Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem and instructed them:
“Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” (Matt. 2:8)
This was trickery. His intentions are revealed in the verse Matthew 2:16:
“When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.” (Matt. 2:16)
The reason for the killing of boys up to two years old was because there had been signs in the planets in 7 BC and 6 BC.
In 7 BC the planets Saturn and Jupiter came together in the constellation of Pisces. Pisces was associated with Israel. A Babylonian clay tablet with the star almanac of Sippar records this conjunction dated to 7 BC. In 6 BC Mars joined Saturn and Jupiter in Pisces. The Magi being astronomers would have known this and discussed it with Herod.
The terrible event of the killing of all the baby boys in Bethlehem fulfilled what was foretold by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15)
With the flight to Egypt Joseph and Mary rescue Jesus from the jealous wrath of Herod. They remained in Egypt until an angel spoke to Joseph in another dream. The angel told Joseph that Herod is dead so it is safe to return to Israel with the mother and child. Joseph and Mary return but avoid living in Jerusalem and go to the quiet place of Nazareth in Galilee instead.
Merry and True 