Herod(herod the great, herod antipas, herod agrippa)
“Hero-like”
Summary
Herod was the name of several rulers of the Idumean dynasty who governed Judea and surrounding regions during the time of Christ and the apostles, most notably Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, and Herod Agrippa.
☩Family Origin
The Herodian family was of Idumean descent, aliens by race but Jews in faith. The Idumeans had been conquered and converted to Judaism by John Hyrcanus around 130 B.C., and from then remained constant to their new religion, regarding Jerusalem as their mother city. Various accounts exist of their ancestry—Jewish partisans claimed noble Babylonian descent while early Christian writers represented their origin as utterly mean and servile. Their general policy centered on establishing a great independent kingdom where Judaism would serve the consolidation of the state.
☩Herod the Great
Herod the Great was the second son of Antipater and Cypros, an Arabian woman of noble descent. In 47 B.C. he was appointed governor of Galilee, and in 40 B.C. the Roman Senate appointed him king of Judea. With Roman help he captured Jerusalem in 37 B.C. and established his authority. He was known for both magnificent building projects, including the reconstruction of the temple, and terrible acts of bloodshed within his own family, executing his wife Mariamne and several sons. His final act of cruelty was ordering the slaughter of male infants in Bethlehem upon hearing of Christ's birth. He died in 4 B.C., aged about sixty-nine, of a terrible disease.
☩Herod Antipas
Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great by the Samaritan Malthace and became tetrarch of Galilee and Perea after his father's death in 4 B.C. He ruled until A.D. 39 when he was banished to Gaul through the intrigues of Herod Agrippa. He is held up to reproach in the Gospels for his scandalous marriage to Herodias, his half-brother's wife, and for beheading John the Baptist at her instigation. Jesus called him 'that fox,' and Pilate sent Jesus to Antipas during His trial. Antipas and Pilate became friends that day, having previously been enemies.
☩Herod Agrippa I
Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great, son of Aristobulus. After being raised in Rome and experiencing various misfortunes, he gained favor with the emperor Caligula and eventually ruled over territories greater than any Jewish king had possessed. He showed himself a strict observer of the law and sought to win favor with the Pharisees. To please the Jews, he killed James the son of Zebedee with the sword and imprisoned Peter, who miraculously escaped. His sudden death at Caesarea came as divine judgment when he accepted the people's acclamation as a god.
☩Herod Agrippa II
Herod Agrippa II was the son of Agrippa I and was only seventeen when his father died. Though initially denied his father's kingdom, he was later given territories east and northeast of the Sea of Galilee. A Roman at heart, he remained loyal to the imperial power during the Jewish revolt. It was before this king that the apostle Paul made his famous defense, prompting Agrippa's response, 'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.'
Related Verses43 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Herod," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Herod," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Herod," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).