Part of understanding the birth of Jesus and his times has to do with recognizing the place of Herod the Great in scriptures. According to Josephus, Herod was a common man of no quality stock, a vulgar man who bought his kingship from Mark Antony.[1] It would be odd, indeed, considering his place in Jewish history, if the scriptures that deal with the kings of the north and the kings of the south didn’t mention this man who made himself such a great enemy of God and his people. Most folks who study Daniel 11 assume this prophecy loses its accuracy at the time of Antiochus Epiphanies in verse-35. He desecrated the Temple, and it is because of how the Jews responded to this that Hanukkah is celebrated today. Most scholars believe that verse-36 onward points to the last days. Nevertheless, this isn’t true; they continue on, just as before, and speak of Herod. The reason for the gap between him and Antiochus Epiphanes is there was a period of self-rule, slightly over 100 years, wherein the Jews (Maccabees or Hasmoneans) ruled the land. This, of course ended with the coming of Herod:
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (37) Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (38) But in his estate shall he honor the god of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. (39) Thus, shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:36-39; emphasis mine).
Daniel 11:35 ended with the cruel king, Antiochus Epiphanies, but Daniel 11:36 begins by describing Herod, a man who also ruled with cruelty. He was paranoid over being replaced by Rome or overthrown from within. With Antony’s permission, he had the last Hasmonean high priest slain, to insure that the Roman government couldn’t change its mind and restore the kingdom to the Hasmoneans. Whenever he thought his throne was threatened, he had those killed who were suspect. Whether they were Pharisees, priests, rabbis, zealous religious students, or members of his own family, no one that Herod presumed a threat to his throne was permitted to live very long.
He magnified himself against all that are God’s (the Jews)—he, himself, promised wonderful works beside the God of gods. He rebuilt the Temple (Herod’s Temple) and made Aristobulus high priest, removing Ananelus, the lawful high priest. He built cities and amphitheaters, and he built Caesarea[2] to honor Caesar Augustus, who was declared god by the Roman senate (Daniel 11:37-38). Herod prospered until the wrath of God consumed him. Nevertheless, the will of God could not be thwarted no matter how willful or cruel he became (Daniel 11:36).
Herod was never wise concerning matters pertaining to the God of his fathers (Jehovah – the God of Isaac and Esau). He was an Edomite, a descendant of Esau, but claimed to be part Jew. Neither was he wise, when he heard the Messiah was born. Rather than receive him, he tried to kill him. The only ‘god’ that Herod regarded was Caesar (Daniel 11:37). He honored him with presents of gold and precious stones and by building a city and a harbor in his name. It was through honoring Caesar that he secured his own monarchy.[3]
Thus, in the most fortified of strongholds (the Temple in Jerusalem) Herod the Great, in conjunction with honoring this strange god (Caesar) by building Caesarea with its modern seaport, set up a golden eagle over the east gate of the Temple. The eagle was the symbol of Rome.
In addition to all this, Herod re-introduced the games, and Grecian customs to honor Caesar, picking up where Antiochus Epiphanes left off. [4] Thus, when God took away the Jews’ self-government, he placed a very cruel king over them, a king who thought only of himself. He put himself before God, before the promised Messiah, before the Temple and before the people. He exalted only Caesar and in doing so secured his own government and increased Caesar’s power over the Jews.
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[1] JOSEPHUS: “Antiquities of the Jews” – 14.14.4 & 16.4
[2] JOSEPHUS, Antiquities of the Jew; 15.9.5
[3] JOSEPHUS, Antiquities of the Jews; 15.8.7
[4] JOSEPHUS, Antiquities of the Jews; 15.8.1A; also read 8.1-3
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