Herod

History – Herod the Great

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Herod’s Desert Fortification—The Herodium

King Herod the Great was one of the most powerful men and greatest builders of all time. Yet, he was so despised that at his death he ordered the death of many prominent Jews, so there would be weeping in Jerusalem. He was buried at his desert palace, 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.” Jewish Wars, Flavius Josephus.

Herod the Great

For 40 years, Jewish history was dominated by Herod the Great. He was born about 73 B.C., the son of Antipater, who was an Idumean. The Idumeans were a tribe who had been forced by the Nabatean Arabs westward into southern Judea, where they had been forcibly converted to Judaism by the Hasmonean rulers of Palestine. The Idumeans were for this reason Jews of a recent and suspect background. At the same time they were shrewd and had no problem with making political deals with the Romans for their own advantage.

King Herod’s father, Antipater, governed them from about 47 B.C. He also served as an advisor to Hyrcanus, and gained the confidence of Pompey. When Julius Caesar was besieged in Alexandria in 48 B.C., it was Antipater who persuaded the Jews to aid Caesar. In gratitude Caesar gave the Jews important privileges.

Antipater’s son, Herod the Great, was an opportunist of the highest order. During the tumultuous years of the Roman civil wars he skillfully shifted his allegiance from Pompey to Caesar to Antony to Octavian (Augustus). Because he was such an able soldier the Romans valued his services. Rome needed a shrewd and capable agent in Palestine, and in Herod the Great they felt they had found such a man.

Herod Appointed King

Herod was appointed king of Judea by Marc Antony in 40 B.C., and was supported by Roman soldiers in his fight to gain control of Judea in 37.

Herod’s Pathological Character

Though successful in politics, Herod was bitterly unhappy in his private life. He married ten wives, including the beautiful Hasmonean princess, Mariamme, the granddaughter of both Hyrcan and Aristobulus. Though he loved her passionately, he suspected her of infidelity and had her executed along with her mother. Later, in 7 B.C., he had her two sons killed. Herod kept an uneasy peace by dealing ruthlessly with suspected rivals and troublemakers. He systematically killed off all living claimants to the Hasmonean kingship, including his young brother-in-law, the high priest Aristobulus. When he found that his favorite son, Antipater, had been plotting against him, he had him executed along with two of their brothers—just five days before his own death in 4 B.C.

The Roman Emperor Augustus said about Herod: “I would rather be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.” It is easy to imagine such a man ordering the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem for no better reason than a vague rumor that one had been born “King of the Jews.” This event 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. …

The Death of Herod

Herod died in 4 B.C. at the age of 69. …

The historian, Josephus, describes the death of Herod at great length. I will summarize the event:

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 despondency, 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.” Jewish Wars, Flavius Josephus.

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.

The Herodium

Herod the Great built this fortification in the desert in 37 B.C. 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 this astounding complex, the Herodium:

“Herod built round towers all about the top, and filled the remaining space with costly palaces … he brought a mighty quantity of water from a great distance, and raised an ascent of two hundred steps of purest white marble that led up to it. Its top was crowned with circular towers; its courtyard contained splendid structures.” Jewish Wars, Flavius Josephus.

www.bible-history.com/resource/ff_herod.htm, November 16, 2010.

Question & Answer – What was the relationship between King Agrippa and Herod?

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For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Acts 26:26–28.

Reviewing the Ellen G. White comments on the words spoken to Agrippa in the book of Acts, it appears that he came from the Herod family. She poses the question: “What were Agrippa’s thoughts? Did the mind of Agrippa at these words revert to the past history of his family, and their fruitless efforts against Him whom Paul was preaching? Did he think of his great-grandfather Herod, and the massacre of the innocent children of Bethlehem? of his great-uncle Antipas, and the murder of John the Baptist? of his own father, Agrippa 1, and the martyrdom of the apostle James? Did he see in the disasters which speedily befell these kings an evidence of the displeasure of God in consequence of their crimes against His servants? Did the pomp and display of that day remind Agrippa of the time when his own father, a monarch more powerful than he, stood in that same city, attired in glittering robes, while the people shouted that he was a god? Had he forgotten how, even before the admiring shouts had died away, vengeance, swift and terrible, had befallen the vainglorious king? Something of all this flitted across Agrippa’s memory; but his vanity was flattered by the brilliant scene before him, and pride and self-importance banished all nobler thoughts.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1066.

King Agrippa 11:

  • His great grandfather, Herod the Great, was the evil king who ordered all children two years old and under in Bethlehem killed (Matthew 2:16).
  • His great uncle Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, murdered John the Baptist (Matthew 14:6–10).
  • And his own father, Agrippa 1, caused the martyrdom of the apostle James and shortly thereafter an angel smote him and he suffered a most painful death (Acts 12:1–25).

In Sketches from the Life of Paul, 260, we are told: “One, at least, had been almost persuaded to accept of grace and pardon. But to be almost persuaded, means to put aside the proffered mercy, to be convinced of the right way, but to refuse to accept the cross of a crucified Redeemer.

“King Agrippa’s curiosity was satisfied, and rising from his seat, he signified that the interview was at an end. As the assembly dispersed, the case of Paul was freely discussed, and all agreed that, while he might be an enthusiast or a fanatic, he could not in any sense be regarded as a legal criminal; he had done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

Had King Agrippa accepted the grace and pardon offered, he would have become part of the family of God. However, to be “almost persuaded,” means to put aside the proffered mercy and be wholly lost.

Question & Answer – Was King Herod a Jew?

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Herod professed to be a proselyte of the Jewish faith.

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:1, 2).

“Herod was professedly a proselyte to the Jewish faith, and apparently very zealous in perpetuating the ceremonies of the law. The government of Judea was in his hands, subject to Claudius, the Roman emperor; he also held the position of tetrarch of Galilee. Herod was anxious to obtain the favor of the Jews, hoping thus to make secure his offices and honors. He therefore proceeded to carry out the desires of the Jews in persecuting the church of Christ. He began his work by spoiling the houses and goods of the believers; he then began to imprison the leading ones. He seized upon James and cast him into prison, and there sent an executioner to kill him with a sword, as another Herod had caused the prophet John to be beheaded. He then became bolder, seeing that the Jews were well pleased with his acts, and imprisoned Peter. These cruelties were performed during the sacred occasion of the Passover.” The Story of Redemption, 292.

“It was during the Passover that these cruelties were practiced. While the Jews were celebrating their deliverance from Egypt and pretending great zeal for the law of God, they were at the same time transgressing every principle of that law by persecuting and murdering the believers in Christ.” The Acts of the Apostles, 144.

“The people applauded the act of Herod in causing the death of James, though some of them complained of the private manner in which it was accomplished, maintaining that a public execution would have had the effect to more thoroughly intimidate all believers and sympathizers. Herod therefore held Peter in custody for the purpose of gratifying the Jews by the public spectacle of his death. But it was suggested to the ruler that it would not be safe to bring the veteran apostle out for execution before all the people who were assembled in Jerusalem for the Passover. It was feared that his venerable appearance might excite their pity and respect; they also dreaded lest he should make one of those powerful appeals which had frequently roused the people to investigate the life and character of Jesus Christ, and which they, with all their artifice, were totally unable to controvert. In such case, the Jews apprehended that his release would be demanded at the hands of the king.” The Story of Redemption, 292.