2 And then his courtiers told him of another child in Bethlehem, one born to go before and to prepare the people to receive the king.
3 This angered more and more the king; he called his guards and bid them go to Bethlehem and slay the infant John, as well as Jesus who was born to be a king.
4 He said, Let no mistake be made, and that you may be sure to slay these claimants to my throne, slay all male children in the town not yet two years of age.
5 The guards went forth and did as Herod bade them do.
6 Elizabeth knew not that Herod sought to slay her son, and she and John were yet in Bethlehem; but when she knew, she took the infant John and hastened to the hills.
7 The murderous guards were near; they pressed upon her hard; but then she knew the secret caves in all the hills, and into one she ran and hid herself and John until the guards were gone.
8 Their cruel task was done; the guards returned and told the story to the king.
9 They said, We know that we have slain the infant king; but John, his harbinger, we could not find.
10 The king was angry with his guards because they failed to slay the infant John; he sent them to the tower in chains.
11 And other guards were sent to Zacharias, father of the harbinger, while he was serving in the Holy Place, to say, The king demands that you shall tell where is your son.