Changes

Herod's death is a major [[epoch]] of the New Testament, because Flavius [[Josephus]] records a precise regnal period: 37 years after the Senate had confirmed him as client-king, and 34 years following the execution of Aristobulus. Furthermore, Josephus includes an [[Astronomical dating|astronomical reference]], specifically to an eclipse of the [[moon]] that occurred shortly before his death. These events strongly suggest that Herod died in 4 BC.<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=Greetham2>Greetham, The Rev. Phil. "[http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/p_greetham/wisemen/chron2.html The Death of King Herod]." ''[http://www.btinternet.com/~prgreetham/Wisemen/home.html The Nativity Pages],'' 2001. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref> Ussher agrees with this, and calculates his death at November 25, 4 BC, which was the 7th day of the month Chisleu or [[Kislev]]. However, Josephus says that Herod died shortly before [[Passover]] in that year, which would have taken place in April. (The [[Julian calendar]] was then in use, this after Julius Caesar had compelled its adoption in 45 BC, shortly before his assassination.)

Herod's death is a major [[epoch]] of the New Testament, because Flavius [[Josephus]] records a precise regnal period: 37 years after the Senate had confirmed him as client-king, and 34 years following the execution of Aristobulus. Furthermore, Josephus includes an [[Astronomical dating|astronomical reference]], specifically to an eclipse of the [[moon]] that occurred shortly before his death. These events strongly suggest that Herod died in 4 BC.<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=Greetham2>Greetham, The Rev. Phil. "[http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/p_greetham/wisemen/chron2.html The Death of King Herod]." ''[http://www.btinternet.com/~prgreetham/Wisemen/home.html The Nativity Pages],'' 2001. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref> Ussher agrees with this, and calculates his death at November 25, 4 BC, which was the 7th day of the month Chisleu or [[Kislev]]. However, Josephus says that Herod died shortly before [[Passover]] in that year, which would have taken place in April. (The [[Julian calendar]] was then in use, this after Julius Caesar had compelled its adoption in 45 BC, shortly before his assassination.)

However, not everyone agrees that Herod died 4 BC. It is quite clear that Josephus dates implies that Herod died that year and that his sons regnal years were counted from that year. However, all evidence but one comes from Josephus, and his statement that Herod died 37 years after the Senate had confirmed Herod as king, is not correct, since this happened after the [[Treaty of Brundisium]], in the autumn of 40 BC. All Josephus's dates for Herod prior to his death are correct if Herod became king in the Jewish year 40/39 BC. Josephus refers to the historical work of Nicolaus of Damascus as one of his sources, and Nicolaus worked for Herod. Thus, Josephus account rests on an eyewitness. However, Josephus says that Nicolaus wrote when Herod lived. Thus, it has been argued that Josephus' account is considerably less reliable concerning the death of Herod. The remaining evidence is that Herod's son [[Herod Antipas]] minted coins in his 43rd regnal year, and since he died 39 AD, he must have started counting his regnal years from 4 BC or earlier. However, if he co-reigned with Herod, he would have counted his regnal years from a time when Herod still was alive, and Josephus account shows that Herod had practices co-regency with his son [[Antipater]], who was the original heir. Herod later changed his mind and made Herod Antipas the principal heir. Since it is possible that Josephus calculated the death of Herod, it has been argued that Herod might have died following an eclipse in early 1 BC.<ref name=StarOfBethlehem>Kihlman, Dag, ''The Star of Bethlehem - Astronomy and Revelation 12 Reveal What the Magi Saw'', Kihlman Publish, 2017, p. 161-163</ref>

However, not everyone agrees that Herod died 4 BC. It is quite clear that Josephus' dates implies that Herod died that year and that his sons regnal years were counted from that year. However, all evidence but one comes from Josephus, and his statement that Herod died 37 years after the Senate had confirmed Herod as king, is not correct, since this happened after the [[Treaty of Brundisium]], in the autumn of 40 BC. All Josephus's dates for Herod prior to his death are correct if Herod became king in the Jewish year 40/39 BC. Josephus refers to the historical work of Nicolaus of Damascus as one of his sources, and Nicolaus worked for Herod. Thus, Josephus account rests on an eyewitness. However, Josephus says that Nicolaus wrote when Herod lived. Thus, it has been argued that Josephus' account is considerably less reliable concerning the death of Herod. The remaining evidence is that Herod's son [[Herod Antipas]] minted coins in his 43rd regnal year, and since he died 39 AD, he must have started counting his regnal years from 4 BC or earlier. However, if he co-reigned with Herod, he would have counted his regnal years from a time when Herod still was alive, and Josephus account shows that Herod had practices co-regency with his son [[Antipater]], who was the original heir. Herod later changed his mind and made Herod Antipas the principal heir. Since it is possible that Josephus calculated the death of Herod, it has been argued that Herod might have died following an eclipse in early 1 BC.<ref name=StarOfBethlehem>Kihlman, Dag, ''The Star of Bethlehem - Astronomy and Revelation 12 Reveal What the Magi Saw'', Kihlman Publish, 2017, p. 161-163</ref>

=== Herod's Burial ===

=== Herod's Burial ===