children. The chapter ends with the "Nazarene" prophecy being fulfilled.
I love that!
How did reading this expand your view of the traditional Christmas story?