Was Herod naive in this matter? He did not send spies to follow the Magi. Nor did the Jewish religious authorities, despite their knowledge of the prophetic writings, deem it necessary to monitor this event more closely. They preferred to wait for further information.
The return of these magi was therefore essential to clarify the situation. Herod quickly realized that these men had dared to disobey him. The reactions of this enraged monarch would prove terrifying, though not entirely surprising given the murders he had previously committed within his own family.
There was only one king in Israel: he, the great Herod. No reliable historical evidence remains regarding the massacre of these children, who were probably all boys.
It is possible that King Herod chose not to draw attention to this matter, so as not to announce the coming of a so-called King of the Jews, which might have sparked popular uprisings.
At that time, the already tense political climate suggested that a succession was imminent due to Herod's illness.