Where did the Jewish leaders find the birthplace of the King of Israel when Herod asked them?
When Herod called the Jewish leaders, they searched the Scriptures and found that the King of Israel was to be born in Bethlehem. They did not know it beforehand; they had to search the Scriptures to find the birthplace. The answer was in the Scriptures.
Les explains that when the wise men came to Herod asking about the King of Israel, Herod called up the big wigs of Judaism and asked where this King was to be born. They did not know offhand; they had to search the Scriptures. They found it and said He was to be born in Bethlehem. Les points out that Israel should have known who Jesus was because it was in the Old Testament, but they were ignorant because they did not bother to study. The priests knew the surface things, but not the deep Old Testament prophecies. So they could have known, but they did not.