Herod (I)

I. HEROD, the son of Antipater and Cypros. His brothers were Phasaël, Joseph, and Pheroras; and he had a sister whose name was Salome. He married several wives; 1. Doris, of whom he had Antipater. 2. Mariamne, the daughter of Alexander, son to Aristobulus, of the Asmonæan family; of whom he had Alexander, Aristobulus, Herod, Salampso, and Cypros. 3. Mariamne, the daughter of Simon the High -Priest, by whom he had Herod the husband of Herodias. 4. Malthace, by whom he had Archelaus, Philip, and Olympias. 5. Cleopatra, by whom he had Herod Antipas and Philip. 6. Pallas, by whom he had Phasael. 7. Phædra, by whom he had Roxana. 8. Elpis, by whom he had Salome, who married one of the sons of Pheroras. He had besides two other wives, whose names are not known to us, and do not relate to the history of the Scripture, which is our principal object in this work.

Herod was born in the year of the World 3932, before Jesus Christ 68, before the Vulgar Æra 72. His father Antipater, according to some¹, was by nation an Idumæan; as others will have it², he was by extraction a Jew, deriving his birth from some of the Jews who returned from Babylon. Lastly, others³ again maintain, that Antipater was an Heathen, and Guardian of one of Apollo’s Temples at Askelon; and that having been taken prisoner by some Idumæan scouts, he was carried into Idumæa, and brought up according to the manners of the Jews: for ever since the time of John Hircanus, the Idumæans had Antiq. l. 13. c. 17. In the year of the World 3875, before J. C. 125, before the Vulgar Æra 129.observed the Laws of Moses.

Father Hardouin the Jesuit has formed a system, which is entirely new, concerning Herod’s family. He believes, that this Prince was an Athenian, because in some Medals he is called a Benefactor to Athens; and that there really was a Herod there in Cæsar’s time. Herod was a Platonist, and brought the Sect of Plato, which he favoured, into Judæa. The Herodians, who in Herod’s time formed a Sect among the Jews, were these Jewish Platonists; and the Sadducees being the same with the Herodians, (the Gospel naming the one for the other, and confounding them together) it is from thence concluded, that the Sadducees had the same sentiments as Plato, concerning the nature of Spirits and Angels. He maintains, that Herod had no share in building the Temple, and that he was reputed the Author of this great work, only that there might be an opportunity of giving him the surname of Great. He would have the whole History of Josephus to be thought spurious. He affirms, that Herod had only Samaria and Judæa for his share; that Galilee and the Trachonitis were never under his jurisdiction. And why? because he built fortresses only in the two first Provinces. If Galilee and the Trachonitis had been in his possession, he had been certainly obliged to build towns and forts there, as pledges of his fidelity. Zenodorus was master of these two Provinces, together with Iturœa, till the reign of Philip and Herod II. who inherited these Governments of Zenodorus; but by what means no one knows. This is part of Father Hardouin’s System concerning the genealogy and reign of Herod. Hardouin. de Nummis Herodiadum.

Apud Joseph. Antiq. l. 14. c. 2.Nicholas of Damascus, that he might make his court to Herod, whom he was much obliged to, drew his descent from the principal of those Jews, who returned into Judæa after the captivity of Babylon. Josephus, as he was a Jew, and had lived almost in the time of this prince, and under the Kings his sons and grandsons, should be better informed of this matter; but he charges this Historian with infidelity in his account of it: Why should we not refer ourselves to him? and to what purpose is it to form extravagant systems upon the supposed forgery of a work, which certainly is of great antiquity, and wherein no one hitherto See Basnage Hist. des Juifs, t. 1. l. 1. c. 1. Antiq. l. xv. c. 12.had found any thing defective.

Herod was never able to win the hearts and affections of the Jews, by any thing he ever did in favour of them: neither the building of the Temple, a work carried on at a very great charge; nor the infinite expences he was at, in procuring provisions for the people in the time of an extreme famine, were sufficient to overpower the strong antipathy they had to him; which was founded upon three reasons: 1. Upon his not being a Jew, but a stranger, and by extraction an Idumæan. 2. Upon his cruelty, whereof he had given proofs upon very many occasions. 3. Upon the little zeal which he expressed for the observance of the Law of Moses, and his frequent violations of this Law; in matters of a publick nature, and of the last consequence: for example, he caused a Theatre and Amphitheatre to be built at Jerusalem, and appointed Games to be celebrated there in honour of Augustus. He placed Trophies round about this Theater in honour of the same prince, and of his victories. He would have had a golden Eagle set up over one of the Temple-doors: he built a Temple to Augustus, and other Deities, and affected always to favour heathens and strangers, without concerning himself about the Religion Joseph. l. xvii. c. 8.of the Jews, which he outwardly professed; but he excused himself by alledging the necessity of the times, and the obedience which he owed the Romans.

Herod never had much Religion. He always shewed, that his grandeur and ambition were the only Deities, to which he paid his homage. If he did any thing for God’s glory, he took sufficient care to discover at the same time, that his own reputation was more the aim of his endeavours, than the honour of God. But after all, he was a Jew, and desirous to pass for such.

Joseph. de Bello, l. 1. c. 8. & Antiq. l. 14. c. 16, 17. In the Year of the World 3958, before J.C. 42, before the Vulgar Æra 46. Antiq. l. 14. c. 17.Herod was but five and twenty years old⁴ when his father Antipater gave him the Government of Galilee, with the approbation of Hircanus. He behaved himself with so much prudence and valour, that he restored the peace of this Province, which had been disturbed by abundance of thieves, who committed great ravages in it. Among others, he took one Hezekiah, Captain of the Banditti; whereby he procured the friendship and esteem of Sextus Cæsar, Governour of Syria. But the people of the first rank among the Jews, growing jealous of the authority which Antipater assumed, and of the power which he gave his sons, made their complaints of it to Hircanus, who cited Herod to come and justify his conduct at Jerusalem. Thither Herod came, but armed and attended with good troops. His countenance terrified the Judges. Sameas was the only one who had courage to speak, and to lay the fault of Herod’s misconduct upon the Judges themselves and Hircanus, who had permitted him to assume too much authority. But Hircanus observing that the Judges were more disposed to condemn than to absolve him, deferred Judgement till the next day, and gave advice privately to Herod, that he should make his escape in the night.

In the year of the World 3961, before J. C. 39, before the Vulgar Æra 43.He retired therefore to Sextus Cæsar at Damascus, and by him was trusted with the Government of Cœle-Syria. Being then desirous to take some revenge for the insult which was offered him by citing him to Jerusalem, he marched against this City with an army: but Antipater his father, and Phasaël his brother, prevented him from undertaking any thing, and persuaded him to return. After the death of Julius Cæsar, Herod was appointed Governour of all Cœle-Syria by Cassius and Marcus. They gave him troops, and promised him even the kingdom of Judæa, when the war between Mark Antony and young Cæsar should be ended b. About the same time Antipater, Herod’s father, was poisoned at Jerusalem by one Malichus: but Herod revenged this murder, by putting Malichus to death when he came to Tyre⁵. being at Daphne near Antioch, an hundred of the best rank among the Jews came to him, with accusations against Herod and his In the year of the World 3963, before J.C. 37, before the Vulg. Æra 41.brother Phasael. Hircanus, who had promised his grand-daughter Mariamne to Herod, was there. Mark Antony having heard what was alledged against Herod, asked Hircanus, whether Herod and Phasael, or their Accusers, were fittest to govern the State? Hircanus answered, the two brothers. Whereupon Antony made them Tetrarchs, and trusted the Government of all Judæa in their hands. He ordered Letters to be dispatched forthwith to this purpose, and fifteen of the most mutinous of their enemies to be imprisoned; and had resolved to put them to death, if Herod had not interceded for them.

Antigonus the son of Aristobulus, having undertaken to dispossess Hircanus, the Prince and High-Priest of the Jews, ingaged the Parthians by great promises, to march against Jerusalem. Phasael defended the City-walls, and Herod the Palace. Pacorus the King of Parthia’s son, having persuaded In the year of the World 3064, before J.C. 36, before the Vulgar Æra 40.Hircanus and Phasael to meet Barzaphernes, who was in Galilee, in order to agree upon some accommodation, he himself accompanied them thither. But Hircanus and Phasael discovered very soon, that they were betrayed. As soon as they came to Ecdippa, a maritime town of Phœnicia, they were laid hold on by the Parthians, and put in chains. Herod having been informed of what had passed, departed from Jerusalem, with his mother Cypros, his sister Salome, Mariamne his bride, and Alexandra, the mother of Mariamne. All these he lodged in the castle of Massada, and took the way of Petra, hoping to procure some assistance from Malchus King of the Arabians. But before he reached Petra, he received a message from Malchus, desiring him to be gone, because he was afraid he should offend the Parthians, if he received him.

Antiq. l. 14. c. 25.Herod therefore went to Rhinocorura, and there he was informed, that his brother Phasael had killed himself, to prevent the ill -will of the Parthians. From Rhinocorura he went to Damietta, where after some contradiction, he imbarked, the season being already very far advanced. When he was at sea, he was driven about by a violent storm, which obliged him to throw part of his effects over-board, and with much difficulty he got to Rhodes. There he was assisted by two of his friends, whom he found there; and the necessity he was in, could not prevent him from doing good to this city, which had suffered extremely in Cassius’s war. From Rhodes he went to Rome, where he laid open the state of his affairs to Mark Antony. Antony had an inclination for him, and remembred the good office, which Antipater, Herod’s father, had done him formerly in Syria: he was besides exasperated against Antigonus, whom he looked upon as a turbulent man, and an enemy to the Roman people; and was moreover affected with the promises which Herod made, of giving him a large sum of money, if he would procure him to be declared King. Besides, Octavius Cæsar, who was afterwards called Augustus, was equally desirous of obliging Herod. Wherefore Antony and Cæsar used their interest for him so effectually, that the Senate gave him the Kingdom of Judæa, and declared Antigonus an enemy to the Commonwealth.

Seven days after he departed from Rome, and landing at Ptolemais, he began there to gather some Troops, with a design to march against Antigonus, who kept the castle of Massada besieged. He fortunately rescued his people, who were shut up in this fortress, and from thence marched against Jerusalem, with Silo, a Captain of some Roman Troops, in his company. But Antigonus shut the gates against him, and winter coming on, Herod and Silo put their Troops into quarters. Notwithstanding, he did not remain idle; but seized several posts, and took several towns from Antigonus, as well in Judæa as in Galilee. The next year there were some skirmishes and rencounters between the people of Antigonus’s party and those of Herod’s, wherein the latter generally had the advantage. At last, Herod in the beginning of his third year’s reign, came in earnest and besieged Jerusalem, and attacked it on the same side, where Pompey several years before had carried on his attacks. before J.C.While his people were employed in preparing for the siege, he went to Samaria, where he married Mariamne the daughter of Alexandra. After his marriage, he returned to the siege, and carried with him some new reinforcements; in a short time after came Sosius likewise, Captain of the Roman Troops, who brought powerful succours to him from Syria: so that five months after the beginning of the siege, the first enclosure of the city was taken by assault. Some time after, the second enclosure was also forced. Antigonus and his people retired to the Temple: but did not make a long resistance. The City and Temple were taken; and Antigonus, who had fled to some tower for safety, came down, and threw himself at Sosius’s feet, who insulted him, calling him Antigona instead of Antigonus. Thus Herod became peaceable possessor of the kingdom of Judæa.

Hitherto the High-Priesthood had been possessed by Kings of the Asmonæan race. Herod, who was not of the family of the Priests, not being qualified to exercise this ministry, and Hircanus being at that time in captivity among the Parthians; the In the year of the World 3968, before J. C. 32, before the Vulgar Æra 36. Antiq. l. 15. c. 2, 3.King sent for one Ananel from Babylon to perform the Office of High-Priest. Ananel was of Aaron’s family; but all his merit was his acquaintance with Herod, who had long shewn a regard for him. Mariamne, Herod’s wife, had a brother, whose name was Aristobulus, to whom the High-Priesthood by right of birth belonged. The Queen never ceased to sollicit Herod, till he had restored this Dignity to him, and divested Ananel of it. Aristobulus was then but seventeen years of age a, and enjoyed the High-Priesthood but a year, having been drowned by Herod’s order⁶, as has been related in the Article ARISTOBULUS.

VulgarAlexandra, the mother of this young prince, made great complaints of his death to Cleopatra, who mightily incensed Antony against Herod. Antony sent for Herod, and obliged him to come and justify himself: but he so effectually wrought upon Antony by his presents and discourses, as to win him In the year of the World 3969, before J. C. 31, before the Vulgar Æra 35. Antiq. In the year of the World 3972, before J. C. 28, before the Vulgar Æra 32. Antiq. l. 15. c. 6. de Bello, l. 1. c. 14.over intirely to his party c.

War being declared between Augustus and Mark-Antony⁷, Herod espoused the party of his benefactor Antony e. But Antony having been overcome, Herod saw himself under a necessity of having recourse to the clemency of Augustus f. He met him at Rhodes, and appeared before him with all the royal Ornaments, excepting the Diadem. He spoke to Augustus with admirable constancy and greatness of soul. He confessed that he had favoured Antony’s party, and that he should have done still more for him, had he not been hindred by the war in Arabia: that he was disposed to do as much for him, and to serve him with the same fidelity as he had done Antony, if he would restore him his kingdom, and admit him to his good graces. Augustus, charmed with his behaviour, granted what he desired; and Herod made great presents to this prince and his friends. And when Augustus passed through Palestine in his way to Egypt, Herod all along accompanied him, and took care to have his army furnished plentifully with every thing it stood in need of in its march.

Herod seemed then to be in full possession of all that he could wish. But the peace of his family was soon disturbed by domestick divisions, and misfortunes of different kinds; which in the midst of the greatest prosperity, made him one of the most unhappy princes of his age. He had so great a passion for the princess Mariamne, his wife, that he could not moderate it; and Mariamne, on the contrary, was alienated from him, and despised him. There being a misunderstanding and jealousy between Herod’s mother and sister, and his wife Mariamne; the former forgot nothing that might irritate Herod against his spouse, and after several little quarrels, things came to such a state of animosity, that this prince in the transports of his fury, commanded Mariamne to be put to death. But when the first violence of his passion was over, he was so afflicted at what was done, that he fell dangerously ill, and was very near death. In some little time after, he gave orders for the execution of Alexandra, who had too easily credited the news which was spread abroad of Herod’s death.

He spent the following years in raising several publick and private Edifices in the Province, and in other places, in representing Shews and Games, and in building Temples in honour of Augustus. He sent the two sons whom he had by Mariamne to Rome, to have them brought up there in a manner suitable to their birth. But the most important work which he undertook at that time, was to rebuild intirely the Temple of Jerusalem. The people, surprized at the proposal, at first could scarce be brought to consent to it, they apprehending, that after he had demolished the old Temple, he might leave the new one imperfect. But Herod encouraged them by assurances, that he would not touch the old building, till he had provided every thing necessary for the raising of the new⁸. He finished it in nine years time, and dedicated it in the year of the World 3996, before Jesus Christ 4, before the Vulgar Æra 8.

Some time after he had began this work, he undertook a journey to Rome, with a design of making his court to Augustus, and seeing his two sons, who were sent thither for the benefit of education. Augustus received him very well, and Herod every where, both upon his journey, and in the city of Rome, gave great marks of his liberality. He brought back his two sons with him into Judæa, and married them, one, viz. Aristobulus, to Berenice the daughter of Salome; and In the year of the World 3989, before J. C. 11, before the Vulgar Æra 15. In the year of the World 3993, before J. C. 7, before the Vulgar Æra 11.the other, viz. Alexander, to Glaphyra the daughter of Archelaus King of Cappadocia. About the same⁹ time Agrippa coming into Asia, Herod invited him into his Kingdom. He came¹⁰, and Herod shewed him the Cities of Samaria, otherwise Sebaste, and Cæsarea, which he had built in honour of Augustus; and he received him with so much magnificence at Jerusalem, that Agrippa could not sufficiently express his satisfaction with it i. Division being again sown in Herod’s family, a jealousy was raised in him against his two sons, the princes Aristobulus and Alexander. Herod, to check their heat and pride, sent for Doris and her son Antipater to court, and began to shew them more esteem and consideration. This preference strangely exasperated the two princes, whose birth was much more illustrious than that of Antipater. They expressed their discontent in too remarkable a manner. Herod carried them to Rome, designing to accuse them before Augustus; but Augustus reconciled them to their father, and Herod upon his return to Antiq. l. 16. c. 7,8.Jerusalem, declared before a great Assembly of the people, that it was his intention, that his three sons should reign after him; first of all Antipater, and then Alexander and Aristobulus.

The peace of Herod’s family was again disturbed by the malice of Antipater, and the artifices of Pheroras and Salome, Herod’s brother and sister. Archelaus King of Cappadocia, coming into Judæa in the year of the World 3996, before Jesus Christ 4, before the Vulgar Æra 8, once more reconciled Antiq. l. 16. c. 11, 42.the two brothers to Herod. But at last the calumnies of Antipater and Salome prevailed, and Herod, believing that they had formed designs upon his life, ordered them to be strangled, in the year of the World 3999, one year before the birth of our Saviour; as may be seen in the Article ALEXANDER, the son of Herod, where we have related their history more at length.

Antipater having thus got rid of his two brothers, who gave him most umbrage, began to consider how he might be delivered from Herod himself, whose resentment and inconstancy he was continually afraid of. The better to conceal his intrigues, he procured the King his father’s consent for sending him to Rome. But during his absence, Herod discovered his conspiracy, and several months were employed in examining the depositions against Antipater¹¹.

In the mean while, the Saviour of the World being born at Bethlehem¹², the Wise Men from the East came to pay their homage to him. They followed an appearance of light, which conducted them into Judæa. As soon as they came to Jerusalem, they asked where was the new King of the Jews¹³. The whole city was in disorder at Matth. ii. 1, 2, &c. Antiq. l. 17. c. 8. & de Bello, l. 1. c. 21.their arrival; and Herod, who was then at Jericho, where he was under cure for a languishing illness, whereof he died some time after, was likewise much concerned at it, and convened all the Priests and Doctors of the Law to know of them where Christ was to be born. They told Micah v. 2.him in Bethlehem of Judah, according to the prediction of the Prophet Micah.

Hereupon Herod, sending privately for the Wise Men, enquired of them very carefully concerning the time, wherein the Star appeared to them: he sent them to Bethlehem, and bid them to return when they had found the Child they sought for. But the Angel of the Lord appearing to them in a dream, and discovering to them the wicked designs of Herod; they returned into their own country by another way. About the same time the Angel warned Joseph to take the Child and his Mother, and fly into Egypt. Herod seeing he was deluded by the Magi, was very angry, and sending to Bethlehem and the country round about, he ordered all the male-children of two years old and under to be killed, according to the time whereof he had enquired exactly of the Wise Men.

In the beginning of this year, which is the first of Jesus Christ, Antipater returned from Rome, not knowing any thing of what had passed against him: only upon his arrival at Cæsarea, he found none very hasty to receive him, and to do him honour. He Antiq. l. 17. c. 6, 7.was admitted to his father, for no other reason but that he might hear from his mouth the reproaches which he so justly merited. He was immediately loaded with chains, and put into prison; and Herod wrote to Augustus to inform him of what he had discovered. He afterwards made a new Will, wherein he declared Herod Antipas, the youngest of his sons, to be his heir.

Antiq. l. 17. c. 8.A report being one day spread, that Herod was dead, some young people at noon -day beat down a golden Eagle, which he had ordered to be put up over the great Portal of the Temple, contrary to the Law and Custom of the Jews. The Authors of this Antiq. l. 17. c. 8. & de Bello, l. 1. c. 21.exploit, with forty of their disciples, were seized by Herod’s order, and burnt alive. But Herod’s diseases still encreased every day: his fever was not violent; but he had a slow internal heat upon him, which wasted him within. His hunger was so raging, that nothing was sufficient to satisfy it. His bowels were all ulcerated, and he had continual pains in his belly. His legs were swelled, like those of dropsical persons; the parts, which are most carefully concealed, were so rotten, that worms were seen to come out of them, and he had an insupportable itch over all his body. A little before his death, he sent for all those in Judæa, who were any way considerable, and obliged them to come to Jericho, threatning them with death, if they failed to be there at the time appointed. When they were come, he ordered them to be all shut up in the Circus, and with tears constrained his sister Salome and Alexas his brother-in-law, to promise him, that as soon as he was dead, they should massacre all these persons, that so the Jews in every Canton of the Land might, at least in appearance, shed tears at his death. But this order was not executed.

Some time after, he received letters from Rome, Antiq. l. 17. c. 9. & de Bello, l. 1. c. 14.whereby he was informed, that Augustus left him at liberty, either to banish Antipater, or to take away his life. This news a little revived him: but his pains returning with great violence, he had a mind to deliver himself from them by death. To this end he called for a knife to pare an apple, as he was used to do, and attempted to plunge it into his body: but his cousin Achiab held his hand, and at the same time made a great outcry, which disordered the whole palace; all from thence believing, that the King was dead. This outcry reached Antipater: he thought Herod was expired, and endeavoured to persuade his guards to give him his liberty. The Officer, who had the charge of him, instead of hearkening to him, went and gave notice of it to Herod, who commanded him to be killed immediately. He survived his son but five days, in which time he changed his will, and gave the kingdom to Archelaus; the Gaulanitis, Trachonitis, and Batanæa to Philip, own brother to Archelaus; and Galilee and Peræa to Herod Antipas. Thus died Herod, at near seventy years of age, after a reign of six or seven and thirty years, from the time of his being declared King by the Senate, and four and thirty years from his being master In the year of the World 4001, of J.C. 1, before the Vulgar Æra 4.of Judæa by the death of Antigonus.

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