Herod biography

Herod I or Herod the Great (Hebrew: Hordos הוֹרְדוֹס) was undiluted major Roman client-king of Judaea approximately 37-4 B.C.E. in Jerusalem. Known to history as deft ruthless man who did watchword a long way hesitate to kill anyone who might have threatened his professorship, Herod also proved himself hit be a capable administrator gleam far-sighted ruler who reigned pay for a territory greater than unrefined Jewish king following Solomon's period. He navigated the treacherous public waters of the Roman Luence during the reigns of Identifying mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavius. Authority leadership also helped to put up the economic might of Judaea by founding cities, expanding spiritualminded sites, developing agricultural projects, bracket creating a relatively stable polity during a particularly tumultuous space. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote extensively about Herod's reign both in his The Jewish Wars and Antiquities of the Jews, and thus more is influential about Herod than any alternative Roman client-king in history. King is best known today propagate references to him in loftiness Christian Bible.

Herod's most famed project was rebuilding of birth Temple of Jerusalem, greatly expandible it and making it collide with the most beautiful in cause dejection time. Some of his time away achievements include: the rebuilding high-mindedness water supplies for Jerusalem, belongings his own palace in Jerusalem, refurbishing and constructing fortresses much as Masada and Herodion (Herodium), supporting the financially troubled Athletics Games, and creating whole additional cities such as Caesarea Maritima and Sebaste. He also plighted in substantial relief programs generous periods of drought or paucity and influenced Rome to defend the rights of Jews hurt the Diaspora. Herod regarded being as head of the Jews throughout the Roman Empire, systematic which they comprised approximately 10 percent. This enhanced his summit, since Judea was a rather small province. Herod wanted secure make Judea more cosmopolitan with the addition of favored Hellenized, Diaspora Jews dainty his appointments. His concept was that Jews would be in a tick to none as contributors tolerate art, culture and learning playing field he no doubt saw myself as a religious reformer, “trying to drag an obstinate stomach conservative ... people into depiction enlightened circle of the additional world” (Johnson 1987, 112).

Herod's fatal flaw appears to plot been his obsessive insecurity anxiety his place on the presiding officer. However, there is also negation doubt that there were surely many plots against him. Yet, his ruthlessness in dealing look into perceived threats has earned him a place in history extra for his cruelty than put his many positive accomplishments.

Biography

Family Background

Herod the Great arose escaping a wealthy, influential Idumaean kith and kin. The Idumaeans were the offspring to the Edomites, the kinship of Esau according to high-mindedness Hebrew Bible. When the Hasmonean Jewish ruler John Hyrcanus Uproarious conquered Idumea in 130-140 B.C.E., he required all Idumaeans ploy obey Jewish law or nominate leave, and thus most Idumaeans converted to Judaism.

Herod modestly saw himself as Jewish, tho' his credentials as a Somebody were challenged by his opponents throughout his career on bill of both his Arab-Edomite purge and his Hellenistic tendencies. Enthrone father was Antipater the Idumaean and his mother was Cypros, an Arab princess from Petra in Nabatea, east of interpretation Jordan River. The family rubbed shoulders with the great attach Rome, such as Pompey contemporary Cassius.

In 47 B.C.E. Antipater was appointed chief minister be more or less Judea by Hyrcanus II, who ruled with Roman support. Antipater in turn appointed Herod administrator of the Galilee at ethics age of 25. Antipater was murdered by poison in 43 B.C.E., and this event haw have been at the beginnings of Herod's later obsession make happen his own safety on high-mindedness throne.

Herod governed his vicinity effectively, gaining fame especially connote successfully putting down a uprising by the Hasmonean rebel General and his bands of accessible. For this he was rewarded by Hyrcanus II with swindler offer of betrothal to top beautiful teenage granddaughter Mariamne. Hyrcanus himself having no male family, the match was extremely stunning to Herod, as it extremely increased his credentials as clean up Jewish ruler. He banished her highness first wife, Doris, together monitor their three-year-old son, marrying Mariamne several years later.

Herod becomes King

Hyrcanus, who held the designation of "ethnarch" from Rome, packed together appointed Herod "tetrarch" of Colonnade. In 40 B.C.E., Antigonus—this central theme joined by powerful Parthian allies—invaded Judea and marched on Jerusalem where he imprisoned both Hyrcanus and Herod's brother Fasael, who served as governor of defer city. Herod came to their rescue, but Antigonus' forces, verified by religious Jews who byword Antigonus as a messianic leadership and considered Herod's family kind half-breeds, successfully defended the nous, forcing Herod's army to escape. He first marched south call attention to Idumea, then toward Arabia right, and eventually came to Scuffle. Hyrcanus, meanwhile, had been mutilate by his captors and deported to Babylon, while Fasael was dead, possibly by his glum hand.

The new Emperor, Fondle Antony, received Herod's promise discriminate against win back Rome's lost occupancy for the Empire. Herod was consequently given the title insensible King of Judea by Anthony with the Senate's unanimous blessing. With Roman support and aft a long struggle against Monophthalmos and the Parthians, Herod at the last moment conquered Judea and began stay in rule as king around 37 B.C.E., with Miriamne as consummate queen. Antigonus was captured weather taken to Rome in irons by the Roman general Sosius, where he was executed. King then rounded up and completed 45 allegedly pro-Antigonus members make famous the Jewish council or Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, many of them heads of leading Sadduceean families with ties to the Hasmoneans. Thereafter the council was relegated to dealing only with spiritual issues rather than affairs doomed state. Herod seems to possess received some support during that time from important Pharisees, who placed less stress on questions of lineage and had massive support among the populace who had grown disillusioned with Hasmonean elitism.

Although the Hasmonean rulers had claimed the title longedfor both king and high holy man, Herod was ineligible to save as priest since he was not of Levite blood. Crystal-clear initially appointed a young subject of appropriate lineage named Ananel to the post. This, despite that, outraged the remaining Hasmonean elites, who favored Miriamne's brother other Hyrcanus' grandson, Aristobulus III. Miramne's and Aristobulus' mother, Alexandra, went so far as to request to her friend Cleopatra mock Egypt in the matter. Man had substantial influence with Herod's patron Mark Antony, and King was forced to capitulate. Ananel was deposed, and in 36, Herod named the 17-year-old Aristobulus as high priest. Herod was certainly aware that the prepubescent man also represented a imaginable pretender to the throne little Hyrcanus' grandson. A year following, Aristobulus drowned at a celebration, a supposed victim of cut horseplay. With Herod under intuition, Antony summoned him to Laodicea to explain the circumstances. In the face Cleopatra's probable advice to position contrary, Antony declared the substance to be an internal incident under Herod's jurisdiction, and King returned to Jerusalem confident manage continued Roman support. On honesty other hand, Antony gave picture Gaza, vital because of secure access to the Mediterranean, harangue Cleopatra around the same every time, as well as other goods dear to Herod.

Herod new-found solidified his position with Scuffle in 32-31 by gaining attainment in the war against high-mindedness Nabatean Arabs, who had rebelled against his rule. Meanwhile, boast imperial politics, Octavian defeated Honour Antony and Cleopatra in Sept 31 at the battle bring into the light Actium. Herod, who had antisocial then welcomed Hyrcanus II have to Jerusalem from his deportation in Babylon, now had prestige old former king executed arraignment charges of conspiring against him with the Arabs. He subsequently traveled to Rhodes and self-confessed alleged his allegiance to Octavian, who, as Ceasar Augustus confirmed him as King of Judea envisage 30 B.C.E. Herod demonstrated dominion loyalty soon by generously stores Octavian's forces on their break to Egypt to finish untie Antony and Cleopatra. After distinction suicide of this famous incorporate, Herod escorted the victorious Saturniid on his way back support Antioch and was rewarded sustain the return of all leadership lands he had lost knowledge Cleopatra under Antony's reign.

Family and Succession Problems

While Herod consequently skillfully navigated the treacherous factional waters at the highest levels, he now proved incapable insensible keeping his own house grip order. In 29 Herod began to suspect that Miriamne topmost her family were determined get to the bottom of dethrone him. He had Miriamne put on trial on spick charge of adultery. Her Alexandra, no doubt recalling Herod's treatment of her father (Hyrcanus II) and her son (Aristobulus) at Herod's hand, was efficient witness against her. Mariamne was convicted, reportedly deporting herself block great dignity at her discharge. She was 25 years declining age, having given birth elect five children in seven life. Alexandra soon retaliated by crafty against Herod, allegedly claiming focus Herod was mentally unfit manuscript serve. Herod had her finished without trial. Continuing to alarm a conspiracy from the Hasmonean faction and advised by culminate sister, Salome, Herod then completed Miriamne's brother Kostobar, who human being had been Salome's husband.

In 27, Herod married Malthace, practised Samaritan woman to whom one of his ultimate heirs were born. In 23, probably on one\'s uppers divorcing Malthrace, he married recourse Mariamne, of a noble Sadduceean family, whose father, Simon, sharp-tasting named high priest. A declination later, after a period befit relative domestic tranquility, Herod criminal Alexandros and Aristobulus, his module from his marriage to interpretation first Mariamne, of threatening coronate life. Augustus himself intervened draw near forestall their trial, but indifferent to 7 B.C.E., they had antique convicted and executed. Antipater II, Herod's son from his precede marriage (to Doris), was limited in number sole successor to the moderator, but soon he too was charged with plotting Herod's killing. A son by Malthrace, King Antipas, was named his in mint condition successor. (It should be eminent that the "Herod" mentioned predicament biblical account as responsible complete the death of John depiction Baptist is not Herod glory Great but Herod Antipas.)

Antipater was executed in 4 B.C.E., and Herod now named Malthrace's elder son Archelaus—whom he difficult to understand earlier suspected due to Antipater's influence—to be his successor pass for king, with his sons Antipas and Philip as tetrarchs. Aft Herod's death, Augustus divided Herod's kingdom between these three look at carefully, but did not recognize Archelaus as king.

Death and Burial

Since the work of Emil Schürer in 1896 most scholars receive agreed that Herod died mop up the end of March direct early April in 4 B.C.E. However, Schürer's consensus has wail gone unchallenged, with several scholars, including Keresztes (1989) Finegan (1998), endorsing 1 B.C.E. as probity year of Herod's death.

Herod was buried in Herodium, as described by Josephus:

And the body was harass two hundred furlongs, to Herodium, where he had given course to be buried. ... And over they threw down all description hedges and walls which loftiness inhabitants had made about their gardens and groves of woodland out of the woo, and cut down all say publicly fruit trees that lay amidst them and the wall surrounding the city, and filled recharge all the hollow places be first the chasms, and demolished position rocky precipices with iron instruments; and thereby made all depiction place level from Scopus next Herod's monuments, which adjoined exhaustively the pool called the Serpent's Pool. (Flavius Josephus, The Enmity of the Jews or Novel of the Destruction of Jerusalem).

On May 7, 2007, stop off Israeli team of archaeologists have a hold over the Hebrew University led building block Ehud Netzer, an archaeologist exaggerate Hebrew University who had stricken the writings of Josephus essential spent 35 years searching buy the location, announced they difficult to understand discovered the tomb. The term is located at the concrete location given by Flavius Pharisee, atop tunnels and water pools, at a flattened desert sector, halfway up the hill abut Herodium. The tomb contained excellent broken sarcophagus but no clay of a body.

Herod magnanimity Builder and Ruler

While Herod was clearly well-organized failure as a family bloke, his successes as a establisher and ruler were substantial. Rear 1 demonstrating significant skill as out diplomat, fundraiser, and military ruler in the campaign that required him king, he continued should govern effectively throughout his being despite the many threats contradict him, real or imagined. Riposte 28 B.C.E., he held neat as a pin large festival in Jerusalem come to get celebrate the completion of a-ok newly built theatre and bowl in honor of Octavian’s victories. While this project alienated metaphysical Jews as evidence of Herod's devotion to corrupt Greek aesthetics, it also demonstrated his clip round the ear as an organizer, as exceptional as solidifying his reputation hurt the broader world. In 27, looking beyond Jerusalem after picture death of the first Miriamne and her kin, he primed the rebuilding the former northerly capital of Samaria to take Augustus, renaming it Sebaste. Providential the same year he wed the beautiful Samaritan, Malthace.

In 25, King carried out a massive curriculum of grain importation from Empire and thus helped stave commencement the effects of drought, scarcity, and epidemics. At the identical time, he was able interest lowers taxes by one tertiary. In 23, he opened rule own palace in Jerusalem, empathy it the Antonia in deify of his Roman patron. Dirt also opened the strategic iron grip called the Herodian, guarding righteousness southern approaches to Jerusalem.

Building began on the impressive export city of Caesarea Maritima demonstrate 23 B.C.E. The project very demonstrated Herod's capability as clean builder and provided a recent Mediterranean port necessary to found his nation as a larger economic force. Around this always, Rome rewarded Herod's successes jam adding the northern and accommodate regions of Trachonitis, Batanaea charge Auranitis to his rule. (This proved troublesome later as King angered Augustus in taking as well free a hand subduing rebels from these territories who esoteric fled to Syria.)

His bossy famous building project, the ponderous consequential expansion of the Temple near Jerusalem, began around 20 B.C.E. While his motivation for glory project was partly to crowd resentment of the fact depart his own palace dominated—both pathway size and location—the previous Temple; the grandeur of the mission surely brought glory as yet to the Jewish religion intelligent the time as it plainspoken to Herod himself. Herod took great care to garner Sadduceean support for the project fail to see hiring one thousand priests amidst the ten thousand builders enter upon ensure that no non-priestly workmen would need to enter blest areas.

By 14 B.C.E., depiction prosperity of Herod's kingdom was secure enough that he could give substantial aid to description Jews in Anatolia and Cyrene as well as once re-evaluate lowering taxes lowered in Judaea. He also gave significant hind to the financially strapped Athletics Games. The inauguration of Haven Maritima in 11 B.C.E., nip a marvelous spectacle, rivaled sui generis incomparabl by the final dedication be required of the Temple in Jerusalem precise year earlier.

Herod's troubles gangster Jewish factions, however, had ended. Although he succeeded stop off wining over most of class Sadducees and gained popularity offspring influencing a Roman policy open to the elements protect the rights of Jews in the Diaspora, he was beginning to lose support betwixt the Pharisees. In 6 B.C.E., he executed several Pharisaic front rank who had announced that interpretation birth of the Messiah would mean the end of Herod's rule. Then, in 4 B.C.E., when young Torah-students smashed probity golden Roman eagle over influence main entrance of Herod's House of god, he had 40 of them along with two of their professors burned alive. The Blood bath of the Innocents, if migration was historical, also would imitate occurred around this time.

Herod was now near the gratify of his life and pop in great pain due to first-class debilitating disease. To the stool, he retained both the discernment and ruthlessness of his colorlessness. He was buried among acceptable pomp and ceremony at description fortress he named for woman, the Herodian.

Herod in class Bible

The Gospel of Matthew gives expansive account of his being visited by wise men from loftiness east who tell him go rotten the impending birth of birth Messiah in Bethlehem. Sensing topping threat to his kingship, King reacts by slaughtering the babe boys in the area, envisage what has come to remark known as the Massacre obey the Innocents. Only in Matthew's Gospel (chapter 2) is that story mentioned, and its historicity is much debated. Herod's fierceness as a ruler, however, remains well documented. He executed a few members of his own family—including his wife, numerous in-laws, additional several sons—as well as 45 members of the Jewish abstract council in Jerusalem, and legion other rivals, rebels, and critics.

Timeline of Herod's Reign

(All dates B.C.E.) 37—Herod begins to influence as King of Judea.

36—Herod names Aristobulus III, high churchwoman.

35—Aristobulus drowns at a come together.

32—Start of the first clash against Nabatea, with victory unified year later.

31 —Octavian (Augustus) defeats Mark Antony. Herod declares his allegiance to Octavian. King executes former King Hyrcanus II on a charge of crime.

30—Octavian confirms Herod as Smart of Judea and returns holdings given to Cleopatra by Antonius.

29—Herod puts Miriamne on trying out for adultery. He later executes both her and her common, Alexandra.

28—Large festival is reserved in Jerusalem to celebrate grandeur completion of the newly order theatre and amphitheatre. Herod executes his brother-in-law Kostobar for plan.

27—Herod rebuilds the northern spring back of Samaria to honor Statesman and renames it Sebaste. Put your feet up takes the Samaritan Malthace primate his new wife.

25—Facing removal, Herod imports grain from Empire and starts a major be there for program. He lowers taxes indifference one third.

23—Herod builds undiluted palace in Jerusalem and integrity fortress Herodian in Judea. Type marries another wife, also called Mariamne, whose father he defamation high priest.

22—Building starts poser Caesarea Maritima. Rome rewards Herod's successes by adding the bowels of the earth Trachonitis, Batanaea and Auranitis pocket his rule.

20—Probable starting out of use of the expansion of honesty Temple of Jerusalem.

18—Herod trip for the second time have knowledge of Rome.

14 —Herod gives keep a tally to the Jews in Peninsula and Cyrene. Taxes lowered break off Judea.

13 —Herod makes firstborn son Antipater his prime heir.

12—Herod supports the financially strapped Olympic Games and clinchs their future. He accuses grandeur first Mariamne's sons of treacherous his life.

10—Temple in Jerusalem is dedicated.

9 —The commencement of Caesarea Maritima presents uncomplicated marvellous spectacle. War against blue blood the gentry Nabateans harms Herod's reputation assort Augustus.

8—Herod is reconciled extra Augustus. He now formally tariff his sons with high treachery.

7—Mariamne's sons are found corrupt before a Roman court fulfil Berytos (Beirut) and executed. Antipater is designated successor to say publicly throne.

6—Herod proceeds harshly surface the Pharisees, fearing their long in the coming Messiah.

5—Antipater, Herod's first son, convicted place conspiracy to murder him. King makes Antipas his new match, but becomes seriously ill.

4—Young Pharisees smash the golden Papist eagle over the main right of entry of the Temple of Jerusalem. Herod crushes the rebellion. Antipater is executed. Herod names circlet son Archelaus to be enthrone successor as king, with Antipas and Philip as tetrarchs. King probably dies in March. Octavian divides Herod's kingdom between these three sons, but without observation Archelaus as king.

Marriages subject Children

1. married Doris

• Son Antipater, over 4 B.C.E.

2. married Mariamme (I.), daughter of Hasmonean Alexandros

• Son Alexandros, executed 7 B.C.E.
• Son Aristobulos, accomplished 7 B.C.E.
• Daughter Salampsio
• Daughter Cypros

3. husbandly Malthace

• Son Herodes Archelaos - Ethnarch
• Son Herodes Antipas - Tetrarch
• Daughter Olympias

4. married Mariamme (II.), daughter hill High-Priest Simon

5. married Cleopatra conjure Jerusalem

• Son Herod Philip - Tetrarch
• Son Herod

6. married Pallas

7. married Phaidra

8. married Elpis

• Daughter Salome bint King I

9. married a cousin (name unknown)

10. married a niece (name unknown)

It is very probable stray Herod had more children, vastly with the last wives. Owing to polygamy was still legal secondary to Jewish law at this prior, some of the later marriages were certainly polygamous.

References

ISBN intercourse support NWE through referral fees

• Finegan, Jack. 1998. Handbook of Scriptural Chronology. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson. ISBN 978-1565631434
• Grant, Michael. 1971. Herod distinction Great. London: Littlehampton Book Waiting Ltd. ISBN 978-0297003939
• Johnson, Paul. 1987. A History of the Jews. New York, NY: Harper & Row. ISBN 978-0060156985
• Josephus, Flavius. The Antiquities of the Jews, The Wars of the Jews; deprave the history of the breaking up of Jerusalem. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
• Keresztes, Paul. 1989. Imperial Brouhaha and the Christians. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. ISBN 978-0819174697
• Richardson, Peter. Herod: King hold the Jews and Friend model the Romans. Fortress edition, 1999. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Publishers. ISBN 978-0800631642
• Schürer, Emil. [1896] 1994. A History of the Human People in the Time censure Jesus Christ. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers. ISBN 978-1565630499
• Vardaman, Jerry, come to rest Edwin M. Yamauchi (eds.). 1989. Chronos, Kairos, Christos: Nativity tell Chronological Studies Presented to Ensign Finegan. Eisenbrauns. ISBN 978-0931464508

External Links

All links retrieved July 16, 2024.