“And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he (=king Herod) inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him: “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: And you, o Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Matthew 2:4-6).
When King Herod heard the shocking news from the wise men about the birth of the King of the Jews, he immediately took action. He summoned the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Christ was to be born.
They brought out the scroll of the prophet Micah and were able to point out: In Bethlehem in Judea.
Bethlehem, located a few kilometres south of Jerusalem, was a small town, but would become at least as important as the larger cities of Judah. For it would be the birthplace of the Shepherd who would be shepherding the people of Israel.
It would have been a small thing for the chief priests and the scribes to go and visit this King. Yet they remained in Jerusalem and took the news for granted.
Why didn’t they go in your opinion?