Historical evidence that Herod the Great was extremely paranoid and murderous — he killed three of his own sons and executed hundreds on suspicion alone, making the Massacre of the Innocents entirely consistent with his character

Citing Bible Archaeology Org and Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews: Herod had his sons Alexander and Aristobulus strangled in 7 BC, and executed his son Antipater five days before his own death. He maintained a spy network, executed 300 military leaders on one occasion, and killed a group of Pharisees over a prophecy that his throne would be taken. He is described as becoming extremely paranoid in his last four years (8–4 BC). The scale of killing in Bethlehem (a small village) would have been modest and entirely within his pattern.