Narratives of the Bible’s “Herods”
Blog by Donald P. Shoemaker
1. Herod the Great – No Room for God’s Son
“Better to be Herod’s pig than his son,” said Herod’s friend Augustus Caesar. The pig was safer.
Herod the Great, whose kingship over the Jews was due to the good grace of the Roman Senate, was known for his ruthlessness as well as his largesse. One of his many great projects was the renovation of Jerusalem’s Temple. But he also slew many in his own family including one of his wives, Mariamne.
This Herod ruled for 37 years. Readers of the Bible meet him in the Gospel of Matthew, when the Magi approach him with the question, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:3).
Not a man known for tolerance, Herod tried to trick the Magi. “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him” (2:8).
The Magi found the Christ Child in Bethlehem. They bowed before him in worship and presented him gifts. But after being warned by an angel, they returned home without returning to Herod. *
Realizing he was “had,” Herod furiously ordered the death of all the Jewish boys in Bethlehem ages two and under—another account to add to history’s long list of atrocities against the Jewish people. ** Jesus’ family fled to Egypt.
Herod died shortly thereafter. Joseph and Mary and Jesus immigrated back to Israel from the relative safety of Egypt. Fearful of Herod’s son Archelaus who now reigned in Herod’s stead in Judea, Joseph settled his family in Galilee.
Herod the Great against Jesus—He reminds us that the world often has no tolerance for Jesus—not for his teachings, not for his people, not for him.
* Here we have another New Testament instance of Civil Disobedience. I previously wrote of the Apostle Paul’s civil disobedience (see the two-part series on Civil Disobedience in my 2020 September and October newsletters). The Magi obeyed “higher” authority when it conflicted with the “lower authority” of Herod.
** While this account has not been verified in any secular histories, it is totally consistent with Herod’s ruthless and paranoid disposition. Josephus writes about Herod: “Antiquities of the Jews” Book 14, Chapters 9-33; “Wars of the Jews” Book 1.
2. Herod the Tetrarch – No Room for God’s Law
The next “Herod” we meet in the Gospels is “Herod the Tetrarch,” one of Herod the Great’s many sons. Also known as “Herod Antipas,” he ruled Galilee for over forty years, till A.D. 39.
The House of Herod would make quite a soap opera series today, with its many intrigues. Antipas divorced his wife so he could marry Herodias, wife of his brother, Herod II (Philip). Josephus put it this way: “Herodias took upon her to confound the laws of our country, and divorced herself from her husband while he was alive, and was married to Herod Antipas.” *
Enter a strange prophet, the forerunner to Jesus whom we call “John the Baptist.” He denounced Herod with “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:18). **
John “spoke truth to power” (to use a tattered phrase), so Herod jailed him and wanted to kill him. Irony of ironies, Herod knew in his heart John was a righteous man and liked to hear him speak. Herod is thus a type of many a person who knows truth when he hears it and rectitude when he sees it. But when conviction strikes the heart he wants to “kill the messenger.”
Read the dreadful story of how John was executed as a birthday gift to Herodias’ daughter (Mark 6:17-29)!
We meet Herod the Tetrarch one more time, when the Governor, Pontius Pilate, sent Jesus to stand before him. Herod was delighted, for he had heard about Jesus and hoped Jesus would perform a miracle for him. ***
But Jesus does not cast his pearls before swine. So Herod ridiculed and mocked him and sent him back to Pilate, who soon thereafter ordered Jesus’ crucifixion (Luke 23:1-12).
Herod the Tetrarch—against God’s Law and against Jesus. He reminds us that the Word of God cuts us to the heart and exposes our evil thoughts and deeds. He also reminds us that we can’t have Jesus on our own terms.
* Again, Josephus is our source: “Antiquities of the Jews” Book 18, Chapter 5. John the Baptist was popular with the Jewish people and many regarded the later destruction of Herod’s army as punishment from God for killing John (18:5:2).
** Herod broke the Law of Moses: the 7thand 10thcommandments plus Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21 against sexual relations with, and marriage to, a brother’s wife.
*** For an amazing depiction of this scene complete with ragtime piano, see Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1970).
“Prove to me that you’re divine. Change my water into wine!”
“Prove to me that you’re no fool. Walk across my swimming pool!”
3. Herod Agrippa – No Room for God’s Glory
There is one more story about a “Herod.” Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great, who had actually killed his own son, Agrippa’s father.
Herod Agrippa’s political rise was due to his good “connections” with Rome. When his childhood friend Claudius became emperor, Agrippa became ruler over all of Judea and Samaria.
But only for three years. In the Book of Acts, chapter 12 we learn that the first apostle to be martyred, James the brother of John, was killed at Agrippa’s hand. Crowd-pleaser he, he also imprisoned the Apostle Peter with plans to execute him as well. But God’s angel released Peter, who then visited the believers who had earnestly prayed for him and quickly left town.
Shortly thereafter, Herod went to the seaside city of Caesarea. The people there sought an audience with him. Apparently (politicians, take note!) Herod let the fawning and flattery of the crowd go to his head.
“On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” (Acts 12:21-23)
If we’re skeptical of the biblical account, once again Josephus comes to our aid:
“The king did not rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery… A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner… And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age…”
The crowd that had flattered him then celebrated with feasting and garlands, ointments and libations, “drinking to one another for joy that the king had expired” (“Antiquities of the Jews” Book 19, Chapter 9).
Beware of flatterers!
Herod Agrippa – Crowd-pleaser and unprincipled Man of Pride. He is a type of all, politicians and preachers especially, who think more highly of themselves than they ought to think; who use their position for their own aggrandizement and not for the praise and honor of God; and who forget they stand by God’s appointment alone and that God is able to humble all who are full of themselves.