Hi readers,

According to Matthew 2:5, the wise men tell Herod that the King of the Jews was born in Bethlehem.

“And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet,”

Is this referring to Micah 5:2?:

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Or is Micah referring to another figure? Micah says this ruler will defeat the Assyrians when they attack, but Jesus never did that.

Did the author of Matthew not understand this passage? Was this Mican figure conflated with Jesus?