Herod’s Story

Luke left a clear historic trail for us to follow.

When Herod was king of Judea (Luke 1:5a, NLT)

Antipater set his sons as governors over Jerusalem and Galilee. That’s how Herod, (later was known as Herod the Great) became king over Judea. He met with the wise men and panicked when he heard that another king had been born…

Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:  “A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning.

Rachel weeps for her children,  refusing to be comforted,  for they are dead. (Matthew 2:16-18, NLT)

Herod was a wicked man who had no qualms about killing his wives and at least two of his sons. The emperor Augustus joked that it was preferable to be Herod’s pig than his son – a very insulting remark to any Jew (Macrobius, Saturnalia, 2.4.11).

Don’t believe the Bible? No problem. Both Josephus ( 37 – c. 100 ) and Macrobius (A.D. 395-423) reported it in their writings.

Prayer – God, when truth assails us may we be wise enough to pay attention. Amen

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