This is practice in reading and understanding prophecy, starting with fulfilled prophecy, and trying to see what we can see from there. In this case we are starting with Matthew chapter two.

An able and handsome young prince
turns sour.

You’ve heard the stories of a handsome prince charming of this or that times. One whom all sought the favor off, both men and women, and who was capable and brave and mighty in combat. In many respects that describes the subject of this post. We know him as Herod the Great. He was of Idumaean descent, an Edomite, a descendant of Esau. His father was ruler under the Romans, and he made Herod military prefect for Galilee. Herod proved himself time after time as an aggressive, resourceful, and victorious military commander. The Caesars trusted him to look after their interest. He was crafty, unscrupulous, and able in politics also, and so at the young age of 33 the Roman Senate made him King of Judea. It would seem he had everything going for him, but also in the wild political scene of those times, he also had many enemies. Then parts of his own family started plotting against each other and, yes, even against Herod. Herod started viciously putting down any plots against himself. He put out spies all over. On rumor he would put plotters to death, and even put to death three of his own sons. For those executions he need the permission of Caesar. The Greek speaking Caesar of the Roman Empire gave him permission, but commented he would rather be Herod’s hus (his hog) than his huios (his son). The last of these episodes was just before Herod’s horrible death from cancer on April 1, 4 BC.

The continual plots in the end almost made Heron insane with suspicion.

Then some religious wise men came to Jerusalem

They are called magos, which could indicate an astrologer or an occult magician (compare Elymas in Acts 13:8). Clearly they they had been studying the stars, and evidently they did know from the stars that the king of the Jews had been born, and that He was God! So they appeared at Herod’s court, saying,

“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
Mtt 2:2

Uh Oh! Many must have thought, including Herod. Someone must have a child they want to put up as the Christ and the rightful king of the Jews, and this is the beginning of their plot.

“When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
Mtt 2:3

They gathered together all of the experts on Scripture to see what it said about where the Christ would be born, and they quoted to Herod from the Prophet Micah (Mic 5:2).

“”You Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are in no way least among the princes of Judah:
For out of you shall come forth a governor,
Who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
Mtt 2:6

How did they know that. Should we have spotted that also?

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901