Herod the Great

Herod I or Herod the Great (Hebrew: Hordos הוֹרְדוֹס) was a major Roman client-king of Judaea approximately 37-4 B.C.E. in Jerusalem.

Ruebens' Massacre of the Innocents

Herod is best known from the Christian Bible, which gives an account of his being visited by wise men from the east who tell him of the impending birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. Sensing a threat to his kingship, Herod reacts by slaughtering all the infant boys in the region in what has come to be known as the Massacre of the Innocents. Only in Matthew's Gospel (chapter 2) is this story mentioned, and it's historicity is much debated. The details of Herod's biography can best be gleaned from the works of the 1st century C.E. Jewish historiographer Josephus.

Herod has entered posterity as a ruthless ruler on account of his well known cruelty to close members of his own family in addition to the legend of the massacre at Bethlehem. However, he was also an able and far-sighted administrator who helped in building the economic might of Judaea — founding cities, expnading religious sites, developing agricultural projects, and creating a relatively stable government during his long reign.

His most famous project was rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, greatly enlarging it and making it into the most beautiful in its time. Some of Herod's other achievements include: the rebuilding the water supplies for Jerusalem, rebuilding the Palace in Jerusalem, refurbishing and constructing fortresses such as Masada and Herodion, and creating new cities such as Caesarea Maritima. By extracting large quantities of asphalt from the Dead Sea, he shared with Cleopatra of Egypt a monopoly on this commodity's important use in ship building. He leased copper mines on Cyprus from the Emperor and held a dominant position in the production of bronze.

Herod's fatal flaw appears to have been a paranoid suspicion created by insecurity about his place on the throne. This led him to kill several of his sons, as well as a wife and a mother-in-law, and makes plausible the biblical story of the Massacre of the Innocents.

Biography

Family Background

Herod the Great arose from a wealthy, influential Idumaean family. The Idumaeans were the successors to the Edomites, descendants of Esau, of the Hebrew Bible. When the Maccabean ruler John Hyrcanus conquered Idumea in 130-140 B.C.E., he required all Idumaeans to obey Jewish law or to leave, and thus most Idumaeans thus converted to Judaism.

The taking of Jerusalem by Herod the Great by Jean Fouquet

Herod identified himself Jewish, although this was subject to challenge on the basis of a strict interpretation of the scriptures. His father Antipater the Idumaean, founder of the Herodian dynaster, and his mother was Cypros, a princess from Petra in Nabatea, east of the Jordan River. The family rubbed shoulders with the great in Rome, such as Pompey and Cassius. In 47 B.C.E. Antipater was appointed Procurator over Judea, and he in turn appointed Herod governor of the Galilee at the age of 25.

Antipas was poisoned in 43 B.C.E., allegedly by a tax-collector, Herod had the murderer executed. This event may have been at the root of Herod's worries concerning the his own safety on the throne. Returning from a campaign, he was offered the betrothal to the teenage Hasmoneanprincess Mariamne. The match was extremely attractive to him as in greatly increased his credentials as a Jewish ruler. He banished his first wife and her three-year-old and married Mariamne.

Herod becomes King

In 40 B.C.E., Antigonos and the Parthians invaded Judea, and Herod fled Jerusalem to Rome. Promising to win back the terriroty for Rome, he was given the title of King of Judaea by Mark Antony. Herod finally conquered Judea and began to rule as king around 37 b.c.e.. He reigned for 34 years.

In 36, Herod named Mirianmne's 17-year-old brother Aristobulus III, high priest, simultaneously rewarding the Hasmonean party and diminishing the possibillity that Aristobulus might challenge him as a more legitimate Jewish ruler. A year later, Aristobulus drowned at a party. Although no evidence was produced against Herod, rumors persisted that he had eliminated a possible rival.

Herod further solidified his position in 32-31 by gaining victory in the war against the Nabateans, who had rebelled against his rule. Meanwhile in imperial politics, Octavian had defeated Mark Antony. Herod declared quickly declared his allegiance to Octavian, who, as Ceasar Augustus confirmd his as King of Judea in 30.

Family Problems

While Herod thus skillfully navigated the treacherous political waters at the highest levels, he now proved incapable of keeping his own house in order. In 29 Herod began to suspect that Miriame and her family were determined to dethrone him. He had Miriamme put on trial on a charge of adultery. Her mother, Alexandra, perhaps under duress, was a witness against her. Mariamne was convicted and reportedly deported herself with great dignity at her execution. She was 25 years of age, having given birth to five children in seven years. Alexandra soon retaliated against Herod by declaring herself Queen, claiming that Herod was mentally unfit to serve. Herod reportedly executed her without trial.

Continuing to fear a conspiracy from the Hasmonean faction, Herod then executed his brother-in-law Kostobar.

He marries his third wife, (23) also named Mariamne, the daughter of high priest Simon.

13 — Herod makes his firstborn son Antipater his primary heir in his will.

12 — Herod suspects Alexandros and Aristobulos, his sons from his marriage to the first Mariamne, of threatening his life. He takes them to Aquileia to be tried; but Augustus intervenes to reconcile the three.

He amends his will so that Alexander and Aristobulos rise in the royal succession, but Antipater would be higher in the succession.

Herod again suspects his son Alexander intends to kill him.

8 — Herod is reconciled with Augustus. This gives him permission to proceed legally against his sons, whom he now formally charges with high treason.

7 — Mariamne's sons are found guilty before a Roman court in Berytos (Beirut) and executed. Antipater is designated sole successor to the throne. In second place the succession incorporates Herod Philip, a son from the second Mariamne.

5 — Now Antipater is charged with intended murder of Herod and convicted, but the death sentence must be approved by the Emperor. Herod makes his son from his 4th marriage, Herod Antipas, his new successor. Herod becomes seriously ill.

As he has just executed his sole heir, Herod again changes his will: Archelaus (from the marriage with Malthace) will rule as titular King and overlord of the Herod the Great's entire kingdom, while Antipas (from Malthace) and Philip (from the fifth marriage with Cleopatra of Jerusalem) will govern as Tetrarchs over Galilee, Peraea, other territories.

Herod the Builder

Large festival is held in Jerusalem to celebrate the completion of Herod's newly built theatre and amphitheatre.

In 27, Herod rebuilt the fromer northern capital of Samaria to honour Augustus), renaming it Sebaste.

25 — Facing drought, famine, and epidemics, Herod imports grain from Egypt and starts an major aid programme. He also lowers taxes by one third.

23 — Herod builds a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodian in Judaea.

22 — Building starts on Caesarea Maritima and its harbour. Rome rewards his successes by adding the regions Trachonitis, Batanaea and Auranitis to his rule.

20 — Probably date of the Herod's massive expansion of the starts on the Temple of Jerusalem.

18 — Herod travels for the second time to Rome.

14 — Herod give aid to the Jews in Anatolia and Cyrene. Taxes lowered in Judea, which is experiencing a period of prosperity.

Herod supports the financially strapped Olympic Games and ensures their future.

10 — The newly expanded Temple in Jerusalem is inaugurated. War against the Nabateans.

9 — The inauguration of Caesarea Maritima presents a marvellous spectacle. However, Herod's reputation with Augustus falls due to the continuing costly war against the Nabateans.

6 — Herod proceeds harshly against the Pharisees, some of whom had announced that the birth of the Messiah would mean the end of his rule. Their rivals, the Sadducees, gain the upper hand in Jerusalem politics and control of the Temple.

4 — Young Torah-students smash the golden Roman eagle over the main entrance of the Temple of Jerusalem after the Pharisee teachers claim it is a pagan symbol. Herod arrests them, brings them to court, sentences and punishes them. The emperor Augustus approves of the death penalty for Antipater, and the death sentence is execture.

Timeline of Herod's Reign

37 — Herod begins to reign as King of Judea.

36 — Herod makes his 17-year-old brother-in-law, Aristobulus III, high priest, fearing that the Jews would declare him king otherwise.

35 — Aristobulus drowns at a party.

Copper coin of Herod, bearing the legend "Basileus Herodon" on the obverse and a Macedonian sun-symbol on the reverse.

32 — Start of the war against Nabatea, with victory one year later.

31 — Octavian defeats Mark Antony. Herod declares his allegiance to Octavian, (later called Augustus).

30 — Octavian confirms Herod as King of Judaea.

29 — Herod puts Miriamme on trial on a charge of adultery. Writings state that Mariamne was calm and serene at her execution at the age of 25, having given birth to 5 children in 7 years. Mariamne's mother, Alexandra, declares herself Queen, claiming that Herod was mentally unfit to serve. Herod executes her without trial.

28 — Herod executes his brother-in-law Kostobar for conspiracy. Large festival is held in Jerusalem to celebrate the completion of Herod's newly built theatre and amphitheatre.

27 — An assassination attempt on Herod is fioled. Herod rebuilds the northern city of Samaria to honour Augustus) and renames it Sebaste.

25 — Facing drought, famine, and epidemics, Herod imports grain from Egypt and starts an major aid programme. He also lowers taxes by one third.

23 — Herod builds a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodian in Judaea. He marries his third wife, also named Mariamne, the daughter of high priest Simon.

22 — Building starts on Caesarea Maritima and its harbour. Rome rewards his successes by adding the regions Trachonitis, Batanaea and Auranitis to his rule.

20 — Probably date of the Herod's massive expansion of the starts on the Temple of Jerusalem.

18 — Herod travels for the second time to Rome.

14 — Herod give aid to the Jews in Anatolia and Cyrene. Taxes lowered in Judea, which is experiencing a period of prosperity.

13 — Herod makes his firstborn son Antipater his primary heir in his will.

12 — Herod suspects Alexandros and Aristobulos, his sons from his marriage to the first Mariamne, of threatening his life. He takes them to Aquileia to be tried; but Augustus intervenes to reconcile the three. Herod supports the financially strapped Olympic Games and ensures their future. He amends his will so that Alexander and Aristobulos rise in the royal succession, but Antipater would be higher in the succession.

10 — The newly expanded Temple in Jerusalem is inaugurated. War against the Nabateans.

9 — The inauguration of Caesarea Maritima presents a marvellous spectacle. However, Herod's reputation with Augustus falls due to the continuing costly war against the Nabateans. Herod again suspects his son Alexander intends to kill him.

8 — Herod is reconciled with Augustus. This gives him permission to proceed legally against his sons, whom he now formally charges with high treason.

7 — Mariamne's sons are found guilty before a Roman court in Berytos (Beirut) and executed. Antipater is designated sole successor to the throne. In second place the succession incorporates Herod Philip, a son from the second Mariamne.

6 — Herod proceeds harshly against the Pharisees, some of whom had announced that the birth of the Messiah would mean the end of his rule. Their rivals, the Sadducees, gain the upper hand in Jerusalem politics and control of the Temple.

5 — Now Antipater is charged with intended murder of Herod and convicted, but the death sentence must be approved by the Emperor. Herod makes his son from his 4th marriage, Herod Antipas, his new successor. Herod becomes seriously ill.

4 — Young Torah-students smash the golden Roman eagle over the main entrance of the Temple of Jerusalem after the Pharisee teachers claim it is a pagan symbol. Herod arrests them, brings them to court, sentences and punishes them. The emperor Augustus approves of the death penalty for Antipater, and the death sentence is execture.

As he has just executed his sole heir, Herod again changes his will: Archelaus (from the marriage with Malthace) will rule as titular King and overlord of the Herod the Great's entire kingdom, while Antipas (from Malthace) and Philip (from the fifth marriage with Cleopatra of Jerusalem) will govern as Tetrarchs over Galilee, Peraea, other territories.

Herod probably died at the end of March, or early April of 4 B.C.E. As Augustus does not confirm his will, no one gets the title of King. However, the three sons do get the stated territories.

Date of Herod's death

Some chronologers hold that he died in the year 5, 4 or 1 B.C.E. . Their chronology is based to a large extent on Josephus’ history. In dating the time that Herod was appointed king by Rome, Josephus uses a "consular dating" whereby Josephus locates the event as occurring during the rule of certain Roman consuls (Onischuk note-Consular Dating was highly variable and therefore inaccurate - see Julian Calendar and Anno Domini). According to this, Herod's appointment as king would be in 40 B.C.E., but the data of another published Roman historian, Appianos - book "Appianos Romaika" (Appian's Roman History) published 2nd Century AD], would place the event in 39 B.C.E. By the same method Josephus places Herod's capture of Jerusalem in 37 B.C.E., but he also says that this occurred 27 years after the capture of the city by Pompey (which was in 63 B.C.E.). (Jewish Antiquities, XIV, 487, 488 [xvi, 4]) Josephus's reference to that latter event would make the date of Herod's taking the city of Jerusalem 36 B.C.E. — Appianos 35B.C.E. Now, Josephus says that Herod died 37 years from the time that he was appointed king by the Romans, and 34 years after he took Jerusalem. (Jewish Antiquities, XVII, 190, 191 [viii, 1]) This might indicate that the date of his death was 2 B.C.E. or perhaps 1 B.C.E. using Josephus's consular dating, whereas Appianos would place the date at 1 B.C.E. or 1 C.E.

According to Josephus, Herod died not long after an eclipse of the moon and before a Passover. (Jewish Antiquities, XVII, 167 [vi, 4]; 213 [ix, 3]) Since there was a PARTIAL eclipse on March 11, 4 B.C.E. (March 13, Julian), some have concluded that this was the eclipse referred to by Josephus.

However, there was a total eclipse of the moon January 9-10, 1 C.E., about three months before Passover, which would give a logical sequence of events [Onischuk]. When we consider the Annunciation of Christ (see Anno Domini) occurred March 25, just after Jesus's birth, it is possible that Jesus was born in late February-early March, during Pisces zodiacal period, followed by Passover. Two of the earliest symbols of Christianity were the symbol of the Ark, and zodiacal symbol of Pisces the Fish.

Another line of calculation centres around the age of Herod at the time of his death. Josephus says that he was about 70 years old. He says that at the time Herod received his appointment as governor of Galilee (which is generally dated 47 B.C.E.), he was 15 years old; but this has been understood by scholars to be an error, 25 years evidently being intended. (Jewish Antiquities, XVII, 148 [vi, 1]; XIV, 158 [ix, 2]) Accordingly, Herod's death occurred in 2 B.C.E. or 1 B.C.E. whereas Appianos would place it at 1 B.C.E. or 1 C.E.

[Onischuk] also notes other possible sequences of events. Another total eclipse of the moon occurred July 17, 1 B.C.E., which could have marked King Herod's death. Before this, from February 1 B.C.E. to May 1 B.C.E. there was 3 months of a "Guiding Star" due to a near-conjunction of Jupiter-Regulus that was highly visible in the night sky [Onischuk-www.parkfoto.com]. This was followed by Jupiter and Venus conjunction in June 17-18 of 1 B.C.E., which may have been interpreted by astonomer-priests as the sign of the birth of Jesus when the blazing "star" of the pagan gods Jupiter (King of pagan gods) and Venus (goddess of Fertility) were merged in the heavens, home of pagan gods. The annunciation could then have been delayed until March of 1 C.E., on or near the spring solstice, an important time when all royalty, especially Kings, were announced for birth, so as to rightfully inherit the spirits of their ancestors and kingly predecessors during the springtime spiritual resurrection of all life [Knight&Lomas-The Hiram Key,1999]. Alternatively, it is also possible that due to the variable length of years of the Roman Consular calendar, that the perception of Josephus (not necessarily an astonomer) was that Passover was about to occur - this theory is supported by the Bible in passage(s) such as Mark 11:13 when Jesus cursed a fig tree that was barren as it was out of season - probably due to the same time shifted perceptions Josephus was given by the variable length years of Roman Consular Calendars.

Herod's date of death also indicates the latest time at which the birth of Jesus of Nazareth could have occurred. Herod's death is now established to have occurred at the latest in 1 C.E. [Appianos/Onischuk], and because Jesus was born before Herod died, the traditional day of Jesus' birth is not in doubt, but the year one to mark the beginning of the Christian Era correlates exactly with the original Julian Calendar, observations of Josephus, Roman Consular calendar year correction by Appianos, and Daniel Onischuk theories supported by verifiable astronomical data.

Marriages and Children

1. married Doris

• Son Antipater, executed 4 B.C.E.

2. married Mariamme (I.), daughter of Hasmonean Alexandros

• Son Alexandros, executed 7 B.C.E.
• Son Aristobulos, executed 7 B.C.E.
• Daughter Salampsio
• Daughter Cypros

3. married Mariamme (II.), daughter of High-Priest Simon

• Son Herod

4. married Malthace

• Son Herodes Archelaos - Ethnarch
• Son Herodes Antipas - Tetrarch
• Daughter Olympias

5. married Cleopatra of Jerusalem

• Son Herod Philip - Tetrarch
• Son Herod

6. married Pallas

• Son Phasael

7. married Phaidra

• Daughter Roxane

8. married Elpis

• Daughter Salome bint Herod I

9. married a cousin (name unknown)

• no known children

10. married a niece (name unknown)

• no known children

It is very probable that Herod had more children, especially with the last wives, and also that he had more daughters, as women among Romans at that time were not counted as important.

Herod in the New Testament

See main article Massacre of the Innocents

Herod the Great plays a minor role in The Gospel according to Matthew (ch. 2), which describes an event known as the Massacre of the Innocents.

Shortly after the birth of Jesus, Magi from the East visit Herod to inquire the whereabouts of "the one having been born king of the Jews", because they had seen his star in the east and therefore wanted to pay him homage. Herod, who is himself King of Judea, is alarmed at the prospect of the new-born king usurping his rule.

Herod is advised by the all the assembled chief priests and scribes of the people that the Prophet had written that the "Anointed One" (Grk. ho christos) is to be born in Bethlehem of Judea. Herod therefore sends the Magi to Bethlehem, instructing them to search for the child, and that, when they find him, they should "report to me, so that I too may go and worship him". However, after they find Jesus, the Magi are warned in a dream not to report back to Herod. Similarly, Joseph is warned in a dream that Herod intends to kill Jesus, so Joseph and his family flee to Egypt in order to escape Herod. When Herod realizes he has been outwitted by the Magi, he gives orders to kill all boys of the age of two years and under in Bethlehem and its vicinity.

It should be noted, however, that the historical accuracy of this event is in question, since the author of the Gospel of Matthew may have had a religious motivation for presenting such events, and neither the other canonical gospel accounts nor any other document from the period makes any reference to such a massacre.

Herod the Great's son, Herod Antipas (who is also called Herod) is even more prominently featured in the New Testament for his role in Jesus's arrest and execution.

After Herod's death

After Herod's death, his kingdom was divided between three of his sons, namely Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Herod Philip, who however ruled only as tetrarchs rather than kings.

References and external links

• BBC Manchester/Discovery channel production broadcast 2004 March 14
• Family trees
• extract Britanicca Vol 5 page 879
• Encylopedia.com
• Outline of Great Books Volume I - King Herod: extracts from the works of Josephus
• Timeline 49 to 1 B.C.E.

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