The Herods

There were many Herods, five of whom are mentioned in the New Testament.

• Herod The Great

  • An Idumean put in place over the Jews by the Romans.

  • The Magi visited Herod the Great who subsequently ordered the killing of all of the children in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-18).

  • Herod the Great also rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem (as well as building many other buildings)

  • He had 10 wives

  • After Herod's death, his kingdom was divided into four parts by Caesar Augustus which we ruled by Herod's sister, Salome I, and his sons:

    • Solome I - ruled a small region on the coast, north of the current Gaza strip, including Jamnia and Azatos.

    • Herod Archelaus - tetrarch of Judea, Idumaea and Samaria

    • Herod Antipas - tetrarch of Galilee and Perea.

    • Herod Philip - tetrarch of the north-eastern part of Galilee (east of the Jordan River).

Herod had many children including:

• Aristobulus IV

  • Is not mentioned in scripture but his children are.

  • Murdered by his father

  • But father to:

    • Herod Agrippa I (12 B.C. - 44 A.D.)

      • Became tetrarch over Judea.

      • Martyred James and had Peter arrested (Acts 12:1-3).

      • Herod Agrippa I as struck down for assuming glory that should have gone to God (Acts 12:21-23)

      • Was the father of...

        • Herod Agrippa II (27-100 A.D., reigned ).

          • Paul was brought before Agrippa II in Caesarea (Acts 25:13-26:32). Agrippa found not fault in Paul.

          • Last of the Herod dynasty.

    • Herodias

      • Was married off to Herod II, her great uncle.

        • Herod II and Herodias had a daughter...

          • Salome.

            • Was instrumental in the execution of John the Baptiser (see below).

            • Salome married Philip the Tetrarch.

      • After divorcing Herod II, Herodias married his brother, Herod Antipas (who was condemned by John the Baptiser).

• Herod Archelaus (23 B.C. - 18 A.D., reigned 4 B.C. - 6 A.D.)

  • Ruled over Judea, Samaria and Idumea.

  • Herod Archelaus reigned in Judea when Mary, Joseph and Jesus returned from Egypt, causing them to move to Galilee (Matthew 2:22).

  • Was deposed by Caesar Augustus.

• Herod Philip (Philip the Tetrarch)

  • Tetrarch of the north-eastern region of Galilee (Luke 3:1).

  • Rebuilt Caesarea Philippi.

  • Married Salome.

  • Died without an heir. His territory became part of Syria.

• Herod II

  • Was the first husband of Herodias before she married his brother, Herod Antipas (Mark 6:17).

  • Because he is named as Philip in Matthew 14:3 and Mark 6:17, he is sometimes called Herod Philip (not to be confused with Philip The Tetrarch).

• Herod Antipas (20 B.C. - 39 A.D., reigned 4 B.C. - 39 A.D.)

  • Tetrarch over Galilee and Perea  (4 B.C. - 39 A.D.). Was the Herod of Jesus' ministry period.

  • Was condemned by John the Baptiser for marrying the ex-wife of his brother, Philip (Mark 6:17-20).

  • Herod Antipas promised Salome anything she wanted if she would dance for him. Prompted by her mother, Herodias, she asked for the head of John the Baptiser on a plate. Herod Antipas subsequently executed John (Mark 6).

  • Worried that Jesus was John the Baptiser back from the dead (Matt hew14)

  • Was in Jerusalem when Jesus was on trial and, because Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas for trial. Herod Antipas was keen to see Jesus perform a miracle.

  • Herod Antipas had no authority to execute Jesus so sent him back to Pilate.

  • Was exiled to Gaul.