I read somewhere that at the time of Christ, Bethlehem was a little village. I wonder how many infants were killed by Herod...any idea?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), December 25, 1999

Answers

Hello, Enrique.
I recommend that you read the Catholic Encyclopedia's article on the Holy Innocents (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07419a.htm).
It explains that various estimates -- from a low of six babies to a high of 144,000 babies -- have been offered.
At least some Eastern Orthodox liturgies specifically give the number 14,000. Be aware that the Bible does not restrict the slaughter to "Bethlehem." It states, "Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and 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. [Matt. 2:16, RSV]"
Vaya con Dios, nuevo amigo mio.

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), January 23, 2000.