# Bethlehem's Children explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Selma Lagerlöf.

## What happens

A Roman soldier pursues the infant Jesus and his family, but is repeatedly thwarted by bees and lilies—creatures the child had previously shown kindness to. The soldier's memories of the child's good deeds cause him to hesitate, and he ultimately spares the child. Later, during Herod's massacre of the innocents, the soldier guards a staircase but is stung by a bee, allowing a mother and child to escape.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Truth

The soldier is deceived by appearances—the mother hides the child under her robe, and the bees and lilies conceal the fugitives.

### Suffering and Redemption

The soldier's past kindness from the child leads to his redemption; he spares the child despite orders.

### Death and Mortality

The massacre of the innocents and the constant threat of death pervade the chapter.

## Character check-ins

### Herod

King Herod orders the massacre of Bethlehem's children to eliminate the infant 'Prince of Peace.'

### Jesus

The infant Jesus is the target of Herod's soldiers; he is saved by the intervention of bees and lilies he had previously helped.

### Pilate

Mentioned indirectly as the Roman authority; the soldier reflects on Pilate's orders.

## Key lines

> As long as Herod knows that one of the Bethlehem children still lives, he will always be haunted by the same anxiety and dread

Herod will never feel secure as long as any child from Bethlehem survives.

_The soldier reflects on Herod's paranoia._

> The bees and the lilies have requited his good deeds

The bees and lilies have repaid the child's kindness.

_The soldier realizes that nature itself protects the child._

> Can a Roman soldier forget to requite an accepted service?

A Roman soldier cannot forget to repay a favor he has received.

_The soldier's sense of honor compels him to spare the child._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/bethlehem-s-children
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_50_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters