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Mat_2:7 f. Λάθρα ] Inconsistently enough, as that could only arouse suspicion; but to adopt secret measures is natural to wickedness!
The question after the time of the appearance [of the star] has its reason in this, that the mistrustful Herod already thinks of the possibility of his not seeing the Magi again, and that he will then still have a hold for taking further proceedings against the mysterious child (Mat_2:16).
ἠκρίβωσε ] with the accusative does not mean: he investigated minutely ( ἀκριβόω περί τινος may mean this), but: after he had made them come to him secretly, he obtained from them a minute knowledge, and so on. Vulgate appropriately says: “Diligenter didicit.” Comp. Plat. Charm. p. 156 A; Xen. Mem. iv. 2. 10; Eur. Hec. 1192; Lucian, Jov. trag. 27, Piscat. xx.; Herodian, i. 11. 14. But the passages where it means to make exact (Aquila, Isa_49:16; Simonides, lxxxiv.; Xen. Cyr. ii. 1. 26) do not apply here. Euth. Zigabenus rightly says: προσεδόκησε γὰρ , ὅτι ὅτε οὗτος (the star) ἐφάνη , τότε πάντως ἐγεννήθη καὶ ὁ Χριστός .
τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος ] Grotius: “Non initium, sed continuitas.” Herod asked: How long does the star appear? how long does it make itself visible? namely, since its rising in the east, where ye saw it arise (Mat_2:9). Thus the present is not to be taken either in the sense of the aorist or of the imperfect (de Wette, Bleek).
πέμψας ] not contemporaneous with the εἶπε (de Wette), but prior to it; comp. Mat_11:2. After he had directed them to Bethlehem (in consequence of Mat_2:5 f.), he added the commission, etc. Otherwise it would have been ἔπεμψεν … εἰπών .