The Herod's of the Bible...
The Herod’s Of The Bible
- The Herod families were IDUMEANS. They were from EDOM (Edomites). Which means that they were decedents from Abraham through Isaac then Esau, not Isaac then Jacob. They saw themselves as Jews and they participated in God’s covenant with Abraham, but their ancestors did not go to Egypt with Joseph and did not return with Moses and Joshua.
- So they were Arabian Jews that allied themselves with Rome.
- In 63 BC Pompey the Great of Rome invaded Palestine for the Roman Empire and Antipater joined forces with him.
- When Julius Caesar defeated Pompey the Great, Antipater joined forces with Caesar. Then he was named Chief Minister (Procurator) of Judea and given the rights to be a Roman citizen in 47 B.C. Because Antipater along with 3,000 men rescued the besieged Caesar in Alexandria.
- Antipater was murdered by poison in 43 B.C.
- At his death Antipater names his son Phasael the governor of Jerusalem and Herod (Herod the Great) the governor of Galilee.
HEROD THE GREAT
(son of Antipater)
- Mark Antony named Herod the Great “King of the Jews” and he oversaw all of Judea in 41 B.C.
- By 37 B.C. Herod the Great was in full control of Judea and his only challenge was the Hasmoneans, which was a Jewish family of priests. The Hasmoneans were often referred to as the Maccabees.
- So Herod the Great married the Hasmonean princess to stop their opposition to his rule of Judea.
- Herod the Great was known especially for his building works. He rebuilt Jericho and more importantly than that he rebuilt the Temple of Solomon and placed an eagle statue on the top making the Jews furious because the eagle was a symbol of Rome instead of God.
- Even after Mark Antony was overtaken by Caesar Augustus (Octavian) he was so impressed with Herod the Great that he gave him more territory and influence in Rome. Herod the Great even told Caesar Augustus that he fought against him with Mark Antony.
- In Herod the Great's old age he became mentally crazy and unstable. He killed his wife who was the princess of the Hasmoneans (Maccabees) as well as his son named after his father Antipater because he thought he was after his kingship.
- Caesar Augustus (Octavian) even commented on his craziness and thought he was completely unstable.
- Herod the Great attempted suicide many times but always failed.
- As stated in the Bible, Herod the Great was known for his craziness and jealousy. Herod the Great heard that the "King of the Jews" was going to be born as a baby This was the name which was given to him from Mark Antony. He was so jealous of this that he decided to have all the boy babies 2 years old and younger murdered.
- Herod the Great died of natural causes in Jericho in 4 B.C. and that is where the scripture of Matthew 2:13 took place. The angel told Joseph it was safe for them to return home and so they did.
HEROD ARCHELAUS
(son
of Herod the Great)
- In Herod the Great’s will he passed his territories onto his three sons. Herod Archelaus was given Judea. Caesar Augustus (Octavius) allowed Herod Archelaus to be ETHNARCH (Governor of a province) of Judea instead of King like his father Herod the Great.
- He was very unpopular with the Jewish people because his father was a Jew (Edomite = from the line of Esau) and his mother was a Samaria woman. Jews were not even allowed to talk to a Samarian.
- The Jews rose against his rule and because of this he was sent to trial in Rome. His Ethnarch was taken away and he was exiled to Gaul.
- Joseph (Jesus’ dad) was still scared to return because Herod Archelaus had taken over for his father. Matthew 2:22.
HEROD
PHILIP
(son
of Herod the Great)
- Herod Philip was also given a territory according to the will of his father Herod the Great.
- Herod Philip was the TETRARCH (a governor of one of four divisions of a country or province. One of four joint rulers.) The countries in which he was Tetrarch were Iturea, Gaulanitis, and Trachonitis.
- Herod Philip married his cousin Herodias who was married to their Uncle who was living in Rome.
- Then Herodias divorced Philip to marry his brother Herod Antipas.
HEROD
ANTIPAS
(son
of Herod the Great)
- Herod Antipas was given a territory from, his father, Herod the Great's will; as well.
- Herod Antipas was the TETRARCH (a governor of one of four divisions of a country of province. One of four joint rulers.) The countries in which he was Tetrarch were Galilee, Northern Palestine and Perea.
- In The Bible he is named Herod the Tetrarch.
- Matthew 14:1-12 it was Herod Antipas's (Herod the Tetrarch) birthday party and his step-daughter/niece danced for his party and he loved it. Therefore, granted her anything she wanted. Her mom Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herodias wanted John the Baptist dead because he and the Jews of that time were strongly opposed to the breaking of the Mosaic Law that was running rampant through this family line (DIVORCE). So they had John the Baptist beheaded.
- Also, it was Herod Antipas (Herod the Tetrarch) who witnessed and assisted in the feat that his father Herod the Great tried to accomplish; which was the DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST Luke 23:6-12.
- Herod Antipas is also mentioned in Luke 23:13, Mark 8:15, and Acts 4:27.
HEROD
AGRIPPA THE 1st
(grandson
of Herod the Great)
- Herod the Great and his wife Mariamne Princess of the Hasmoneans (Maccabees), whom he killed, had two sons. The sons names were Alexander and Aristobulus. They also had a daughter named Herodias who married Herod Philip and Herod Antipas (both mentioned above).
- Aristobulus married a lady by the name of Bernice. They had a son named Herod Agrippa.
- He was made tetrarch of the provinces formerly held by Lysanias II and ultimately possessed the entire kingdom of his grandfather, Herod the Great, with the title of king.
- On the second day of a festival held in honor of the emperor Claudius, he appeared in the great theatre of Caesarea. "The king came clothed in magnificent robes, of which silver was the costly brilliant material. It was early in the day, and the sun's rays fell on the king, so that the eyes of the beholders were dazzled with the brightness, which surrounded him. Voices here and there from the crowd exclaimed that it was the apparition of something divine. And when he spoke and made an oration to them, they gave a shout, saying, 'It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.' But in the midst of this idolatrous ostentation an angel of God suddenly smote him. Which took place in Acts 12:20-23.
- Herod Aggripa was also the person who killed James the brother of John the Apostle with the sword. He also had Peter but in prison in Acts 12:1-5.
HEROD
AGRIPPA THE 2nd
(great-grandson
of Herod the Great and son of Herod Agrippa the 1st)
- The emperor of Rome, Claudius made him tetrarch of the provinces of Philip and Lysanias, with the title of king.
- He enlarged the city of Caesarea Philippi, and called it Neronias, in honor of Nero.
- It was before him and his sister (Berenice) that Paul made his defense at Caesarea (Acts 25:12-27).
- Herod Agrippa the 2nd is found throughout Acts 25:13-27 and Acts 26:1-32.
- Herod Agrippa the 2nd enjoyed talking with Paul and even called himself a Christian.
- He died at Rome A.D. 100, in the third year of the emperor Trajan.
FELIX
AND DRUSILLA
(Drusilla
was the daughter of Herod Agrippa the 1st)
- Drusilla was the daughter of Herod Agrippa the 1st. She married Felix who was the Roman Procurator.
- Drusilla spoke on behalf of Paul to her husband Felix in Acts 24:24 to encourage compassionate treatment for Paul.
So there you have it....
Works Cited:
ESV Study Bible
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/ebd/ebd176.htm
http://www.sundayschoollessons.com/herod.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodian_Kingdom
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