The Paranoid King
74 – 4BC
Bible Reference: Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 1:5
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- He was born to his father Antipater II who was appointed the advisor to Hyrcanus II the ruler of Israel during the Hasmonaean dynasty.
- When the Roman General Pompey invaded Judea, he deposed the Jewish king and Herod’s father was made procurator of Judea by Julius Caesar.
- Antipater appointed his son Herod when he was twenty-five years old to be the governor of Galilee.
- After his father’s death, Herod was appointed the King of Jews by the Roman senate in 39 BC.
- Herod, along with the help of Roman legions, laid siege to Jerusalem and conquered the city to solidify his leadership and to put an end to the Hasmonaean dynasty.
- Herod was one of the greatest builders in antiquity and built fortresses and projects that benefited the people, including rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
- Through his building projects, he was able to appease both the Jewish people and the Romans as he built projects to placate both groups.
- Herod had ten wives that produced children who could potentially occupy the throne and as he grew older, he became more paranoid and had many of them imprisoned or executed.
- When the magi arrive to worship Jesus they announce they have come to find the one born to be “The King of the Jews.”
- Herod allows the magi to go to Bethlehem but after they do not return, he has all the male children under two years killed.
- Herod died in his palace in Jericho in March 4 BC and his kingdom was divided up between three of his sons: Herod Antipas (Galilee and Peraea), Herod Philip II (East of the Jordan River), Herod Archelaus (Judea, Samaria, Idumea).
- Caesar Augustus replaced Herod’s son Archelaus who was unfit to rule with a military prefect (Pontius Pilate served from 26-36 AD).
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