The answer is: Herod

Matt 2:16

In the Gospel of Matthew, King Herod figures prominently as a key antagonist in the infancy narrative of Jesus. After hearing from the wise men about the birth of a new king, Herod, insecure in his own reign, unleashed a cruel decree to eliminate any potential threats by ordering the slaughter of all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem. This tragic episode is both a testament to Herod's desperate personality and a reflexive response to the political and social climate of his time.

Herod is often remembered as "Herod the Great," a title that sounds impressive but masks a legacy filled with tyrannical behavior, including family murders and political purges. Ironically, he accomplished significant building projects, such as the magnificent reconstruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, showcasing that complex nature of power—where ambition, fear, and brutality intermingle.

The massacre of the innocents echoes similar stories found in other texts. For instance, the story parallels Pharaoh's edict in Exodus to throw Hebrew boys into the Nile, both acts reflecting a biblical theme wherein leaders resort to extreme measures in the face of divine unfoldment.

This narrative serves as a poignant reminder throughout history—power can be cruel when threatened, yet it also underscores the endurance of hope and resilience, showcasing how figures like Mary and Joseph rose above adversity, fleeing to Egypt, a story that highlights escape and survival in stark contrast to Herod's violence. Questions of authority, fear, and the definition of true kingship become deeply layered through the portrayal of these early events in the life of Jesus.