How many kids died?

[Dustparticle]

 

 Since Ramah is a small town 5 miles north of Jerusalem, then how many babies died in that area by Herod? Mathew 2:16-18 and Jeremiah 31:15

I might add that the Bethlehem (in which  is 6 miles south of Jerusalem) and its districts were effected too.

 

Thanks.

[Tortuga]

Imagine what a happy day it will be when all of those children are resurrected and reunited with their families. The cry heard through out the land will be cries of joy.

[Dolce vita]

Yes, I have often wondered how that terrible story must have affected Jesus emotionally when he heard about it. It surely reminded him of the time when Moses had escaped a massacre of a similar nature. As Richard @Tortuga pointed out, he must have thought about the moment when he would raise them and their parents from the dead. That is no small consolation.

[Barbllm]

 

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “The Greek Liturgy asserts that Herod killed 14,000 boys (ton hagion id chiliadon Nepion), the Syrians speak of 64,000, [and] many medieval authors of 144,000.” However, this number of children is greater than the entire population of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth.

 

Professor William F. Albright “estimates that the population of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth to be about 300 people. The number of male children, two years old or younger, would be about six or seven.” Other scholars claim the number was between 10 – 20 male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding area.