The answer is: Herod

Matthew 2:16 - King Herod’s infamous "Massacre of the Innocents" was driven by paranoia about losing his throne. This parallels Pharaoh's actions in Moses' story, emphasizing tyrants' fear of God’s chosen deliverers.

King Herod is emblematic of the tyrant trying desperately to hold onto power, even at the expense of innocent lives. His fearful decree on the male infants in Bethlehem highlights a continuity in biblical narratives about oppressive rulers. These stories often showcase the lengths to which despots will go to eliminate perceived threats.

Intriguingly, Herod's actions echo an earlier moment in the Bible: Pharaoh’s decree from Exodus to kill Hebrew baby boys as he feared Moses might threaten his domination. These murderous edicts reveal a recurring theme where God’s chosen ones provoke fear in those who prefer to rule through force and intimidation. This connection reminds us that the divine often intervenes through unlikely heroes — both Moses and Jesus educators of love and liberation emerging from the shadow of oppression.

Fun fact: Herod, known as "Herod the Great," was not only infamous for his violent action but also for his architectural contributions, like the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This juxtaposition creates a vivid picture of a leader who built yet destroyed in equal measure, forever remembered for his cruelty but also as a part of a turbulent political landscape.

The narrative begs reflection on the nature of leadership and the moral responsibilities that come with it, prompting us to look beyond merely the power struggle and think about the humankind and spirit at stake in these ancient tales. The innocent lives caught in the tumult remind us, too, of those affected in contemporary stories of injustice.