Herod the Great was born in the land of Idumea or Edom around 74 B.C. which is about when he appears on the Bible Timeline Chart. He was the son of Antipater of Idumaean, who was a high-ranking official for Hyrcanus II. Herod was an Edomite that had adopted the customs of the Jews. In the past, the Edomites were ancient enemies of the Jewish people but they no longer were relevant as a people during this era. Many of the Edomites were absorbed into other cultures of the time. The Jews had conquered these people around 140 B.C. and forced many of them to accept their religion or to leave the region. Though many Jewish people didn’t care for foreigners worshipping God and adopting their customs Herod was made governor of Judea when he was 25 years old.
Hyrcanus II was king of Judea during this era in Jewish history, and his throne was usurped by his nephew, Antigonus. Herod lost his power as governor, and he fled to Rome to appeal for help. The Roman Senate supported his cause and ended up making him the new Jewish king. Herod went back to Judah in 39 B.C. and married Antigonus’ niece so that he could have some legitimacy to the throne and the Jewish people. He had to end up banishing his wife Doris and their son to pull this off. In 36 B.C., Herod defeated Antigonus and was finally able to claim the throne.
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Herod began many great works during his reign. He expanded Solomon’s Temple and built the Masada fortress that would later become the stage for one of the most defining moments in the history of the Jews. He also established cities and created industries in asphalt, quarry, and shipbuilding. Herod didn’t necessarily share the wealth with the people though he hired many temple, priests.
Herod eliminated all potential rivals to his power, and he personally knew the Roman commanders Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Augustus. He had four wives, and he killed a few of his sons because he believed that they were trying to assassinate him. Herod supported the Olympic Games, and he helped to avert food shortages in times of famine. Though Herod the Great did some noble things during his reign, he was also remembered for his great cruelty.
Herod didn’t want anyone taking his power. He managed to live through an assassination attempt, but he eventually performed a horrible act that ended up killing thousands of children. Herod the Great was visited by traveling wise men from the East who claimed that an ancient prophecy was being fulfilled in his territory. The wise men said that they saw a star over Judah that was going to lead them to the birth of a special baby who would become the King of the Jews. This news greatly disturbed King Herod, and he decided to kill all of the Jewish children who were 2 years old and younger. The wise men were right about the birth of a new king named Jesus being born, but Herod didn’t realize that Jesus wasn’t put on this Earth to rule Jerusalem. After this event had taken place, many Jewish people hated the king. Jesus was able to avoid being put death as a child because his father Joseph hid him in the land of Egypt. This story is told in the book of Matthew Chapter 2.
Historians also claim that Herod suffered from depression and fits of rage in his latter years. Some sources state that he wanted people to be killed and buried with him when he died. He also fell out of favor with the Jewish people by the time he died in 4 B.C. His sons Herod Archelaus and Herod Antipas ruled from the throne after his death.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#New_Testament_references
http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/a/JZ-Herod-The-Great.htm
http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodians/herod_the_great01.html
http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodians/herod_the_great02.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idumea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HerodtheGreat2.jpg
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Thank you for your contribution to Biblical literacy. You have made a very unsubstantiated claim that Herod killed (THOUSANDS) of children in his attempt to kill Jesus. It is most likely that dozens were killed based on population studies of the time. Most experts who have looked at this issue, think that even hundreds would be an exaggeration.
Interesting, could you please cite your sources. I would be interested in researching this information.
Herod never reign a region of Palestine since the term Palestine came to fruition after his demise and after the Second Bar Koba Rebelion 132- 136 ace. And the Roman emperor Hadrian had the name changed from Iudea to Palestina and Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina.
In a simple explanation, such a term is erroneous and artificial. And the term of a Palestinian State didn’t come but right after the Six-Day War in 1967.
is there a scripture that identify Herod as a edomite?