Shadow of a Star

These are what would have been the thought of King Herod from the Bible.

Herod was a ruthless Jewish king obsessed with power. He lived a very dog-eat-dog life. With reports of the birth of the "king of the Jews" (Matthew 2:2) it was entirely natural for his way of thinking to seek to kill the potential rival, including many other innocents in the effort.

In the Bible, it is said that a bright star in the sky guided the three wise men (magi) to the baby Jesus. Herod tried to use them to glean information as to the baby's location to kill him, but failed. Therefore he got rid of all the male babies in that region below two years. "he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men" (Matthew 2:16 RSV).

He was an observant Jew, most probably what stirred the hatred against this 'king of the Jews'. According to Jewish custom, he too must have worn the symbol of their religion, the Star of David, round his neck.

My memory permanently scarred by the dark shadows of the days done.

The shadow of fear looms over me constantly. Did I get him? Did I get it right? Or will my throne seat another and will I have to bow at his feet?

Who is this child? I do not know. Is he really the son of God as the prophecies foretell? What will my punishment for my unpardonable sin be? If I worship him can I be forgiven?

The shadow of guilt, cradles my heart in its cold tenderness, feeding on my heart’s blood. Guilt; Made into an icy dagger by the star that rest on the flesh of my breast.

The star…it was the cause of all this, and the child whose birth it proclaimed was too.

The shadow of death covers me in its shroud, bringing before my eyes the memory of the dark, horrifying shadows of cruelty that Hades’ own minions had cast, that claimed countless others of innocence.


The innocence betrayed by the star, now worn around my neck, weighing me down and summoning the shadows that smother me in their misery…