“Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.”
Matthew 2:7 — Greek Interlinear
Church Fathers on Matthew 2:7
As soon as Herod had heard the answer, though doubly authenticated, both by the authority of the Priests, and the passage from the Prophets, he yet turned not to worship the King that was to be born, but sought how he might put Him to death by subtilty. He saw that the Magi were neither to be won by flattery, nor awed by threats, nor bribed by gifts, to consent to this murder; he sought therefore to deceive them; 'he privily called the wise men;' that the Jews, whom he…
'Diligently enquired;' craftily, for he feared they would not return to him, and then he should know how he should do to put the young Child to death.
The star had been seen, and with great wonder, nearly two years before. We are to understand that it was signified to them whose the star was, which was visible all that time till He, whom it signified, was born. Then as soon as Christ was made known to them they set out, and came and worshipped Him in thirteen days from the east. [ed. note: This is written upon the notion that the Magi presented themselves to Christ twelve days after His birth, according to the Latin date…