Gospel of Matthew Chapter 2 Vs. 18

 Herod Kills the Children

Matthew 2:18 “In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”

In Rama was... The 4th Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Matthew (Mat. 2:18; Jer. 31:15). Next, Mat. 2:23. Ramah was 5 miles north of Jerusalem, indicating that Herod’s slaughter of the children extended at least 10 miles around Bethlehem, including Jerusalem.

These words, quoted from Jer. 31:15, were originally spoken concerning the captivity of the ten tribes; but are here elegantly applied to the murder of the innocents at Bethlehem. As if he had said, Bethlehem at this time resembled Ramah; for as Rachel might be said to weep over her children, which were slaughtered or gone into captivity; so in Bethlehem, the mothers lamented bitterly for their children, because they were slain.

In an earlier lesson, we discussed this fulfillment of prophecy. This reminds us of the babies being killed in the days of Moses, as well.

Also, Rachel’s tomb was near Bethlehem and Rachel was considered by many to be the mother of the nation. That is why she was seen weeping over these children’s deaths.