The Herods

by Steve Hale

If you include Herod the Great, there are some seven Herods found in the New Testament. Here is a brief chart descriping the time period during which they ruled, and the means of their expiration:

Herod The Great - 37-4 B.C. Natural Death*
Herod Antipas - 4 B.C.-A.D. 39 Exiled
Herod Archelaus - 4 B.C.-A.D. 6 Exiled

Herod Agrippa I - A.D. 41 Eaten By Worms

Herod Agrippa II - A.D. 50-70 Natural Death

Philip The Tetrarch - 4 B.C.-A.D. 34 Natural Death

Philip Of Rome - No Influence Disinherited

Here is a brief sketch of the first of them:

Herod The Great
He murdered his wife. He had his sons executed. He attempted to kill Jesus. He ordered the execution of children two years old and younger. He tried to commit suicide twice.

He was grossly immoral. Herod the Great had ten wives, and two of them were his own nieces. He was known to have had affairs with his own eunuchs. He divorced his first wife Doris, and married the beautiful Mariamne, the daughter of the High Priest. Even though she was the true love of his life, he would order her execution.

Herod sided with Mark Antony all of his life, and it nearly proved fatal for him. Augustus, who haQ conquered Mark Antony and Cleopatra, forgave the groveling Herod let him keep his crown. Later, when hearing of Herod's assasinations of his sons and wives, Augustus said: 'It is better to be Herod's pig than his son.' This remark had an odd humor about it, because Herod, being a practicing Jew, would not kill a pig.

In one last fit of rage, he ordered the execution of Antipater, a son he had just imprisoned. He left his inheritance to the following: (1) Antipas, who would be the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea; (2) Archelaus, who would be king of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea; (3) Philip, who would be tetrarch of Gaulonitis, Trachonitis, and Paneas. He left his sister Salome money, groves, and two cities.

About four days later, Herod died an excruciating and horrible death. He was suffering with: (1) shortness of breath; (2) a gangrenous and maggoty scrotum; (3) ulceration of his bowels; (4) malfunction of the kidneys; (5) and, even other ailments. Joseph Klausner summed-up Herod's life this way: "He stole to the throne like a fox, ruled like a tiger, and died like a dog.'

His special baths, dyed hair, different women, and extravagant trips could not change the inevitable. He was called out of this world by God into a certain judgement Few have left this world as ill-prepared to meet God.

April 7, 1993

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The Herods by Steve Hale If you include Herod the Great, there are some seven Herods found in the New Testament. Here is a brief chart descriping the time period during which they ruled, and the means of their expiration: Herod The Great - 37-4 B.C. Natural Death* Herod Antipas - 4 B.C.-A.D. 39 Exiled Herod Archelaus - 4 B.C.-A.D. 6 Exiled Herod Agrippa I - A.D. 41 Eaten By Worms Herod Agrippa II - A.D. 50-70 Natural Death Philip The Tetrarch - 4 B.C.-A.D. 34 Natural Death Philip Of Rome - No Influence Disinherited Here is a brief sketch of the first of them: Herod The Great He murdered his wife. He had his sons executed. He attempted to kill Jesus. He ordered the execution of children two years old and younger. He tried to commit suicide twice. He was grossly immoral. Herod the Great had ten wives, and two of them were his own nieces. He was known to have had affairs with his own eunuchs. He divorced his first wife Doris, and married the beautiful Mariamne, the daughter of the High Priest. Even though she was the true love of his life, he would order her execution. Herod sided with Mark Antony all of his life, and it nearly proved fatal for him. Augustus, who haQ conquered Mark Antony and Cleopatra, forgave the groveling Herod let him keep his crown. Later, when hearing of Herod's assasinations of his sons and wives, Augustus said: 'It is better to be Herod's pig than his son.' This remark had an odd humor about it, because Herod, being a practicing Jew, would not kill a pig. In one last fit of rage, he ordered the execution of Antipater, a son he had just imprisoned. He left his inheritance to the following: (1) Antipas, who would be the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea; (2) Archelaus, who would be king of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea; (3) Philip, who would be tetrarch of Gaulonitis, Trachonitis, and Paneas. He left his sister Salome money, groves, and two cities. About four days later, Herod died an excruciating and horrible death. He was suffering with: (1) shortness of breath; (2) a gangrenous and maggoty scrotum; (3) ulceration of his bowels; (4) malfunction of the kidneys; (5) and, even other ailments. Joseph Klausner summed-up Herod's life this way: "He stole to the throne like a fox, ruled like a tiger, and died like a dog.' His special baths, dyed hair, different women, and extravagant trips could not change the inevitable. He was called out of this world by God into a certain judgement Few have left this world as ill-prepared to meet God. April 7, 1993 Related Articles: Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM