When an army of Jews joined forces with the Parthians in 42 B.C., Herod fled to Rome for protection. While in Rome, which ruled Palestine, Herod persuaded its leaders to give him more power. By decree of the Roman Senate, Herod became king of Judea in 37 B.C., to rule over what had once been the domain of the Maccabees - Judea, Galilee, Perea, Samaria and Idumea.
King Herod's grandfather was Jason, the Jew who was named high priest in Jerusalem by Antiochus IV.Herod aligned himself with the Maccabees - who had been for several generations the leaders of the patriotic party among the Jews - by marrying Mariamne, a Maccabean princess. He appointed her brother, Aristobulus III, as high priest.
Herod was always fearful someone would rise up and overthrow his kingdom. Therefore, he systematically killed off anyone he regarded as a threat. He murdered his sister Salome's husband, Joseph, then his wife's grandfather. After Salome reported that Mariamne - whom he loved deeply - and her mother were plotting against him, he had them executed.
He murdered two of his sons by Mariamne, Alexander and Aristobulus. When he heard news that the King of the Jews was born, he ordered the slaying of "all children that were born in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under." (Matt. 2:16.)
(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the Gospel Doctrine course of study.
Information compiled by Gerry Avant
Sources: The Bible Almanac, Thomas Nelson Publishers; Dictionary of the Bible, Charles Scribner's Sons Publishers; New Analytical Dictionary and Concordance of the Bible, John A. Dickson Publishing Co.
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