The answer is: Herod

Matt 2:16 - Herod was threatened by a rival who was to be a future King of the Jews and sought to kill him to remove the threat to his throne.

When we dive into the story of Jesus’ birth, we often focus on the joyful elements—the starlit night, the shepherds, and the wise men. But lurking behind the festive scenes is a narrative tinged with jealousy, ambition, and a desperate grasp for power, embodied by King Herod. Gloomy as it is, Herod's response to the proclaimed birth of a messianic king sheds light on the realities of political turmoil and the struggle for control in Judea.

Interestingly, Herod’s full title was Herod the Great, and he earned that designation through both architectural ventures and ruthless tactics. Fascinating trivia: this is the same Herod who rebuilt the Second Temple in Jerusalem! His fear of the so-called “King of the Jews” stemmed from a long history of uprisings and usurpers in the region; he simply couldn't afford to be outflanked.

Moreover, illustrating how prophetic the plight of Jesus was, the incident mirrors another threats faced by potential leaders in biblical times—think of Moses and Pharaoh, or even David and Saul. The equation of power, fear, and the innocent at peril is a pattern seen throughout biblical history, reiterating that even the trajectory toward greatness can sometimes navigate through treachery and fragility.

Thus, in Herod's attempt to snuff out what he perceived as a threat, he ironically cast a monumental shadow over Jesus’ future—setting the stage for the example of resilience, justice, and peaceful subversion that Jesus would embody methodologically later on.