The Herodian Line
Mark 8:15
Herod the Great (r 40 BC – 4 BC)
Son of Antipater and an Edomite woman
Antipater gave Jews military and tax exemption
When Julius Caesar dies, someone poisoned Antipater
Romans resume control and Herod is installed
Herod the Master Politician
Herod had to choose between Octavian and Marc Antony as successor of Rome
Herod chose Antony
When Octavian won, Herod sailed to Rome and came back in a better position in Rome
Herod tried to be a servant of the Jews and Romans
Herod the Master Builder
Herod overtakes a project to refurnished the temple and keep the Jews happy
Jews never had to pay homage to Caesar because of Herod’s dealings
To keep the Romans happy:
He kept order; Honored Caesar
Built Caesarea Maritime
Seaport and deepest and best man made harbor in the Mediterranean
Permitted the Jews to have yearly feast and customs, even though it stirred up revolts
Herod had a fortress to protect himself from the Jews
Herod The Evil Master
Married into the Hasmanean line, Miriamne
Later executed his brother-in-law, mother-in-law, and his sons by Miriamne
No wonder he could slaughter all the babies
He wanted to be mourned when he died, so he had standing orders for when he died, to kill 70 of the most prominent Jews, so the whole nation would be in mourning
Passed on the kingdom to his 3 sons
Herod Archelaus – Inherited most important part – Samaria, Judaea, and Idumaea
Herod Antipas – Galilee and Paraea
Philip – Ituraea (Bashan)
Herod Archelaus Matt 2:19-23
After a series of complaints by the Jews, Romans relieved him with a procurator (governor)
Procurators – Pontius Polite, Felix, Festus
They set up office at Caesarea Maritime
He was a wildman
Herod Antipas
Superstitious Sadducee and an immoral man
Married Herodias, Philip I’s former wife
Salomne was daughter of Philip I and Herodias
Mark 6:14-28 16
Luke 23:6-12
Herod was in Jerusalem because he was a Sadducee and it was Passover
Pilate sent him to Herod to get out of judging Jesus
Herod wanted to see a trick or a miracle
Jesus saw a man who’s father tried to kill him, and killed his friend, John the Baptist
Dies in AD 40
Herod Agrippa I
He takes over when his father, Herod Philip II, dies in AD 37
In AD 40, Herod Antipas dies, Herod Agrippa took over his lands
In the next couple of years, he obtains Samaria, Judaea
He restored the throne’s glory
He has son Herod Agrippa II, and daughters Drusilla, Bernice, and Miriamne
Kept Jewish law, but persecuted the Christian Church
Acts 12:1-4
- 2 killed James
- 3 tried to kill Peter
Vs. 20-23 Herod dies because of pride
Drusilla
Name means watered by the dew
Great granddaughter of Herod the Great
Youngest of Agrippa I daughters
Most beautiful of all the daughters, Bernice hated her
Got married at 15 to King Aziz
She remarried to Felix
Felix started off as a slave, and worked his way to governor
She bore a child named Agrippa
When Paul stood before Felix, she was 20 years old in an illegal marriage
Acts 24:24-26
People believe that if Drusilla wasn’t there, Felix might have been saved
Drusilla hated Paul, and convinced Felix not to let Paul go
Rumored she was killed 20 years later in Italy in Pompey when Mt Vesuvius erupted
Bernice
Comes from the word ‘nike’ or victory
Oldest daughter of Agrippa I
First married Marcus
2nd husband was her brother Agrippa II
She will eventually leave Agrippa and marry a Ptolemy
She will then leave Ptolemy and go back to Agrippa
Then she leaves Agrippa and lives with Vespasian, A Roman Emperor
Then she moves to Vespasian’s son, Titus
She was present when Paul gave testimony to her brother Agrippa
Acts 25:13-26:2, 19-32
Festus didn’t understand Jewish law and need something to write up to explain why Paul was sent before Caesar
Herod Agrippa II
Takes the throne at age 17
Died without an heir and finished the Herodian line
James 4:1-10
We either live our live by force or by faith
The world is always against God
In the various situations we find ourselves in, our best answer is to cry out to God and snuggle close to Him, then be obedient when He tells us to do something