Overview

King Herod I (The Great)

Herod was the name of a variety of members of the royal dynasty which originated in Edom or
Idumea after it had been forced to adopt the Jewish religion by John Hyrcanus in 125 B.C. This
family ruled in Palestine as vassals of the Romans. The history of this dynasty, which succeeded
that of the Maccabees, largely relates to the political history of Palestine during this whole
period.

Herod I (the Great) was son of Antipater and made king by the Romans in 40 B.C. He managed
to keep hold of his throne in the face of the many changes in the government at Rome.

His kingdom comprised Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Idumea, Batanea, and Peraea, which was
approximately the same size as the kingdom of David and Solomon.

Although Herod had exceptional leadership skills, he was extremely disliked by the Jews. His
attitude toward the Maccabean dynasty, to which he was related by marriage, along with his
insolence and cruelty, angered them all the more. He even had his brother-in-law and several of
his wives and sons executed.

He forced heavy taxes and brutally repressed any rebellions. But it was by his policy of
Hellenistic culture that he greatly wounded the Jews. The construction of a race-course, a theater,
and an amphitheater in Jerusalem, his wide support of the emperor cult in the East, and the
construction of pagan temples in foreign cities at his own expense could not be forgiven, even
though he restored and reconstructed the Temple of Jerusalem and continually pleaded the cause
of the Jews of the Diaspora to the emperor to his own gains.

There was no close tie between the king and his people; he remained an Edomite and a friend of
Rome, only holding on to his power by the use of a merciless military force. This is the same
Herod the Great who massacred the children of Bethlehem (Matt. 2).

Herod suddenly died in 4 B.C. After his death, the Emperor Augustus made three of Herod’s
sons the rulers of different parts of their father's kingdom.

One son, Archelaus (Matt. 2), obtained Judea and Samaria. He was a tyrant like his father and
lacked his fathers ambition and talent. He irritated the Jews and Samaritans so intensely that
Augustus deposed him in 6 A.D. and placed a Roman procurator over his kingdom.

Another son, Herod Antipas, became tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea (4 B.C.- 39 A.D.) . He built
the purely Hellenistic city of Tiberias. After renouncing his first wife he married Herodias, the
former wife of his half brother Herod Philip, who brought her daughter Salome with her to
Antipas' court.
When John the Baptist accused Antipas of adultery, the king, after Salome's dance and at the
instigation of Herodias, had him beheaded in prison. This Herod was Jesus' earthly ruler, and
Pilate sent Jesus, in the course of his trial, to Herod who was in Jerusalem at the time for the
Passover. Herod ordered his soldiers to mock Jesus and sent him back to the Roman procurator
(Luke 23:6-16). He is the Herod of the Gospels and he died in exile in the year 39.

Herod's third son, Philip, was put in charge of the provinces between the Jordan and Damascus.
He is supposed to have been a humane ruler. His capital was Caesarea Philippi. In the year 30 he
married Salome, whose father was his half brother and whose mother was his niece. He died in
34 A.D.

Agrippa I, Herodias' brother, succeeded him. Agrippa acquired Antipas' tetrarchy in the year 40
and Samaria and Judea came under his rule in 41, so that he finally reigned over the entire
kingdom of his grandfather. He was the only Herod who, though at heart a Hellenist, tried by his
policies to win the support of the more orthodox Jews. But in spite of these policies he put James
the Apostle to death and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12). His death, which took place in 44, is also
mentioned in the New Testament.

His son, Agrippa II (27-100 A.D.), never ruled in Jerusalem. By inheritance and the favor of the
Romans he finally acquired a fairly large kingdom to the North of Palestine. The Jews only came
in contact with him because he had supervision of the temple and appointed the high priests. In
the New Testament he is mentioned as having paid a visit to Festus, the procurator, at Caesarea,
where Paul delivered a speech before him (Acts 25). It also says that his sister, Bernice, during
the Jewish War, became Titus' mistress. His sister Drusilla, married to the procurator Felix,
heard Paul speak (Acts 24). With Agrippa II's death, the Herodian dynasty disappeared from the
stage of history.
The Family of the Herod's

King Herod I (The Great)

Antipater of Idumaea (67-47 B.C.)

With all of the turmoil that caused the decay of the Hasmonean dynasty, the civil wars and the
conversion of Syria and Palestine into a territory ruled by the Romans, the nation of Palestine
was undergoing major factions. It was during this time that the dynasty of the Herods became
prominent and Rome appointed a man named Antipas as the governor of Idumea (Jos. Antiq. xiv.
1. 3 ; 10). Antipater had a son who Josephus spoke about as being very wealthy and an Idumean
by race. (Jos. War i. 6. 2. ; 123; also see Antiq. xiv. 1. 3 ; 9; Justin Martyr Dialogue with Trypho
Iii. 3; Euseb. Hist. i. 6. 2; 7. 11; BT: Baba Bathra 3b-4a; Kiddushin 70b). This son was also
named Antipater and it was he who was the father of Herod the Great.

Antipater had great influence in Palestine and Judea during the period of Aristobulus, Hyrcanus
and Pompey the Great. He acquired great influence because of his father's position. He also
became an advisor to the Maccabean Queen Alexandra Salome.

In 67 B.C., Queen Alexandra died, leaving the Kingdom to her oldest son Hyrcanus, and her
younger was son, Aristobulus, was eager to have the power. Aristobulus was very strong-willed
and self-seeking while Hyrcanus was peaceful and mild. After ruling for about three months he
backed out. He never really desired to rule and so he passed all authority on to his younger
brother Aristobulus who made himself king and high priest. The two brothers tried to remain
peaceful with each other but it turned into a major struggle (Jos. Antiq. xiv. 1. 2 ; 4-7; xv. 6. 4 ;
180; War i. 5. 4 ; 117-119).

Antipater saw a great opportunity and decided to become the primary influence on the life of
Hyrcanus. When tension had between the two sons had reached its climax Antipater sided with
Hyrcanus, even though Aristobulus was a greater military commander. Antipater encouraged
Hyrcanus to flee to Petra and seek help from the Arabian king (King Aretas III), and in 65 B.C.
the Arabian army marched on Jerusalem to capture Aristobulus.

It wasn't long before the Roman legions arrived on the scene to put an end to the problems and,
the soldiers of Rome marched into Jerusalem under the command of Pompey's lieutenant, M.
Scaurus. The Arabians retreated and later Antipater had, realizing that Rome was closely
involved with this whole situation, encouraged Hyrcanus to make an appeal to Pompey in
Damascus. Aristobulus decided to do the same. Pompey decided to side with Hyrcanus because
there was evidence of Aristobulus revolting against Rome (Jos. Antiq. xiv. 3. 3 ; 46, 47).

In 63 B.C. Pompey made war against Aristobulus, besieging the Jerusalem temple for three
months. When Pompey won the war he went into the holy of holies but did not plunder it of its
valuables (Jos. Antiq. xiv. 4. 4 ; 69-72; War i. 6. 5-7. 6 ; 133-153; Tac. Hist. v. 9; Appian
Mithridatic Wars 106, 114; Florus i. 40. 30; Livy 102; Plutarch Pompey xxxix; cf. Dio Cassius
xxxvii. 15-17)

Because of Hyrcanus' loyalty, Pompey gave him authority to rule in Judea, not as a king but as
"ethnarch", he remained the high priest and Antipater remained in power as the chief minister of
state. (Jos. Antiq. xiv. 4. 4 ; 73; War i. 7. 6 ; 153). Jerusalem was made a tributary of Rome and it
was placed under Scaurus whom Pompey made legate of the province of Syria.

Antipater proved himself useful to the Romans both in government and in their operations
against the Hasmoneans. In 57 B.C. the governor of Syria, Aulus Gabinius, broke Judea apart
and Idumaea was given to Antipater. Antipater later joined this governor on an expedition to
restore Ptolemy XII of Egypt to his throne.

Antipater married a woman named Cypros, of an illustrious Arabian, by whom he had four sons:
Phasael, Herod, Joseph, Pheroras, and a daughter, Salome (Jos. Antiq. xiv. 7. 3 ; 121; War i. 8. 9
; 181).

It was not long before the Roman civil wars erupted and Hyrcanus, because of Antipater,
supported Pompey. Julius Caesar had rescued Aristobulus, who had been exiled, and sent him
with two Roman legions to begin a revolt in Judea. Not long after Aristobulus was poisoned and
could not follow-through the plan, that's Antipater was spared.

After Pompey was defeated by Julius Caesar in 48 B.C. in Egypt (at Pharsalus), Antipater acted
shrewdly. He came to Caesar to aid him when the Roman commander was having serious trouble
in Alexandria, and Caesar was so thankful that he rewarded Antipater with the title of chief
minister of Judea. Caesar also granted him Roman citizenship, and the right to collect taxes for
Rome. Antipater himself was also made exempt for any personal taxes.

Immediately after, Antipater went around the country to put an end to the problems and convince
the Judean population to be loyal to Hyrcanus. Deep inside though, he felt that Hyrcanus was an
unsuitable leader of Judea so he took the country in his own hands and appointed his son Phasael
as governor of Jerusalem and his second son Herod as governor of Galilee (Jos. Antiq. xiv. 9. 1-2
; 156-158; War i. 10. 4 ; 201-203).

In 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated, and Cassius, one of the murderers, came to Syria
demanding support. Antipater and Hyrcanus had no choice but to assist him and Herod collected
many taxes to help Cassius in his war against Marc Antony.

The Jews, however, were extremely angry and bitter of Antipater's pro-Roman policies, a group
of anti-Romans, led by a man named Malichus, revolted against Antipater and he was poisoned
in 43 B.C.
Herod the Governor

Governor of Galilee (47-37 B.C.)

At around 25 years old Herod became governor of Galilee. It wasn't long before the Galilean
Jews and the Roman officials in Syria began to admire this young man. Herod was quick to
capture and execute the outlaw Ezekias and most of his followers. At one point many people
came to Hyrcanus and tried to convince him that Herod was getting too powerful and that he had
violated Jewish laws when he executed Ezekias and his followers. They recommended that
Herod stand trial before the Sanhedrin.

Around 47 B.C. Hyrcanus was persuaded and ordered Herod to be brought to trial. Herod got the
message and came to the trial but when he showed up he appeared as a king dressed in purple
and attended by his bodyguard. Sextus Caesar, the governor of Syria, gave the orders to
Hyrcanus that Herod should be acquitted or their would be great consequences.

When Herod was released he came to Damascus to join up with Sextus Caesar. Sextus saw
Herod as a remarkable man with much popularity and appointed him as governor of Coele-Syria,
and Herod became more and more familiar with Roman laws and Customs, especially when
dealing with affairs in Syria.

Herod was very angry that Hyrcanus had called him to trial and to avenge himself he marched
against Jerusalem, but his father and his brother both persuaded him to refrain from violence.

Caecilius Bassus, an enemy of Julius Caesar and friend of Pompey, murdered Sextus Caesar and
became the new leader of Syria. Antipater, who was a friend of Julius Caesar, sent his troops
against Bassus with his two sons leading them. This small War lasted for about three years and
after Caesar was assassinated by Cassius, Brutus, and their followers in March of 44 B.C.,
Cassius came to Syria and defeated Bassus and he became the new leader of Syria.

Because Cassius required heavy taxes Antipater chose Herod, Phasael, and Malichus to do the
collecting. It wasn't long before Herod became renowned for his collecting of taxes. Cassius was
very pleased with Herod and not only appointed him as governor of Coele-Syria (just as he had
been under Sextus) but also swore to make him king of Judea after the war that he and Brutus
were fighting against Caesar and Antony.

The Herodians were becoming noticeably powerful because of the Romans and Malichus, a man
whose life Antipater had once saved, bribed a servant to poison Antipater (43 B.C.). Herod
sought revenge and killed Malichus with the sword.

Once Cassius had left Syria and joined up with Brutus in their campaign against Octavius and
Antony, Judea was in turmoil again because of Hyrcanus. With some difficulty Herod stopped
the revolt and before long another one broke out. Ptolemy, the ruler of the Itureans, gave
protection to Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus. In 42 B.C. Herod defeated them and was
congratulated by Hyrcanus and the people.

During this period Herod had a wife whose name was Doris. They had a son together whom they
named Antipater, after his grandfather. Herod also became betrothed to Mariamne, the
granddaughter of Hyrcanus II and the daughter of Aristobulus' son, Alexander. This would mean
that she was a niece of Antigonus, who was the arch-rival of Herod.

By marrying Mariamne Herod would be marrying into the royal house of the Hasmoneans and
would become the natural Hasmonean heir, and would cause him to win acceptance in Judean
circles.

By 42 B.C. Marc Antony had defeated Cassius at Philippi and then advanced to Bithynia of Asia
minor. When he arrived he was met by several Jewish leaders who brought accusations against
Herod and Phasael (the governor of Jerusalem), saying that they were usurping their power and
undermining Hyrcanus.

When Herod was questioned the gave a good defense against the accusations and the charges
were dropped.

In the autumn of 41 B.C., when Marc Antony had gone to Antioch, the Jewish leaders came and
spoke the same accusations against Herod and Phasael. But this time Hyrcanus was there and
Marc Antony came to him personally and asked him who would be the best qualified ruler.
Hyrcanus stated that he was in favor of Herod and Phasael. Marc Antony therefore confirmed
their authority and appointed them as tetrarchs of Judea.
Herod and the Parthians

It wasn't long before the new tetrarchs of Judea had to deal with the Parthians who had appeared
in Syria in 40 B.C. Pacorus, the prince of Parthia, joined forces with Antigonus in order to seize
the throne of Hyrcanus and give it to Antigonus. With the invading of Jerusalem by the Parthians
a civil war broke out and fighting went on every day in the city.

When the feast of Pentecost was approaching, and thousands of Jews entering Jerusalem, a
Parthian cup bearer named Pacorus arrived bringing word, supposedly, from the Parthian king
regarding settlement. The proposal seemed good but Herod became suspicious and did not agree
to go meet the king in Galilee, although Phasael and Hyrcanus showed up and they were
captured and put in chains. Herod fled to Masada with his troops, relatives, and Mariamne. Later
he moved to Petra, the capital of the Nabatean kingdom.

At this time the Parthians were sacking all of Jerusalem and parts of Judea. They made
Antigonus king. Antigonus had Hyrcanus mutilated and sent to Parthia so that there would be no
possibility of him ever being restored as high priest. Phasael either died in battle, was poisoned,
or he committed suicide.

Herod had expected help and protection from the Arabian king Malchus, but he was asked to
leave. Herod departed for Egypt and finally made his way to Rome where he was welcomed by
Marc Antony and Octavius. Herod told them the whole story and after hearing it they established
him as the king of Judea. In 39 B.C. he sailed from Italy back to Ptolemais and marched into
Galilee. He captured Joppa and then made his way back to Masada where his relatives were. He
found them under attack but with the help of the Roman armies he was able to quietly camp on
the west side of Jerusalem.

Herod proclaimed that he was the rightful king and made a promise to forgive all past offenses
that were made against him. Antigonus countered by proclaiming that Herod was and Idumaean,
and a half Jew, and not a legitimate heir to the throne.

In 38 B.C. Herod overcame any armies in Galilee, and because the progress was slow he
requested the help of Marc Antony and the Romans. He divided his army and left part of it with
his brother Joseph with orders not to fight until reinforcements came, and with the rest of his
army he went to Samosata where Antony was besieging Antiochus, king of Commagene, who
had sided with the Parthians. Antony was pleased with Herod's help and his loyalty, and after
they defeated and Samosata, Marc Antony ordered Sossius, one of his legates, to use the Roman
army in support of King Herod.

King Herod returned to Antioch with two legions and crushed the opposition in Galilee.
Unfortunately he also received the bad news that his brother Joseph had been killed at Jericho.

In the spring of 37 B.C. Herod moved his troops to Jerusalem and set up for siege. At that time
he left the armies in charge and set off for Samaria to marry Mariamne after about five years of
betrothal. By marrying Mariamne he would no doubt strengthen his claim to the throne, even
though it was a despicable move against Antigonus.

Once he was married he immediately returned to Jerusalem. Antigonus had been in Jerusalem
defending the city against the Roman legions of Sossius, but the city finally fell in the summer of
37 B.C.

When Herod showed up he realized that he needed to stop the Roman armies, who were his
allies, from defiling the Temple and plundering the city's great wealth. He went to Sossius and
pleaded with him to reward each soldier with a sizable gift. Sossius agreed and called his troops
in to reward them and they marched away taking Antigonus to Marc Antony in chains.

According to Josephus Herod had paid a large bribe to persuade the Romans to put Antigonus
out of the way. He also records that Antigonus fell beneath the axe. This brought an end to the
Hasmonean rule of 129 years. Herod was now the undisputed king of Judea.
Herod the King 37-25 B.C.

During this period we will be looking at the time from Herod's accession as king in 37 B.C. to
the execution of his favorite wife Mariamne, and finally the death of the sons of Babas, in 25
B.C., when the last heir of the Hasmonean family was executed.

While Herod was king he had many powerful opponents, namely the Pharisees, the ruling class,
the Hasmonean family, and Cleopatra.

The Pharisees

The Pharisees never liked the fact that Herod was the king of Judea, mainly because he was an
Idumaean, a half Jew, and a friend of the Romans. One of the problems that Herod always faced
when dealing with the Pharisees was there tremendous popularity with the people. They were
well-respected and considered very holy. But King Herod had his ways of dealing with the
population. Whoever opposed him he quickly punished, and those who were his friends he
rewarded with favors and great honors.

The Ruling Class

The second group of powerful opponents to King Herod were the aristocratic followers of
Antigonus. King Herod dealt with them harshly and one time he executed forty five of the most
wealthy and most prominent members of this class. He seized their possessions and replenished
his treasury which had been depleted because of all of his bribes.

The Hasmonean Family

The third group of his powerful opponents were the family of the Hasmoneans. His mother-in-
law, Alexandra, was the main source of most of his problems. During this time Hyrcanus had
returned from Parthian exile, yet he was mutilated and thus could not serve as high priest. Herod
needed someone to replace Hyrcanus as high priest. Herod was a half Jew and therefore he could
not serve as high priest. He desired to choose a nonthreatening member of the Zadokite family,
who were thought to have descended from Aaron, so he chose Ananel (Hananiel), a priest of the
Babylonian exile.

Alexandra, Herod's mother-in-law, was insulted and considered it an intrusion on the Hasmonean
line and only the rightful heir could serve as high priest, her sixteen-year-old son Aristobulus, the
brother of Mariamne. She wrote to Cleopatra to persuade Marc Antony to force Herod to appoint
her son Aristobulus as high priest. Herod immediately removed Ananel, which was unlawful
because the high priest was to remain in office for his whole lifetime, and made Aristobulus high
priest at 17 years old in 35 B.C.

Alexandra was finally happy but her happiness would be short-lived. King Herod did not trust
her and so he had her watched very closely. Alexandra, knowing that she was being watched,
accepted an invitation by Cleopatra to escape with her son and flee to Egypt. King Herod heard
that she was making and escape with her son and allowed them to carry it out so that he could
catch them in the act. At this time he chose to overlook the offense.

At the feast of Tabernacles people were showing great affection for Aristobulus, the officiating
high priest. Herod considered this a threat and was determined to get rid of this potential rival.
After the feast concluded, when Herod was invited by Alexandra to a feast at Jericho, Herod
made a plan. He would act friendly to her and Aristobulus and invite them to go swimming since
it was a hot day. He then bribed some men to play sports together in the water and drown
Aristobulus by accident. King Herod rose up when this happened and made extreme lamentation.
He then arranged the most magnificent funeral and he was not suspected in the least, by anyone
except by his mother Alexandra, who decided to devote her life to revenge.

She informed Cleopatra of the murder. Cleopatra persuaded Marc Antony to call Herod to give
an account for his actions. King Herod had no choice but to go and stand before Marc Antony
and face possible death. Herod asked his uncle Joseph to keep watch over Mariamne during the
time that he would answer to Marc Antony. Herod told Joseph in private that if he should be
executed, that he was to kill Mariamne, because he did not want her to become someone else's
lover.

when Herod appeared before Marc Antony he bribed him and gave an eloquent defense for his
actions. When Herod returned, Joseph's wife Salome (Herod's sister) accused Joseph of having
unlawful intercourse with Mariamne. When Herod questioned Mariamne she denied everything
and he believed her. But somehow she learned about the secret command that Herod had given
Joseph, and Herod found out and became outraged and executed Joseph without a trial in 34 B.C.
He also had Alexandra bound in chains and put in prison, blaming her for all of his troubles.

Cleopatra

The fourth powerful opponent of King Herod was Cleopatra. As we just saw in the situation with
Alexandra and how she went to Cleopatra, who in turn, reported everything to Marc Antony,
Herod had serious problems with Cleopatra.

Because of her relationship with Marc Antony her territory was increasing greatly. After his
expedition against Armenia in 34 B.C. she persuaded him to give her all of Phoenicia, the coast
of Philistia south of the river, a portion of the Arabia, and the district of Jericho with its balsam
plantations and many palm trees. The area of Jericho was Herod's most fertile portion of land in
his whole kingdom. Is interesting that every time Cleopatra visited her territories King Herod
received her with celebration, although he despised her. Whenever she made attempts to trap him
he would never give in.

When the famous civil war broke out between Marc Antony and Octavius (later Augustus)
Herod desired to take the cause of Marc Antony and help him in any way that he could.
Cleopatra persuaded Marc Antony to order King Herod to go and fight against Malchus, the
Arabian king. Malchus was late on his tribute and Cleopatra wanted him punished. But it was
obvious that her real intent was that they would weakened each other or hopefully kill each
other. This way she could easily overcome either of them.

Herod did as Marc Antony ordered him and fight against Malchus. When Herod had achieved
the initial victory over the Arabs, Cleopatra came and gave help to the Arabians which resulted
in Herod's defeat.

In 31 B.C. to a great earthquake happened in Herod's territory which killed over 30,000 people.
At this time Herod made attempts to negotiate with the Arabs and sent an envoy to Arabia to
make peace. When they arrived the Arabs slew them. When Herod heard what had happened he
immediately gathered his army and attacked the Arabs and defeated them, he then returned
home.

Herod and Octavius

On September 2nd, 31 B.C. Marc Antony was defeated by Octavius at the Battle of Actium. This
was devastating to Herod. He knew that he would answer ultimately to Octavius for everything.
Herod then made a shrewd move, he murdered Hyrcanus II and accused him of plotting with the
king of the Nabatean's. This would eliminate any possible rival who might rule in Judea, and his
hopes were that somehow Octavius would allow him to remain as the ruler of Judea.

In the spring of 30 B.C. Herod set out to meet with Octavius in Rhodes. But before he left he
gave instructions to two of his friends that if he were to be executed they were to kill Alexandra
and Mariamne, so that his sons and his brother Pheroras would rule in his place.

What King Herod arrived in Rhodes to stand before Octavius he played his part well. He
admitted right away that he was a loyal friend of Marc Antony and that he did not fight against
Octavius because of his war against the Arabs. His argument to Octavius was that if he was loyal
to Marc Antony then his loyalty would benefit Octavius. Octavius allowed Herod to remain as
the ruler of Judea. Herod returned home.

Later that year, in the summertime, Octavius came to the coast of Phoenicia on his way to Egypt.
Herod met him and great him to Ptolemais with great celebration and a gift of 800 talents and
supplies for the Roman soldiers during that hot season. Octavius was delighted.

In August of 30 B.C. Octavius marched through Egypt and it was at this time that Marc Antony
and Cleopatra committed suicide. When Herod heard this he came to Egypt to congratulate
Octavius. Octavius gave him the title of king and returned to him not only Jericho, but also
Gadara, Hippos, Samaria, Gaza, Anthedon, Joppa, and Straton's Tower (later became Caesarea).
Herod had definitely been given much.

The Death of Mariamne

Herod enjoyed the so-called success of his kingdom, but things in Judea were far from peaceful.
While he was at Rhodes, Mariamne had found out from one of Herod's friends named Soemus
that Herod gave the order for her to be killed if he was executed. Therefore when Herod returned
she was bitter toward him. Herod was very aware of all these things. His sister Salome and their
mother Cyprus had always hated Mariamne and they began to spread slanderous stories about
Mariamne in order to fill Herod with rage and jealousy. Herod did not listen to the stories.

Salome bribed Herod's cup-bearer to say that Mariamne had prepared some sort of love-potion
for the king. When King Herod heard this he desired to know what sort of potion this was. He
tortured the cup-bearer and found out nothing about the potion, but he did find out that
Mariamne despised him for wanting to put her to death if he was executed. Herod immediately
realized that his friends had betrayed him and he ordered them to be executed immediately.

Herod never really wanted to put Mariamne to death while he was alive, and Herod would not
kill her but had her put in prison. Because of all this his emotions were so stirred that Salome
took advantage of and somehow persuaded King Herod to have her finally executed.

Josephus describes that Herod was never the same after Mariamne's death:

"For he would frequently called for her, and frequently lament for her in a most indecent
manner."

Herod had gotten very sick to the point of death and Alexandra began to plot how that when he
died she could secure the throne. When she had begun to make plans, they had been reported to
King Herod and he immediately had her executed.

The Death of the Last of the Hasmoneans

After a long period of depression over Mariamne, Herod began his bloodshed once again and
executed the last of the male relatives of Hyrcanus, anyone who could dispute his occupancy of
the throne.
Herod the King 25-14 B.C.

This period is marked with splendor and enjoyment but there were also moments of great
disturbance.

The first thing mentioned about this period by Josephus is when Herod violated the Jewish law
by introducing the quinquennial games in honor of Caesar and in so doing he built great theaters,
amphitheaters, and race courses for both men and horses.

Some time later, around 24 B.C., Herod built for himself a royal palace and also built or rebuilt
many fortresses and Gentile temples, including the rebuilding of Straton's Tower which was
renamed Caesarea (Jos. Antiq. xv. 8. 5-9. 6; 292-341). Of course, his greatest building was the
Temple in Jerusalem which was begun in 20 or 19 B.C. Josephus considers it the most noble of
all his achievements (Jos. Antiq. xv. 11. 1 ; 3 80). Rabbinic literature states:

"He_who has not ,seen the Temple of Herod clever seen a beautiful building"
-T BT: Baba Bathraa`-Tlso,

It is suggested that it was his "atonement for having slain so many sages of Israel" -Midrash :
Num 14:8

Also, during this period, he took great interest in culture and surrounded himself with a circle of
men accomplished in Greek literature and art. The highest offices of state were entrusted to
Greek rhetoricians, one of whom, Nicolas of Damascus, was Herod's instructor. He was Herod's
advisor and was always included in Herod's dealings both before and after his death. Herod
received instructions from him in philosophy, rhetoric, and history.

As for his domestic affairs he married another Mariamne (who we will call Mariamne II), who
was the daughter of Simon, a well-known priest in Jerusalem around late 24 B.C. In 22 B.C.
Herod sent his two sons of Mariamne I, Alexander and Aristobulus, to Rome for their education.
Augustus himself took these sons gladly and they stayed at the house of Asinius Pollio who
professed to be one of Herod's most devoted friends.

During this time Augustus gave Herod the territories of Trachonitis, Batanea, and Auranitis
which had been occupied by nomad robber tribes with whom the neighboring tetrarch Zenodorus
had made common cause (Jos. Antiq. xv. 10. 1-2 ; 342-349; War i. 20. 4 ; 398, 399 ). It is seen
that there was a friendly relationship between Augustus Caesar and Herod. Herod, undoubtedly,
was considered an important king to Rome for he kept that section of the Roman empire well in
control.

When Augustus came to Syria in 20 B.C. he bestowed upon Herod the territory of Zenodorus or
that which laid between Trachonitis and Galilee (containing Ulatha and Paneas) and made it so
the procurators of Syria had to get Herod's consent for all of their action. He also asked Augustus
for a territory for his brother Pheroras and apparently Augustus granted the request and he was
given Perea.

Because of these gracious bestowments of Augustus, Herod erected a beautiful temple for
Augustus in the territory of Zenodorus, near the place called Paneion. Also, at this same time
Herod remitted a third of the taxes under the pretext of crop failure but actually it was to bring
goodwill among those who were displeased with his emphasis of Graeco-Roman culture and
religion. The remittance of taxes was effective for the most part. There seemingly was a great
dissatisfaction because Herod would not allow the people to gather together for fear of a revolt.
He demanded a loyalty oath by the people, but excluded Pollion the Pharisee and his disciple
Samaias, as well as most of their disciples. The Essenes did not have to submit to this oath
because Josephus states that Herod had a high regard for them. (Jos. Antiq. xv. 10. 4 ; 365-372).

Herod then made a trip to Rome to meet Augustus and bring his two sons home, who had
completed their education (in 17 or 16 B.C.). Upon their return to Judea with Herod, Aristobulus
was married to Salome's daughter Berenice and Alexander married Glaphyra, the daughter of
Archelaus, king of Cappadocia.

There can be no doubt that this period from 25-14 B.C. was the most brilliant in Herod’s entire
reign. His building program was of great splendor. His domestic affairs were fairly good, but at
the end of this period there would be great troubles that would arise in this area. Although he had
some trouble within his political sphere, he had good control of his people and twice he favored
them by lowering taxes (in 14 B.C. he reduced taxes by one-fourth, Jos. Antiq. xvi. 2. 5 ; 64, 65
).
Herod the King 14-4 B.C.

We can easily conclude from the writing of Josephus that during this period Herod’s biggest
problems were domestic. Herod had married ten wives. His first wife was Doris by whom he had
one son, Antipater. Herod renounced Doris and Antipater when he married Mariamne but they
were allowed to visit Jerusalem only during the festivals.

In 37 B.C. Herod married Mariamne, the granddaughter of Hyrcanus, who bore him five
children. The two daughters were Salampsio and Cypros. The youngest son died during the
course of his education in Rome. The older sons were Alexander and Aristobulus, who played an
important part during this period of Herod's life. Herod married his third wife Mariamne II in late
24 B.C. by whom he had Herod (Philip). His fourth wife was a Samaritan, Malthace, by whom
he had Archelaus and Antipas. His fifth wife, Cleopatra of Jerusalem, was the mother of Philip.
Of the other five wives only Pallas, Phaedra, and Elpsis are known by name, and none of these
are of significance.

Herod's favorite sons were the sons of Mariamne I, Alexander and Aristobulus. After they had
returned from Rome and had married Glaphyra and Berenice, troubles domestically began to
come to the forefront. Salome, Herod's sister and mother of Berenice, hated these two sons and
tried desperately to establish her own son. It may well be that to a certain degree the arrogance of
the two sons of Mariamne I was because of being a part of the Hasmonean dynasty. Salome
aggravated them by speaking ill of their mother whom Herod had killed, which caused them to
defend her. Salome and Pheroras (brother of Herod and Salome) reported to Herod that his life
was in danger because the two sons were not going to leave the murder of their mother
unavenged and that Archelaus, king of Cappadocia (father of Glaphyra), would help them to
reach the emperor and bring charges against their father.

In order to somehow correct things and to show them that there might be another who could be
heir to the throne, he recalled his exiled son Antipater. In the spring of 13 B.C. Herod sent
Antipater to Rome in the company of Agrippa (friend of Augustus), who left the east to go to
Rome, so that he might present Antipater to the emperor.

But instead of helping correct things, Antipater used every conceivable means to acquire the
throne. He used slander against his two half brothers. The problems between Herod and
Mariamne's two sons became so great that Herod decided to accuse his two sons before the
emperor. In 12 B.C. the two sons went with Herod and they were tried before Augustus in
Aquileia.

After the case was heard Augustus was able to reconcile Herod and his sons, and having restored
domestic peace, the father, the two sons, and Antipater returned home. When they arrived home
Herod named Antipater as his first successor and next after him were to be Alexander and
Aristobulus.
Not long after they had arrived home Antipater, being helped by Herod's sister Salome and
Herod's brother Pheroras, began to slander the two sons of Mariamne. Alexander and Aristobulus
became more hostile in their attitude. Herod became suspicious and became more and more
fearful about the situation. Antipater played on Herod's fears. He even caused the friends of
Alexander to be tortured so that they might confess any attempt to take Herod's life and one
friend made the admission that Alexander, with the help of Aristobulus, had planned to kill him
and then flee to Rome to lay claim on his kingdom. For this Alexander was committed to prison.

When the Cappadocian king Archelaus, Alexander's father-in-law, heard of this state of affairs,
he began to fear for his daughter and son-in-law and thus made a journey to Jerusalem to see if
there could be reconciliation. He appeared before Herod very angry over his good-for-nothing
son-in-law and threatened to take his daughter back with him. This was actually a very sly
maneuver on the part of Archelaus because, in doing this, Herod defended his son against
Archelaus and Archelaus accomplished the reconciliation he desired and then returned to his
home. This probably happened in 10 B.C. Thus there was peace once again in Herod's
household.

During this same period Herod had troubles with some foreign enemies and with the emperor.
Syllaeus, who ruled in the place of the Arabian king Obodas and who was very hostile to Herod,
gave shelter to forty rebels of Trachonitis and tried to relieve his country from paying a debt
contracted with Herod. Herod demanded that he hand over the rebels and pay the debt.

With the consent of the governor of Syria, Saturninus, Herod invaded Arabia and enforced his
rights (around 9 B.C.). This was only to be a disciplinary measure with no intentions of territorial
gain, but Syllaeus had meanwhile gone to Rome and distorted the picture with the result that
Augustus became suspicious and indicated to Herod that their friendship was at an end and that
he would no longer treat him as a friend but as a subject. In order to justify himself Herod sent an
embassy to Rome and when this failed he sent a second under the leadership of Nicolas of
Damascus (Jos. Antiq. xvi. 9. 1-4 ; 271-299).

Meanwhile the domestic conflicts again came to the forefront. A certain Eurycles from
Lacedemon, a man of bad character, inflamed the father against the sons and the sons against the
father. As other mischief-makers became involved, Herod's patience was exhausted and he put
Alexander and Aristobulus into prison, and laid a complaint against them before the emperor of
their being involved in treasonable plots.

Meanwhile Nicolas of Damascus had accomplished his mission and had again won over the
emperor to Herod. When the messengers who were bringing the accusations of Herod reached
Rome, they found Augustus in a favorable mood and he gave Herod absolute power to proceed
in the matter of his sons as he wished but advised him that the trial should take place outside of
Herod's territory at Berytus (Beirut), before a court of which Roman officials would form part
and to have the charges against his sons investigated.

Herod accepted the advice of the emperor. Although the governor of Syria, Saturninus, and his
three sons thought that the sons were guilty but should not be put to death, the court almost
unanimously pronounced the death sentence upon the sons. Tiro, an old soldier, publicly
proclaimed that the trial had been unjust and the truth suppressed. But he and 300 others were
not considered to be friends of Alexander and Aristobulus and thus they were executed.
Therefore, at Sebaste (Samaria), where Herod had married Mariamne thirty years before, her two
sons were executed by strangling, prob. in 7 B.C.

Antipater, now remaining the sole heir and enjoying the full confidence of his father, was still
not satisfied, for he wished to have the government wholly in his own hands. He held secret
conferences with Herod's brother Pheroras, tetrarch of Perea, which Salome reported to her
brother Herod, stating that they were contriving to kill him. Thus the relationship of Antipater
and his father became tense. Antipater knew this and wrote to his friends in Rome to ask if
Augustus would instruct Herod to send Antipater to Rome. Herod sent him to Rome and
designated in his will that Antipater was his successor to the throne and in the event that
Antipater's death might occur before his own, Herod (Philip), son of Mariamne II, the high
priest's daughter, was named as his successor.

While Antipater was in Rome, Pheroras died which proved to be the seal of Antipater's fate.
Freedmen of Pheroras went to Herod to relate to him that Pheroras had been poisoned and that
Herod should investigate the matter more closely. It was found out that the poison was sent by
Antipater with the intention not to kill Pheroras but rather that Pheroras might give it to Herod.
Herod also learned from the female slaves of Pheroras' household of the complaints that
Antipater had made at those secret meetings regarding the king's long life and about the
uncertainties of his prospects. Herod immediately recalled Antipater, disguising his real
intentions, and Antipater returned with no suspicion. When he arrived he was committed to
prison in the king's palace and was tried the very next day before Varus, the governor of Syria.
With all of the accusations and proofs against him, Antipater could make no defense. Herod put
him in chains and made a report of the matter to the emperor. This occurred in 5 B.C.

Another plot of Antipater against Herod was unveiled and Herod desired to kill him. Herod
became very ill with a disease from which he would not recover. Therefore, he drew up a new
will in which he by-passed his eldest sons, Archelaus and Philip, because Antipater had poisoned
his mind against them. Instead he chose the youngest son, Antipas, as his sole successor.

Shortly before his death the Magi had come to Judea to worship the newborn king of the Jews.
Herod summoned these Magi, asking them to report to him the location of the Christ child when
they found Him in Bethlehem. Being warned in a dream, the Magi did not return to Herod but
departed to the east by another route. The Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to
flee to Egypt because of Herod's intention to kill Jesus. Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt and
Herod killed all the male children of Bethlehem who were two years and under.

Herod was now nearly seventy years old and his sickness grew worse. As news spread that he
had an incurable disease, two rabbis, Judas, son of Sepphoraeus, and Matthias, son of Margalus,
stirred up the people to tear down the Roman eagle from the Temple gate that had been such an
offence to the Jews. These rabbis stated that this action would be pleasing to God. Herod, having
heard this, seized the offenders and passed sentences of death upon them and had all the chief
leaders publicly burned alive.
As Herod's disease grew worse the baths at Callirrhoe no longer benefited him. When he
returned to Jericho he commanded all notable Jews from all parts of the nation to come to him
and when they arrived he shut them up in the hippodrome, summoned his sister Salome and her
husband Alexas, and ordered that all these leaders should be executed at the moment he died so
that there would be a national mourning rather than a festival when he died.

At the time he was giving these instructions, he received a letter from Rome in which the
emperor gave him permission to execute his son, Antipater, and thus he did so immediately.
Herod again changed his mind and nominated Archelaus, the older son of Malthace, as king and
his brothers Antipas as tetrarch of Galilee and Perea and Philip as tetrarch of Gaulanitis,
Trachonitis, Batanea, and Paneas.

Finally, five days after the execution of Antipater, Herod died at Jericho in the spring of 4 B.C.
Salome and Alexas released the Jewish nobles who were imprisoned to the hippodrome.

Ptolemy, who had been entrusted with the king's seal, read Herod's last will in public and the
crowd acclaimed Archelaus as their king. A pompous funeral procession accompanied the body
from Jericho, a distance of one mile in the direction of the Herodian, where it was finally laid.

Herod's reign lasted around thirty-three years. It was for the most part one of violence. The
middle of his reign was by far the most peaceful. It is important to realize that though his reign
was characterized by violence, the rulers of that day were not much different than he was.
Throughout his reign he was never liked by the Jews because of his lifestyle and his unconcern
for their law. Although he was the king of the Jews, many of his subjects would never treat him
as truly a Jewish king.
Herod and Octavian

Josephus on Herod Before Octavian

In his long work, Wars of the Jews, the historian Josephus recounts how Herod, after providing
support to Mark Antony in the latter's unsuccessful struggle against Octavius ("Caesar"), gained
an audience with Octavius and persuaded him that he could be as good a friend to him as he had
been to Antony.

HEROD IS CONFIRMED IN HIS KINGDOM BY CAESAR, AND CULTIVATES A

FRIENDSHIP WITH THE EMPEROR BY MAGNIFICENT PRESENTS; WHILE CAESAR
RETURNS HIS KINDNESS BY BESTOWING ON HIM THAT PART OF HIS KINGDOM
WHICH HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM IT BY CLEOPATRA WITH THE ADDITION
OF ZENODORUSS COUNTRY ALSO.

1. BUT now Herod was under immediate concern about a most important affair, on account of
his friendship with Antony, who was already overcome at Actium by Caesar; yet he was more
afraid than hurt; for Caesar did not think he had quite undone Antony, while Herod continued his
assistance to him. However, the king resolved to expose himself to dangers: accordingly he
sailed to Rhodes, where Caesar then abode, and came to him without his diadem, and in the habit
and appearance of a private person, but in his behavior as a king. So he concealed nothing of the
truth, but spike thus before his face: "O Caesar, as I was made king of the Jews by Antony, so do
I profess that I have used my royal authority in the best manner, and entirely for his advantage;
nor will I conceal this further, that thou hadst certainly found me in arms, and an inseparable
companion of his, had not the Arabians hindered me. However, I sent him as many auxiliaries as
I was able, and many ten thousand [cori] of corn. Nay, indeed, I did not desert my benefactor
after the bow that was given him at Actium; but I gave him the best advice I was able, when I
was no longer able to assist him in the war; and I told him that there was but one way of
recovering his affairs, and that was to kill Cleopatra; and I promised him that, if she were once
dead, I would afford him money and walls for his security, with an army and myself to assist him
in his war against thee: but his affections for Cleopatra stopped his ears, as did God himself also
who hath bestowed the government on thee. I own myself also to be overcome together with
him; and with his last fortune I have laid aside my diadem, and am come hither to thee, having
my hopes of safety in thy virtue; and I desire that thou wilt first consider how faithful a friend,
and not whose friend, I have been."

2. Caesar replied to him thus: "Nay, thou shalt not only be in safety, but thou shalt be a king; and
that more firmly than thou wast before; for thou art worthy to reign over a great many subjects,
by reason of the fastness of thy friendship; and do thou endeavor to be equally constant in thy
friendship to me, upon my good success, which is what I depend upon from the generosity of thy
disposition. However, Antony hath done well in preferring Cleopatra to thee; for by this means
we have gained thee by her madness, and thus thou hast begun to be my friend before I began to
be thine; on which account Quintus Didius hath written to me that thou sentest him assistance
against the gladiators. I do therefore assure thee that I will confirm the kingdom to thee by
decree: I shall also endeavor to do thee some further kindness hereafter, that thou mayst find no
loss in the want of Antony."

3. When Caesar had spoken such obliging things to the king, and had put the diadem again about
his head, he proclaimed what he had bestowed on him by a decree, in which he enlarged in the
commendation of the man after a magnificent manner. Whereupon Herod obliged him to be kind
to him by the presents he gave him, and he desired him to forgive Alexander, one of Antony's
friends, who was become a supplicant to him. But Caesar's anger against him prevailed, and he
complained of the many and very great offenses the man whom he petitioned for had been guilty
of; and by that means he rejected his petition. After this Caesar went for Egypt through Syria,
when Herod received him with royal and rich entertainments; and then did he first of all ride
along with Caesar, as he was reviewing his army about Ptolemais, and feasted him with all his
friends, and then distributed among the rest of the army what was necessary to feast them withal.
He also made a plentiful provision of water for them, when they were to march as far as
Pelusium, through a dry country, which he did also in like manner at their return thence; nor
were there any necessaries wanting to that army. It was therefore the opinion, both of Caesar and
of his soldiers, that Herod's kingdom was too small for those generous presents he made them;
for which reason, when Caesar was come into Egypt, and Cleopatra and Antony were dead, he
did not only bestow other marks of honor upon him, but made an addition to his kingdom, by
giving him not only the country which had been taken from him by Cleopatra, but besides that,
Gadara, and Hippos, and Samaria; and moreover, of the maritime cities, Gaza (31) and
Anthedon, and Joppa, and Strato's Tower. He also made him a present of four hundred Galls
[Galatians] as a guard for his body, which they had been to Cleopatra before. Nor did any thing
so strongly induce Caesar to make these presents as the generosity of him that received them.

4. Moreover, after the first games at Actium, he added to his kingdom both the region called
Trachonitis, and what lay in its neighborhood, Batanea, and the country of Auranitis; and that on
the following occasion: Zenodorus, who had hired the house of Lysanias, had all along sent
robbers out of Trachonitis among the Damascenes; who thereupon had recourse to Varro, the
president of Syria, and desired of him that he would represent the calamity they were in to
Caesar. When Caesar was acquainted with it, he sent back orders that this nest of robbers should
be destroyed. Varro therefore made an expedition against them, and cleared the land of those
men, and took it away from Zenodorus. Caesar did also afterward bestow it on Herod, that it
might not again become a receptacle for those robbers that had come against Damascus. He also
made him a procurator of all Syria, and this on the tenth year afterward, when he came again into
that province; and this was so established, that the other procurators could not do any thing in the
administration without his advice: but when Zenodorus was dead, Caesar bestowed on him all
that land which lay between Trachonitis and Galilee. Yet, what was still of more consequence to
Herod, he was beloved by Caesar next after Agrippa, and by Agrippa next after Caesar; whence
he arrived at a very great degree of felicity. Yet did the greatness of his soul exceed it, and the
main part of his magnanimity was extended to the promotion of piety.
King of the Jews

We can easily conclude from the writing of Josephus that during this period Herod’s biggest
problems were domestic. Herod had married ten wives. His first wife was Doris by whom he had
one son, Antipater. Herod renounced Doris and Antipater when he married Mariamne but they
were allowed to visit Jerusalem only during the festivals.

In 37 B.C. Herod married Mariamne, the granddaughter of Hyrcanus, who bore him five
children. The two daughters were Salampsio and Cypros. The youngest son died during the
course of his education in Rome. The older sons were Alexander and Aristobulus, who played an
important part during this period of Herod's life. Herod married his third wife Mariamne II in late
24 B.C. by whom he had Herod (Philip). His fourth wife was a Samaritan, Malthace, by whom
he had Archelaus and Antipas. His fifth wife, Cleopatra of Jerusalem, was the mother of Philip.
Of the other five wives only Pallas, Phaedra, and Elpsis are known by name, and none of these
are of significance.

Herod's favorite sons were the sons of Mariamne I, Alexander and Aristobulus. After they had
returned from Rome and had married Glaphyra and Berenice, troubles domestically began to
come to the forefront. Salome, Herod's sister and mother of Berenice, hated these two sons and
tried desperately to establish her own son. It may well be that to a certain degree the arrogance of
the two sons of Mariamne I was because of being a part of the Hasmonean dynasty. Salome
aggravated them by speaking ill of their mother whom Herod had killed, which caused them to
defend her. Salome and Pheroras (brother of Herod and Salome) reported to Herod that his life
was in danger because the two sons were not going to leave the murder of their mother
unavenged and that Archelaus, king of Cappadocia (father of Glaphyra), would help them to
reach the emperor and bring charges against their father.

In order to somehow correct things and to show them that there might be another who could be
heir to the throne, he recalled his exiled son Antipater. In the spring of 13 B.C. Herod sent
Antipater to Rome in the company of Agrippa (friend of Augustus), who left the east to go to
Rome, so that he might present Antipater to the emperor.

But instead of helping correct things, Antipater used every conceivable means to acquire the
throne. He used slander against his two half brothers. The problems between Herod and
Mariamne's two sons became so great that Herod decided to accuse his two sons before the
emperor. In 12 B.C. the two sons went with Herod and they were tried before Augustus in
Aquileia.

After the case was heard Augustus was able to reconcile Herod and his sons, and having restored
domestic peace, the father, the two sons, and Antipater returned home. When they arrived home
Herod named Antipater as his first successor and next after him were to be Alexander and
Aristobulus.
Not long after they had arrived home Antipater, being helped by Herod's sister Salome and
Herod's brother Pheroras, began to slander the two sons of Mariamne. Alexander and Aristobulus
became more hostile in their attitude. Herod became suspicious and became more and more
fearful about the situation. Antipater played on Herod's fears. He even caused the friends of
Alexander to be tortured so that they might confess any attempt to take Herod's life and one
friend made the admission that Alexander, with the help of Aristobulus, had planned to kill him
and then flee to Rome to lay claim on his kingdom. For this Alexander was committed to prison.

When the Cappadocian king Archelaus, Alexander's father-in-law, heard of this state of affairs,
he began to fear for his daughter and son-in-law and thus made a journey to Jerusalem to see if
there could be reconciliation. He appeared before Herod very angry over his good-for-nothing
son-in-law and threatened to take his daughter back with him. This was actually a very sly
maneuver on the part of Archelaus because, in doing this, Herod defended his son against
Archelaus and Archelaus accomplished the reconciliation he desired and then returned to his
home. This probably happened in 10 B.C. Thus there was peace once again in Herod's
household.

During this same period Herod had troubles with some foreign enemies and with the emperor.
Syllaeus, who ruled in the place of the Arabian king Obodas and who was very hostile to Herod,
gave shelter to forty rebels of Trachonitis and tried to relieve his country from paying a debt
contracted with Herod. Herod demanded that he hand over the rebels and pay the debt.

With the consent of the governor of Syria, Saturninus, Herod invaded Arabia and enforced his
rights (around 9 B.C.). This was only to be a disciplinary measure with no intentions of territorial
gain, but Syllaeus had meanwhile gone to Rome and distorted the picture with the result that
Augustus became suspicious and indicated to Herod that their friendship was at an end and that
he would no longer treat him as a friend but as a subject. In order to justify himself Herod sent an
embassy to Rome and when this failed he sent a second under the leadership of Nicolas of
Damascus (Jos. Antiq. xvi. 9. 1-4 ; 271-299).

Meanwhile the domestic conflicts again came to the forefront. A certain Eurycles from
Lacedemon, a man of bad character, inflamed the father against the sons and the sons against the
father. As other mischief-makers became involved, Herod's patience was exhausted and he put
Alexander and Aristobulus into prison, and laid a complaint against them before the emperor of
their being involved in treasonable plots.

Meanwhile Nicolas of Damascus had accomplished his mission and had again won over the
emperor to Herod. When the messengers who were bringing the accusations of Herod reached
Rome, they found Augustus in a favorable mood and he gave Herod absolute power to proceed
in the matter of his sons as he wished but advised him that the trial should take place outside of
Herod's territory at Berytus (Beirut), before a court of which Roman officials would form part
and to have the charges against his sons investigated.

Herod accepted the advice of the emperor. Although the governor of Syria, Saturninus, and his
three sons thought that the sons were guilty but should not be put to death, the court almost
unanimously pronounced the death sentence upon the sons. Tiro, an old soldier, publicly
proclaimed that the trial had been unjust and the truth suppressed. But he and 300 others were
not considered to be friends of Alexander and Aristobulus and thus they were executed.
Therefore, at Sebaste (Samaria), where Herod had married Mariamne thirty years before, her two
sons were executed by strangling, prob. in 7 B.C.

Antipater, now remaining the sole heir and enjoying the full confidence of his father, was still
not satisfied, for he wished to have the government wholly in his own hands. He held secret
conferences with Herod's brother Pheroras, tetrarch of Perea, which Salome reported to her
brother Herod, stating that they were contriving to kill him. Thus the relationship of Antipater
and his father became tense. Antipater knew this and wrote to his friends in Rome to ask if
Augustus would instruct Herod to send Antipater to Rome. Herod sent him to Rome and
designated in his will that Antipater was his successor to the throne and in the event that
Antipater's death might occur before his own, Herod (Philip), son of Mariamne II, the high
priest's daughter, was named as his successor.

While Antipater was in Rome, Pheroras died which proved to be the seal of Antipater's fate.
Freedmen of Pheroras went to Herod to relate to him that Pheroras had been poisoned and that
Herod should investigate the matter more closely. It was found out that the poison was sent by
Antipater with the intention not to kill Pheroras but rather that Pheroras might give it to Herod.
Herod also learned from the female slaves of Pheroras' household of the complaints that
Antipater had made at those secret meetings regarding the king's long life and about the
uncertainties of his prospects. Herod immediately recalled Antipater, disguising his real
intentions, and Antipater returned with no suspicion. When he arrived he was committed to
prison in the king's palace and was tried the very next day before Varus, the governor of Syria.
With all of the accusations and proofs against him, Antipater could make no defense. Herod put
him in chains and made a report of the matter to the emperor. This occurred in 5 B.C.

Another plot of Antipater against Herod was unveiled and Herod desired to kill him. Herod
became very ill with a disease from which he would not recover. Therefore, he drew up a new
will in which he by-passed his eldest sons, Archelaus and Philip, because Antipater had poisoned
his mind against them. Instead he chose the youngest son, Antipas, as his sole successor.

Shortly before his death the Magi had come to Judea to worship the newborn king of the Jews.
Herod summoned these Magi, asking them to report to him the location of the Christ child when
they found Him in Bethlehem. Being warned in a dream, the Magi did not return to Herod but
departed to the east by another route. The Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to
flee to Egypt because of Herod's intention to kill Jesus. Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt and
Herod killed all the male children of Bethlehem who were two years and under.

Herod was now nearly seventy years old and his sickness grew worse. As news spread that he
had an incurable disease, two rabbis, Judas, son of Sepphoraeus, and Matthias, son of Margalus,
stirred up the people to tear down the Roman eagle from the Temple gate that had been such an
offence to the Jews. These rabbis stated that this action would be pleasing to God. Herod, having
heard this, seized the offenders and passed sentences of death upon them and had all the chief
leaders publicly burned alive.
As Herod's disease grew worse the baths at Callirrhoe no longer benefited him. When he
returned to Jericho he commanded all notable Jews from all parts of the nation to come to him
and when they arrived he shut them up in the hippodrome, summoned his sister Salome and her
husband Alexas, and ordered that all these leaders should be executed at the moment he died so
that there would be a national mourning rather than a festival when he died.

At the time he was giving these instructions, he received a letter from Rome in which the
emperor gave him permission to execute his son, Antipater, and thus he did so immediately.
Herod again changed his mind and nominated Archelaus, the older son of Malthace, as king and
his brothers Antipas as tetrarch of Galilee and Perea and Philip as tetrarch of Gaulanitis,
Trachonitis, Batanea, and Paneas.

Finally, five days after the execution of Antipater, Herod died at Jericho in the spring of 4 B.C.
Salome and Alexas released the Jewish nobles who were imprisoned to the hippodrome.

Ptolemy, who had been entrusted with the king's seal, read Herod's last will in public and the
crowd acclaimed Archelaus as their king. A pompous funeral procession accompanied the body
from Jericho, a distance of one mile in the direction of the Herodian, where it was finally laid.

Herod's reign lasted around thirty-three years. It was for the most part one of violence. The
middle of his reign was by far the most peaceful. It is important to realize that though his reign
was characterized by violence, the rulers of that day were not much different than he was.
Throughout his reign he was never liked by the Jews because of his lifestyle and his unconcern
for their law. Although he was the king of the Jews, many of his subjects would never treat him
as truly a Jewish king.
Herod’s Buildings and Achievements

Herod and the Jews

Herod had high hopes for Hellenization among his Jewish subjects. Of course, Herod considered
himself a Jew. Herod knew better than to force Hellenization upon his Jewish subjects.

Gradually he tried introducing them to those Greek habits of life which he himself admired.
Jerusalem also benefited from his building activity. He erected a theater and a hippodrome
within the city.

Foreign visitors to his capital would feel more at home and would not look down upon him as an
insignificant king of a "barbarian" people.

Herod - The Builder

According to the Greek standards of that day, a good king encouraged games and theaters and
was active in building. King Herod was considered one of the greatest builders of the ancient
world.

He constructed pagan temples and amphitheaters in various Greek cities within and outside his
domain. Athens, Sparta and Rhodes benefited from his liberality and he made large contributions
of money to the Olympic games.

Rome was very interested in King Herod's ability to bring peace to the territories on his
northeastern frontier and I guess this granted these territories to Herod's kingdom: Trachonitis,
Batanea, and Auranitis in 23 B.C. and the territory of Ituraea in 20 B.C.

To make Augustus even more grateful and to further the emperor's cultural policy, Herod
invested in vast building enterprises. Many old cities were refounded and new cities were built.

Temples, hippodromes and amphitheaters were constructed, not only in Judea but in foreign
cities such as Athens. Within his own kingdom he rebuilt Samaria and renamed it Sebaste, after
the emperor (Sebastos is the Greek equivalent of the Latin Augustus).

King Herod also rebuilt Strato's Tower on the beautiful coast of the Mediterranean and built a
large artificial harbor. He called the new city Caesarea, also in honor of the emperor. This project
lasted some twelve years, from 22 to 10 B.C.

There are many more projects that can be mentioned in these areas and throughout the land,
settlements and strongholds, many of which bore names honoring the emperor or members of
Herod's own family, such as Antipatris (on the road from Jerusalem to Caesarea), Cypros (at
Jericho), and Phasaelis (west of the Jordan).

At Jerusalem he built a royal palace for himself connecting the Western Wall. He rebuilt the
Hasmonean fortress of Baris and renamed it Antonia (after Marc Antony).

But the greatest of all of King Herod's building enterprises was his reconstruction of the Temple
in Jerusalem. This massive project was begun early in 19 B.C.

If thousand Levites were trained as builders, and they fulfilled their work in such a way that the
sacred rituals of the holy place would never interrupted while the work was happening.

The tremendous outer court was enclosed, surrounded by colonnades, and the whole area was
splendid and beautiful was awesome gateways and other architectural marvel's. The Temple
became world renowned for its magnificence:

"Far off appearing like a Mount of alabaster, topped with golden spires."

Although the majority of the work of reconstruction was completed while Herod was still alive,
the final details were not completed until 63 A.D., only seven years before its destruction.

The Jews appreciated much of Herod's buildings and achievements but would never forgive him
for his destruction of the Hasmonean family, they would not forget his Edomite ancestry. No
matter how much money he spent on the Temple and other projects he could never win the favor
of his subjects.

Augustus Caesar and Herod's friend Agrippa said: "Herod's realm was far too small for his
liberality."

Herod's Gentile subjects were happy that he liked to please them. To them Herod was "Herod the
Great."

Other achievements are worth mentioning, especially in the area of culture. History was being
recorded: King Herod's court chronicler, Nicolas of Damascus, wrote a Universal History in 144
books. This work included a detailed record of Herod's reign, which Josephus used as a principal
source for this part of Herod's history in his writings.
Herod’s Temple

From Augustus, Herod obtained the right to intervene on behalf of the Jews wherever in the
Roman empire they might be annoyed. But, above all, he tried to prove that Greek temples were
not his only concern by undertaking to rebuild and beautify the Temple in Jerusalem.

Almost five hundred years had elapsed since the Second Temple had been built by those who
returned from the Babylonian Exile. After that the Temple had no doubt been repaired and
enlarged, but it remained essentially the old building, inferior in beauty and grandeur to some of
the pagan temples which were around.

Not only was it contrary to Herod's love of architecture to permit the Temple of his own God to
remain so modest, but he thought to show his piety to the Jews by making their Temple grander
than the rest.

The leading scribes at first opposed his plan being very suspicious of the whole thing. They
actually believed that once he pulled the old building down he would never replace it. Herod had
to promise that he would not touch the old building until he had built the new one around it.

Its Construction

Once things commenced, under no circumstances were the services to be interrupted. Herod
hired workmen by the thousands. Among them were many priests to build those portions not
accessible to ordinary Jews.

The work was started by leveling larger portions of the Temple Mount, so that the new building
might be erected on a broader base. It was also made much taller, so that the white stone gleamed
in the bright Palestinian sun and could be seen from miles away.

On the northern and southern sides of the building were the enclosed halls or rooms where the
priests prepared for the service, and where the Sanhedrin met. The large open court on the east,
facing the Temple proper, was divided into several parts.

Closest to the Temple was the portion set aside for the altar and the officiating priests. Next to it
was the court for the Israelites who came to watch the service. By the side of that was the gallery
for the women, and behind it was the court of the Gentiles.

The whole area was surrounded by a wall. This is the wall, part of which remains to this day,
known as "The Wailing Wall," to which Jews have gone on pilgrimage during the recent
centuries of exile.

See also Herod's Buildings

Herod’s Roman Eagle

The Temple took many years to build. Begun in 19 BC, it was not finished till long after Herod's
death. The Jews prided in Herod's accomplishment until Herod placed a huge Roman eagle over
the most important gate of the new Temple.

Before long there was a conspiracy to pull the eagle down. When rumor circulated that Herod
was dying, a group of young men gathered before the gate on which the golden eagle was set and
began to pull it down. The soldiers interfered and arrested about forty of them. Herod was so
enraged at this sign of insubordination and insult to Rome, that he had the "rebels" burned
alive.
Herod’s Cruelty

Herod's slaughter of the infant boys as accounted in the New Testament vividly reflects the
pathological character of the king. He murdered members of his own family- yet scrupulously
observed Mosaic dietary laws and would eat no pork. This provoked his Roman master Augustus
into jesting:

"I would rather be Herod's pig than Herod's son."

Herod’s Death

The historian, Josephus, describes the death of Herod at great length. When Herod's health began
to fail him rapidly, he was moved to his winter capital in Jericho. From there he was carried by
stretcher to the hot springs on the shores of the Dead Sea. The springs did no good; Herod
returned home. Racked by hopelessness, Herod attempted suicide. Rumors of the attempt caused
loud wailing throughout the palace. Herod's son, imprisoned by his paranoid father, mistook the
cries to mean his father was dead. Immediately, he tried to bribe his jailers, who reported the
bribery attempt to Herod. The sick king ordered his son executed on the spot. Now Herod
plunged deeper into depression. He was only days away from his own death- and he knew it.
What pained him most was the knowledge that his death would be met with joy in Judea. To
forestall this, he devised an incredible plan.

Having assembled the most distinguished men from every village from one end of Judea to the
other, he ordered them to be locked in the hippodrome at Jericho. Josephus- Jewish Wars

Herod then gave the order to execute them at the very moment he, himself, died. His sick mind
reasoned that their death would dispel any joy in Judea over his own death. The order was never
carried out.

After Herod's death, his body was carried in procession from Jericho to the Herodium outside
Bethlehem for burial. Herod's body was adorned in purple, a crown of gold rested on his head,
and a scepter of gold was placed in his hand. The bier bearing his body was made of gold and
studded with jewels that sparkled as it was carried along under the desert sun. Following the bier
was Herod's household and hundreds of slaves, swinging censers. Slowly, the procession inched
its way up the mountainside to the Herodium, where it was laid to rest.

Today, the excavated ruins of the Herodium stand out grandly against the clear blue sky-
reminding Bethlehem-bound tourists of the king who sought to kill the child whom they have
come so far to honor.

When Herod died, the pagans among them mourned while the Jews rejoiced.

The Herodium

Looking like a volcano, the Herodium is one of several fortress-palaces built by Herod the Great.
It was artificially shaped, with everything placed inside its protected craterlike top.

Josephus wrote of the Herodium:

"Two hundred steps of purest white marble led up to it. Its top was crowned with circular
towers; its courtyard contained splendid structures."
In the 1960s archaeologists unearthed the courtyard, fortification towers, and palace. No trace of
Herod's remains were found.
Herod’s Will

Herod's Will and the Inheritance of His Kingdom Disputed

During his life Herod had written six wills and the sixth will was made only five days before his
death. No doubt it needed the authorization of the emperor. So as soon as Herod died Archelaus
took over the leadership but he did not accept the title of king nor allow himself to be crowned.
Immediately after the Passover Archelaus and Antipas left for Rome to dispute the last two wills
of Herod while Philip took care of the home front.

Archelaus claimed that Augustus should ratify Herod's last will because it expressed Herod's
desire just before he died. On the other hand Antipas claimed that the fifth will which already
had been ratified did have greater validity because when Herod designated Antipas as king he
was in good physical and mental health, whereas when he named Archelaus as king in the
codicils he was stricken both in mind and body and was incapable of good reasoning.

To complicate the situation further, there was a revolt in Palestine while the two brothers were in
Rome disputing the will. The result of this revolt was that a Jewish delegation was sent to Rome
pleading for the autonomy of the nation and for its union with the province of Syria. By now
Philip had also gone to Rome.

After long debate and delay Augustus decided on a compromise solution, Augustus designated
Archelaus as ethnarch with the promise to be made king if he proved capable of that position and
was to rule over Idumea, Judea, and; Samaria. Antipas was made tetrarch over Galilee and Perea
and Philip was made tetrarch over Gaulanitis, Tranchonitis, Batanea, and Paneas. Therefore,
although Antipas lost claim to kingship, he prevented Archelaus from being king over the whole
realm.
Herod in History

Herod was an excellent king in certain respects. He maintained external peace in his land. He
beautified his own and neighboring countries. He was admired not only by the Roman empire,
but also by the Jews outside Judea whose standards of value had changed through contact with
Greek civilization. It is not difficult to understand why many people called Herod "the Great."

Yet the majority of Jews of his own kingdom disliked him, and Jews of later generations called
him "the Wicked." He pleased the pagans in the land and the cities prospered but the common
Jew sank into poverty. When Herod died, the pagans among them mourned while the Jews
rejoiced.
Herod in Scripture

King of Judah (Herod the Great)

Matthew 2

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise
men from the East came to Jerusalem,

2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the
East and have come to worship Him."

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired
of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out
of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the
star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the young Child, and
when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother,
and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented
gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed
for their own country another way.

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream,
saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring
you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and
he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts,
from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise
men.

17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping
for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt,

20 saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those
who sought the young Child's life are dead."

21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was
afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of
Galilee.

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

NKJV
Herod - The Herodians
Herod - The Hasmoneans
Herod - The Descendants of Herod and Mariamne
Herod - The Descendants of Herod and Other Wives