Smoodock's Blog

According to Matthew, Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod. There are several Herods mentioned in the Gospels and Acts, just as there are several Johns, Marys, Simeons and Jameses. The name Herod came to be used like the name Caesar. All the Emperors of Rome were called Caesar, named after Julius Caesar. Likewise, Herod’s sons bore their father’s name, when they ruled. The Gospels mention: Herod Archelaus of Judea and Samaria, Herod Antipas of Galilee and Peraea, Herod Philip of Iturea and Trachonities. The Herod who reigned at the time of Jesus’ birth was Herod the Great, the father or grandfather of the Herods we read about later in the Gospels and Acts.

Herod was descended from Jacob’s brother Esau, and was an Edomite who ruled the Jews for about 37 years. Most scholars place his death at about 4 BC, but in more recent times this is seen to be a misinterpretation of Josephus’ eclipse, which he mentions occurred about the time of Herod’s death. The eclipse that is gaining more support lately puts Herod’s death in January of 1 AD.[1] Moreover, according to Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ birth occurred, while Herod was still alive and reigning in Judea (Matthew 2:1). Therefore, Jesus would have been born before 1 AD, and probably in the year 3 BC.

Herod was a great builder. He is most famous for building/rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. The project began in the 18^th year of his reign (20-19 BC), and the House, itself, was built/rebuilt in 1 ½ years. However, the Temple project wasn’t officially completed, vis-à-vis its out buildings and courts, until a few years prior to its destruction in AD 70 (cp. John 2:20).[2] Herod also built the Antonia, the fortress attached to the Temple, which became a Roman fortress, when Judea became a Roman province in 6 AD. Moreover, Herod built the city of Caesarea with its palace and harbor in honor of Augustus Caesar. Many other projects, including fortresses and other temples in honor of Augustus Caesar are attributed to Herod the Great.

Besides being a great build, Herod was also exceedingly suspicious of competitors to his throne. When Caesar Augustus was being honored with the title of Patar Patriae (Father of the Country/Empire), and ordered a census to be taken, whereby all the people in the Empire swore allegiance to him (cp. Luke 2:1), Herod also required his citizens to swear allegiance to himself: “when all the people of the Jews gave assurance of their good-will to Caesar, and to the king’s government…”[3] This was done in the city or town in which they lived. However, in the case of the Davidic line, Herod required those citizens to register in the city of David (cp. Luke 2:4). Thus, Joseph and Mary, living in Nazareth of Galilee, had to journey to Bethlehem to swear allegiance both to Augustus and Herod. In so doing, Herod kept a watchful eye on the supposed line of the Messiah in the event that someone of his line would attempt a rebellion.

This same Herod the Great, not only slew the young children in Bethlehem in an attempt to slay the new born King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2, 16), but he also had his two sons, Aristobulus IV and Alexander, killed,[4] because he was extremely paranoid of someone removing him from his office as king and setting themselves up in his place. Moreover, there was a prophecy made by the Pharisees at this time. They said Herod would be unseated and a new and powerful king would be set up in his place. This king seemed to have supernatural powers, because he would enable a eunuch named Bagoas (a kind of male virgin) to marry and have children from his own body[5]. All of these people, Herod’s two sons, the children of Bethlehem, the Pharisees and those associated with their prediction of Herod’s overthrow were all slain about the same time in an effort to destroy the Messiah, whom the Magi from the East had assumed would be reigning or was about to reign in Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1-3).

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[1] See my earlier studies on the birth of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel: When Did Herod Die? and Josephus’ Eclipse Showing Herod’s Death.

[2] See JOSEPHUS; Antiquities of the Jews 20.9.7 (cir. 63-64 AD). So, the whole building project lasted about 80 years.

[3] See JOSEPHUS; Antiquities of the Jews 17.2.4 (041-042).

[4] See JOSEPHUS; Antiquities of the Jews 16.11.7

[5] See JOSPEHUS; Antiquities of the Jews 17.2.4