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Heroic Herods?
The word “Herod” means “heroic” which is somewhat of a misnomer as it applies to Herods of the Bible. The kings in the line of Herods found in the scriptures, carry us through the preaching of John the Baptist, the birth of Christ, the establishment of his kingdom, and the last part of the history of the book of Acts. In none of the scriptural references do the accounts speak favorably of them. In varying degrees they were immoral and jealous. They did not rule by truth and right but by typical political maneuvering. Though God did not make them evil, he used their evil to accomplish the salvation of men through his providence in the eternal plan of redemption by his son.
The Herods were of Idumaean descent rather than Jewish. Though Herod the Great circulated a legend of Jewish family decent, there is no truth in it. The Idumaean’s were conquered by John Hyrcanus in 125 BC and embodied the Asmonean kingdom through forced circumcision but they were never of Jewish lineage.
The Herod family sprang from Herod Antipas (died 78 BC). He was appointed governor of Idumaea by Alexander Jannaeus and was succeeded by his son Antipater who died at the hand of an assassin in 43 BC. Antipater had three sons and one daughter (Salome) but the most notable of the sons was Herod the Great, king of Judaea from 37BC to 4 AD.
Josephus records much of Herod The Great’s history in “Antiquities and Jewish Wars.” He was cunning politically and was able to allude several plots on his life. When he regained power in Judaea, after returning from Rome, he introduced much of the Roman style of living that was offensive to the Jews. In spite of Jewish opposition he was able to influence many of the younger generation. They formed a sect known as the Herodians -- gentiles in dress and manner of life but Jews in outward religious form (Matthew 22:16; Mark 3:6; 12:13).
Because he was afraid of the Asmonean influence, he murdered his wife Mariamne, his mother-in-law, Alexandria, and his two sons by Mariamne, Artistobulus and Alexander in 7 BC. This prompted Caesar Augustus to exclaim: “I would rather be Herod’s hog than his son.” “Herod’s Temple,” referenced in John 2:20, was perhaps his greatest building feat. It was supposed to have surpassed Solomon’s temple in beauty. Bible history presents his ruthlessness at the birth of Jesus when he massacred thousands of innocent babies in an effort to kill the king Jesus (Matthew 2:1-ff). After murdering his two older sons, Aristobulus and Alexander, he had three sons left. His third son was Herod Phillip who is referenced in Mark 6:17 but about whom little is known. The most notable son was Herod Antipas.
The one outstanding feat of Herod Antipas was his beheading of John the Baptist – quite a noteworthy accomplishment for which one should be recorded in the annals of history (Matthew 14:1-10; Luke 3:1; 13:31). Of course, murdering John was not his own doing. It was actually an outgrowth of a decision earlier in his life to violate God’s commandment about marrying his brother’s wife (Leviticus 18:16). But, even if Herodias was not his brother’s wife, he still had no right to her. One would have to conclude that Herodias was cut from the same mold as Jezebel of the OT (cf. 1 Kings 21:1-ff). She used cunning and deceit to accomplish her revengence on John for condemning her relationship with Herod. Herod Antipas was the king of Judaea who was instrumental in causing Jesus’ death (Luke 23:7-12).
Another Herod comes to our attention a little later. He is Herod Agrippa I, the son of Aristobulus whom Herod the Great had murdered. Following the pattern of his ancestors, his ploy to please the Jews was first to kill the apostle James, then he proceeded to put Peter in prison (Acts 12:1-23). To Luke’s account of his death in Acts 12:23, can be added the more graphic description by the Jewish Historian, Josephus, who said that he lingered for five days in severe pain in his belly before finally dying (Antiquities XIX, ch. VIII, 2). He had three children – Herod Agrippa II, Bernie (Acts 25:27) who lived with her brother Agrippa II (and more is implied by history than just staying in his house), and Drusilla (Acts 24:24) the wife of Felix.
Our path of Herods follows Herod Agrippa II before whom Paul made a defense (Acts 25:13; 26:32; 26:1-ff). Paul was persuaded that Herod Agrippa knew the matters concerning Jesus. The statement for which he is renowned is “…almost thou persuades me to be a Christian.” But there is no evidence that his knowledge ever made a change in his life.
In the lives of these Herod kings, God’s providence is seen. He did not make them evil, but he used their evil to fulfill prophecy, to enable Jesus to begin his ministry and be crucified. Personally, I would prefer not to be imprinted in history rather than to have my name found as the Herods were.
But there is another book – a record kept by God about the righteous and the unrighteous (Revelation 20:10-ff). There is no doubt in mind that the Herodian lineage is not inscribed in the book of life. But the thing that really concerns me is where my name is written, and, also, where is your name recorded? – Jim R. Everett
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