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[[Image:Herod_coin1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Copper coin of Herod, bearing the legend "Basileus Herodon" on the obverse and a Macedonian sun-symbol on the reverse]]

[[Image:Herod_coin1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Copper coin of Herod, bearing the legend "Basileus Herodon" on the obverse and a Macedonian sun-symbol on the reverse]]

[[Herod]] (Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס, Hordos; [[Greece|Greek]]: ἡρῴdης, Hērōdēs) (74-r. 37-d. 4 BC), also known as ''Herod the Great'', was the "King of the Jews" during the time of the Birth of [[Jesus Christ]].<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 5050-6082ff.</ref> He is best remembered for ordering the Slaughter of the Innocents during his reign, and dying shortly thereafter of a gastrointestinal disease, the nature of which has never been determined for certain.

'''Herod''' (Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס, Hordos; [[Greece|Greek]]: ἡρῴdης, Hērōdēs) (74-r. 37-d. 4 BC), also known as ''Herod the Great'', was the "King of the Jews" during the time of the Birth of [[Jesus Christ]].<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 5050-6082ff.</ref> He is best remembered for ordering the Slaughter of the Innocents during his reign, and dying shortly thereafter of a gastrointestinal disease, the nature of which has never been determined for certain.

== Biography ==

== Biography ==

Herod was not Jewish at all, but [[Idumaean]], a descendant of [[Esau]], who was also known as '''Edom'''. His father was [[Antipater]], a recent convert to [[Judaism]] and follower of [[John Hyrcanus]].<ref name=Catholic>Tierney, John J. "[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07289c.htm Entry for Herod]." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', vol. VIII. New York. Robert Appleton Co., 1910. Retrieved June 18, 2007 from [http://www.newadvent.org/ New Advent].</ref> His mother was [[Cypros]], a princess from the stone city of [[Petra]], capital of [[Nabatea]] in the mountain range that today belongs to [[Jordan]].<ref name=Livius>Lendering, Jona. "[http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodians/herod_the_great01.html King Herod the Great]." <http://www.livius.org/>, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref><ref name=Greetham1>Greetham, The Rev. Phil. "[http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/p_greetham/wisemen/wmsoc9.html King Herod the Great]." ''[http://www.btinternet.com/~prgreetham/Wisemen/home.html The Nativity Pages],'' 2001. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref>

Herod was not Jewish at all, but [[Idumaean]], a descendant of [[Esau]], who was also known as '''Edom'''. His father was [[Antipater]], a recent convert to [[Judaism]] and follower of [[John Hyrcanus]].<ref name=Catholic>Tierney, John J. "[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07289c.htm Entry for Herod]." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', vol. VIII. New York. Robert Appleton Co., 1910. Retrieved June 18, 2007 from [http://www.newadvent.org/ New Advent].</ref> His mother was [[Cypros]], a princess from the stone city of [[Petra]], capital of [[Nabatea]] in the mountain range that today belongs to [[Jordan]].<ref name=Livius>Lendering, Jona. "[http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodians/herod_the_great01.html King Herod the Great]." <http://www.livius.org/>, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref><ref name=Greetham1>Greetham, The Rev. Phil. "[http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/p_greetham/wisemen/wmsoc9.html King Herod the Great]." ''[http://www.btinternet.com/~prgreetham/Wisemen/home.html The Nativity Pages],'' 2001. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref>

Herod's family gained favor early with [[Rome]], mainly by an uncanny capacity to ally themselves with the winning side in Rome's Civil Wars. The first general to favor them was [[Pompey|Pompey the Great]], Rome's Special High Commissioner to the Middle East, who had come to gain victory, once and for all, over the "Two Kings," [[Mithridates]] of [[Pontus]] and [[Tigranes]] of [[Armenia]]. In the process, Pompey captured [[Jerusalem]] in 63 BC<ref name=JewishLib>Authors unknown. "[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Herod.html Entry for Herod]." ''[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/index.html The Jewish Virtual Library],'' American-Jewish Cooperative Enterprise, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref> and determined to settle the question of the high-priestly succession in which John Hyrcanus was involved. Pompey chose Hyrcanus over his rival, and Antipater and his family gained favor along with Hyrcanus.<ref name=Livius/><ref name=Catholic/>

Herod's family gained favor early with [[Rome]], mainly by an uncanny capacity to ally themselves with the winning side in Rome's Civil Wars. The first general to favor them was [[Pompey|Pompey the Great]], Rome's Special High Commissioner to the Middle East, who had come to gain victory, once and for all, over the "Two Kings," [[Mithridates]] of [[Pontus]] and [[Tigranes]] of [[Armenia]]. In the process, Pompey captured [[Jerusalem]] in 63 BC<ref name=JewishLib>Authors unknown. "[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Herod.html Entry for Herod]." ''[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/index.html The Jewish Virtual Library],'' American-Jewish Cooperative Enterprise, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2007.</ref> and determined to settle the question of the high-priestly succession in which John Hyrcanus was involved. Pompey chose Hyrcanus over his rival, and Antipater and his family gained favor along with Hyrcanus.<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=Livius/>

Subsequently the first of Rome's Civil Wars broke out between Pompey and [[Julius Caesar]]. Hyrcanus and Antipater sided with Caesar, and for that Antipater was made Procurator of Judea (in Greek, ''epitropos'') in 47 BC. Antipater appointed his son governor of [[Galilee]] in this year.<ref name=Greetham1/>

Subsequently the first of Rome's Civil Wars broke out between Pompey and [[Julius Caesar]]. Hyrcanus and Antipater sided with Caesar, and for that Antipater was made Procurator of Judea (in Greek, ''epitropos'') in 47 BC. Antipater appointed his son governor of [[Galilee]] in this year.<ref name=Greetham1/>

=== Family Troubles ===

=== Family Troubles ===

Herod's family was at least as dysfunctional, if not more so, than was the [[Julio-Claudian emperors|Julio-Claudian family]] that produced the first five [[Emperor|Emperors]] of Rome.<ref name=Columbia/> He brought many of his family members to mock trials and had them executed during his reign, beginning with this brother-in-law [[Aristobulus III]]<ref name=Greetham1/> and continuing with his wife, his mother-in-law, another brother-in-law, and finally three of his sons.<ref name=Greetham1/>

Herod's family was at least as dysfunctional, if not more so, than was the [[Julio-Claudian emperors|Julio-Claudian family]] that produced the first five [[Emperor]]s of Rome.<ref name=Columbia/> He brought many of his family members to mock trials and had them executed during his reign, beginning with this brother-in-law [[Aristobulus III]]<ref name=Greetham1/> and continuing with his wife, his mother-in-law, another brother-in-law, and finally three of his sons.<ref name=Greetham1/>

== Building Campaign ==

== Building Campaign ==

In 23 BC Herod built a palace and a fortress, called Herodium, to the east of [[Bethlehem]].<ref name=JewishLib/> (He later built another fortress near [[Jericho]],<ref name=JewishLib/> and another fortress, the [[Masada]] fortress, on the shore of the [[Dead Sea]].<ref name=JewishLib/>) In this year he married yet again, to [[Mariamne II]].<ref name=Livius/>

In 23 BC Herod built a palace and a fortress, called Herodium, to the east of [[Bethlehem]].<ref name=JewishLib/> (He later built another fortress near [[Jericho]],<ref name=JewishLib/> and another fortress, the [[Masada]] fortress, on the shore of the [[Dead Sea]].<ref name=JewishLib/>) In this year he married yet again, to [[Mariamne II]].<ref name=Livius/>

In 23 BC Herod began what was probably his grandest project: the city of [[Caesaria Maritima]],<ref name=Livius/><ref name=Catholic/> which is the "Caesaria" that became the headquarters of Roman rule and where [[Paul]] briefly stood trial. He inaugurated that city in 9 BC with spectacular ceremony.

In 23 BC Herod began what was probably his grandest project: the city of [[Caesaria Maritima]],<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=Livius/> which is the "Caesaria" that became the headquarters of Roman rule and where [[Paul]] briefly stood trial. He inaugurated that city in 9 BC with spectacular ceremony.

In 20 BC Herod began the project for which he is best known: a second [[Temple of Jerusalem]].<ref name=Livius/><ref name=Catholic/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=Greetham1/><ref name=JewishLib/> This he inaugurated in 10 BC.

In 20 BC Herod began the project for which he is best known: a second [[Temple of Jerusalem]].<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=Livius/><ref name=Greetham1/><ref name=JewishLib/><ref name=Columbia/> This he inaugurated in 10 BC.

In 2007, [[Israel]]i [[Archaeology|archaeologists]] reported their discovery of the quarry from which Herod took the stones he used to build his version of the Temple.<ref name=Gaffney>Gaffney, Sean. "[http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070924/D8RRQEO80.html Report: Herod's Temple Quarry Found]." The Associated Press, September 24, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2007.</ref>

In 2007, [[Israel]]i [[Archaeology|archaeologists]] reported their discovery of the quarry from which Herod took the stones he used to build his version of the Temple.<ref name=Gaffney>Gaffney, Sean. "[http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070924/D8RRQEO80.html Report: Herod's Temple Quarry Found]." The Associated Press, September 24, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2007.</ref>

[[Image:PleadingWithHerodSoldiers.jpg|thumb|350px|right]]

[[Image:PleadingWithHerodSoldiers.jpg|thumb|350px|right]]

[[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] then received a warning to take his wife, and the Infant [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]], to Egypt. Matthew then takes up the narrative of what Herod did next: {{Bible quote|Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.|book=Matthew|chap=2|verses=16-18|version=KJV}}

[[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] then received a warning to take his wife, and the Infant [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]], to Egypt. Matthew then takes up the narrative of what Herod did next: {{Bible quote|Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.|book=Matthew|chap=2|verses=16-18|version=KJV}}

The massacre of the innocents is not recorded in any of the other Gospels or in contemporary secular accounts.  However, that does not mean that it did not happen.  As explained by Gordon Franz on the site of the Associates for Biblical Research:<ref>[http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2009/12/09/the-slaughter-of-the-innocents-historical-fact-or-legendary-fiction.aspx#Article The Slaughter of the Innocents:  Historical Fact or Legendary Fiction?]</ref><blockquote>The slaughter of the innocents is unattested in secular records, but the historical plausibility of this event happening is consistent with the character and actions of Herod the Great.  Besides killing his enemies, he had no qualms in killing family members and friends as well.</blockquote>In other words, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and people who deny the historicity of the massacre of the innocents on that basis commit the logical fallacy known as [[Logical_fallacy#Argument_from_silence|argument from silence]].

The massacre of the innocents is not recorded in any of the other Gospels or in contemporary secular accounts.  However, that does not mean that it did not happen.  As explained by Gordon Franz on the site of the Associates for Biblical Research:<ref>[http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2009/12/09/the-slaughter-of-the-innocents-historical-fact-or-legendary-fiction.aspx#Article The Slaughter of the Innocents:  Historical Fact or Legendary Fiction?]</ref><blockquote>The slaughter of the innocents is unattested in secular records, but the historical plausibility of this event happening is consistent with the character and actions of Herod the Great.  Besides killing his enemies, he had no qualms in killing family members and friends as well.</blockquote>In other words, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and people who deny the historicity of the massacre of the innocents on that basis commit the logical fallacy known as [[Logical fallacy#Argument from silence|argument from silence]].

== Herod's Death ==

== Herod's Death ==

== Succession ==

== Succession ==

Herod left three sons and successors alive: [[Archelaus]], to whom he bequeathed his overall kingdom, [[Herod Antipas]], who became [[Tetrarch]] of [[Galilee]]; and [[Herod Philip]], [[Tetrarch]] of sundry other lands.<ref name=Livius/><ref name=Columbia/><ref name=Greetham1/> Herod Philip does not come further into the Bible, except that Herod Antipas later married Philip's wife, prompting [[John the Baptist]] to protest that this was unlawful, which landed John in prison. Archelaus could not be confirmed with the title of king because the Emperor never consented to this.

Herod left three sons and successors alive: [[Archelaus]], to whom he bequeathed his overall kingdom, [[Herod Antipas]], who became [[Tetrarch]] of [[Galilee]]; and [[Herod Philip]], [[Tetrarch]] of sundry other lands.<ref name=Livius/><ref name=Greetham1/><ref name=Columbia/> Herod Philip does not come further into the Bible, except that Herod Antipas later married Philip's wife, prompting [[John the Baptist]] to protest that this was unlawful, which landed John in prison. Archelaus could not be confirmed with the title of king because the Emperor never consented to this.

== Related References ==

== Related References ==

<references/>

<references/>

== See Also ==

== See also ==

* [[Augustus]]

* [[Augustus]]

* [[Jesus Christ]]

* [[Jesus Christ]]