The Herod Dynasty

With Christmas upon us, it is profitable that we cover the different Herods in the Gospel stories and Acts. The Herodian Dynasty began with Herod the Great. Herod was the ruler of Palestine during the days of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus when Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1; Luke 3:1). He was made king by the Romans in 40 BC. Herod was extremely disliked by the Jews because of his cruelty and ruthlessness. He ordered the execution of several wives, three sons, and other family members. His most notable achievement was the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (first constructed in 516 BC)—a project that required almost fifty years. This is the same Herod visited by the wise men. Because the wise men did not return to disclose the location of Baby Jesus, Herod massacred all the male infants in Bethlehem two years and younger (Matt. 2). Herod died suddenly in 4 BC. He suffered fever, intolerable itching, stomach and intestinal infections, body tumors, and gangrene of the private parts. After his death, Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus divided the kingdom among Herod’s sons.

One son, Archelaus, ruled both Judea and Samaria. Because of Archelaus’ viciousness, Joseph was warned in a dream not to return to Judea. Instead, Joseph took Jesus and Mary to the city of Nazareth in the province of Galilee (Matt 2:22-23). Archelaus was a tyrant like his father. He irritated the Jews and Samaritans so intensely that Emperor Augustus deposed him in 6 AD.

Another son, Herod Antipas, became tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea. After divorcing his first wife, he married Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Herod Philip. Later, John the Baptist was imprisoned by Antipas for publicly accusing him of adultery. At Herod’s birthday celebration, Herodias’ daughter Salome danced for the monarch. Enthralled with Salome’s dance, Herod offered her anything she wanted. Salome consulted her mother and came back to say she wanted John the Baptist’s head on a platter. Herod acquiesced and had John beheaded (Matt 14: 1-12). Herod Antipas appeared again at the trial of Jesus. Pontius Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at the time. Herod ordered his soldiers to mock Jesus and sent him back to Pilate for sentencing (Luke 23:6-16). Antipas died in exile in 39 AD.

Herod’s third son, Philip, was placed in charge of the provinces between the Jordan River and Damascus. His capital was Caesarea Philippi. In the year 30, he married Salome, who had danced for Herod Antipas. Phillip died in 34 AD.

Herod the Great’s grandson, Agrippa I, was named ruler over all of Palestine by the Roman Emperor Caligula in 41 AD, so that he finally reigned over the entire kingdom of his grandfather. Agrippa I put James the Apostle to death and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:1-3). Because of his cruelty and blasphemy, Agrippa I was slain by an angel of the Lord. He died in 44 AD, being eaten by worms (Acts 12: 23).

In AD 50, Agrippa II (Agrippa I’s son) was made king. When Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea, Agrippa II and his sister Bernice came to listen to Paul’s testimony. Agrippa could find no fault in Paul, but the apostle had appealed to Rome; consequently, Agrippa had no power to set him free (Acts 25:13–26:32). Agrippa II died childless at the age of seventy in 92 AD. At his death, the Herodian Dynasty disappeared from the stage of history. God permitted Fate to deal harshly with the evil Herod family.

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