Archelaus(archaelaus)
Summary
The son of Herod the Great who ruled Judea, Samaria, and Idumea as ethnarch after his father's death, whose tyranny caused Joseph to settle in Galilee instead.
☩Accession and Territory
Archelaus was the son of Herod the Great by Malthace, a Samaritan, and was raised in Rome with his brother Antipas. At Herod's death in 4 BC, his kingdom was divided among three sons. Archelaus received Idumea, Judea, Samaria, and the maritime cities, including Jerusalem. Augustus refused him the title 'king,' granting only 'ethnarch,' though Matthew indicates he did effectively reign.
☩Tyrannical Character
Archelaus demonstrated his cruelty at the very beginning of his reign. When some mourned those Herod had martyred for removing the golden eagle from the temple, Archelaus caused his cavalry to enclose and slay 3,000 men at the temple during Passover. This notorious act of violence was likely what made Joseph afraid to bring the child Jesus into his territory, causing him to turn aside to Galilee under the less cruel Antipas.
☩Downfall
In the tenth year of his reign (AD 6), both his brothers and his subjects lodged complaints against his tyranny with Rome. As a consequence, he was deposed and banished to Vienne in Gaul, where he died. His illegal marriage to Glaphyra, his brother Alexander's former wife who had children by Alexander, had also given offense to the Jews.
Related Verses1 mention
Matthew· 1 verse
References
- 1.George Morrish, "Archelaus," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Archelaus," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Archelaus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).