Herod, << HEHR uhd, >> was the name of a ruling family in Palestine during the 100’s B.C. and the first 100 years after Christ’s birth, while Palestine was part of the Roman Empire.
Herod the Great
(about 73-4 B.C.) ruled all of Palestine as king of Judea from 37 B.C. until his death. Throughout his reign, he put down plots against his leadership by killing anyone suspected of threatening his throne. The executions included three of his sons and several other family members. His ruthlessness is illustrated in the story of the slaughter of the infant boys in and around Bethlehem (Matthew 2). Herod ordered their deaths in an attempt to kill the infant Jesus (see Jesus Christ (The New Testament Gospels) ).
Herod began a widespread building program in Palestine. In Jerusalem, he built a theater and a palace, rebuilt the fortress, and began rebuilding the Jewish Temple. He also built or rebuilt many other fortresses, including Masada (see Masada ). In addition, he constructed the seaport of Caesarea.
After Herod’s death, three of his sons inherited his kingdom. Herod Archelaus ruled Judea until A.D. 6, when he was deposed for misrule. Herod Philip governed northeastern Palestine until his death in A.D. 34. Herod Antipas inherited Galilee and Perea.
Herod Antipas
(?-A.D. 40), son of Herod the Great, governed Galilee and Perea until he was deposed in A.D. 39. Like his father, Antipas maintained his power by threats and by eliminating his enemies. The popular movement of Saint John the Baptist threatened the stability of his rule. Thus, Antipas arrested John and had him beheaded (see John the Baptist, Saint ). Antipas apparently planned to execute Jesus when Jesus’ following also became a threat (Luke 13:31).
Antipas continued the building program begun by Herod the Great. His greatest project was construction of a city, Tiberius, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Herod Agrippa I
(10 B.C.-A.D. 44), grandson of Herod the Great, began ruling northeastern Palestine in A.D. 37. In A.D. 39, he received Galilee and Perea, formerly the territory of Herod Antipas. Agrippa I helped Claudius become emperor of Rome in A.D. 41. In reward, Claudius added Judea and Samaria to Herod’s kingdom.
Agrippa I sought to gain the favor of his Jewish subjects and, as a result, he persecuted the Christian community in Jerusalem (Acts 12). He was a harsh ruler who could angrily attack anyone who opposed him.
Herod Agrippa II
(A.D. 27-100) was the son of Herod Agrippa I. He became king of Chalis, a small territory in what is now Lebanon, in A.D. 50. In A.D. 56, he received Galilee and Perea from the Roman Emperor Nero. At the request of the Roman governor Festus, Agrippa II heard the apostle Paul’s speech defending himself against accusations from Jewish leaders (Acts 23-26).
Agrippa II tried to prevent the Jewish revolt against Rome, but he failed. When war broke out in A.D. 66, he sided firmly with the Romans.
