John Trapp on Matthew 2:3

Verse 3. When Herod the King heard these things, he was troubled.] At that wherein the Sages and Shepherds rejoiced. It is fair weather with the Saints, when foulest with the wicked. Abraham stands upon the hill, and seeth the smoke of the Cities ascend like a furnace. Behold, my servants shall [illegible: 1 word], but ye shall be ashamed: my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, &c. and ye shall leave your name for a curse Isa. 65. 14, 14. unto my chosen. AElian compareth tyrants to swine, which if a manHist or. animal but touch, they begin to cry, as dreaming of nothing but death; forasmuch as they have neither fleece nor milke, nor any thing else, but their flesh only to forfeit: But si praesepe vagientis [illegible: 1 word] tantùm terruit, quid tribunal judicantis? saith one: If Christ in the earth were so terrible, what will he be on the tribunall? And all Ierusalem with him] Perhaps to comply and [illegible: 1 word] with the tyrant (as the Arabians, if their King be sick or lame, they all feign themselves so,) Or, as homines ad servitutem Tacitus. [illegible: 1 word]: so Tiberius called the Romanes, who gave publike thankes for all, even the wicked acts of their Emperours: or as fearing some new stirs in the state, as the burnt childe dreads the fire.