People Bios:

Herod Agrippa I:

Agrippa's grandfather was Herod the Great, Mariamme his grandmother and Aristobulus, his father. Agrippa was three when his father, Aristobulus, was executed for treason in 7 B.C. His mother, Berenice, Salome's daughter (Salome was Herodias' daughter) raised young Agrippa in Rome, where he was popular with Roman society. Agrippa married his first cousin, Cyprus, and was known as a man that preferred an extravagant lifestyle, after the death of his mother, who put some control on his spending, this flaw lead to Agrippa always being in debt. After several failed attempts to establish himself and with the mounting pressure of debt, Agrippa accept the post of Notary Public in Antipas' (Agrippa's uncle and Herodias' husband) Tiberias. After a fight at a banquet were, Agrippa is embarrassed by his uncle, he goes to Rome. Tiberius, emperor of Rome, assigns Agrippa to attend to his grandson, Tiberius. Seeing that there is no real gain in a relationship with the grandson, Aggripa neglects him and cultivates a friendship with Gaius, Tiberius' successor. While out on a chariot with Gaius, Agrippa indiscreetly remarks to Gaius, that he (Gaius) is far better qualified to rule then the emperor, Tiberius. The comment is overheard by Eutychus, Agrippa's, freeman. Later, when Agrippa has Eutychus thrown in jail for stealing his clothes, Eutychus relays the tale about the comment he overheard to Tiberius, who in turn throws Agrippa in jail. While in jail, Aggripa is approached by an old German man, who sees an owl on a branch above Agrippa, perched on the tree he was leaning against. The owl is a good omen, he says ,and the German man tell Agrippa that soon he will be released and restored in Roman society, but warns him that next time he sees an owl, he will only have five days to live. In March A.D. 37, Tiberius dies -- Gaius becomes emperor and Agrippa is released. After Tiberius' funeral Agrippa is crowned King of Philip's tetrarchy. Gaius gives him gold chains of equal weight to the one's he wore in prison. Agrippa's new tetrarchy encompasses Paneas, Ulatha, Gaulanitis, Batanaea, Trachonitis and Aurantis. On his way to return to Palestine as king, Agrippa rescues the Jews in Alexandria from the abuses of Flaccus. This begins his popularity with the some of the Jewish population. Herodias, seeing her nephew succeeded becomes bitterly angry, that someone whom she once patronized (the Notary Public post) had become greater than her husband (Antipas). Herodias urges her husband to appeal to Rome for hid due. Agrippa, aware of Antipas' plan contacts Gaius before Antipas gets to Rome, accusing him of treason -- this results in Antipas being deposed and banished to Lugdunum Convenarum (St. Bertarnd de Comminges, Haute Garonne). Gaius offers to give Herodias pardon and her personal estate, but she joins her husband in exile, and Agrippa is awarded Antipas' tetrarchy.

Gaius, assassinated on January 24, AD. 41, leaves his uncle Claudius in line for the throne. Aggripa supports Claudius in becoming emperor, helping him handle the Senate. In turn Claudius adds the province of Judaea and the tetrarchy of Abielene to Agrippa's land. Claudius also raises his rank to Titular of Consul, and grants his brother Herod the Titular rank of Praetor (Roman magistrate ranking below a Consul) giving Herod the Principality of Chalcis with the title of king. With the influence of Agrippa, the privileges of the Jews, eroded during Gaius' reign, are restored by edict. Agrippa, who supported Orthodox Judaism, took a severe measure against Christians, who at this time were considered an heretical sect. Agrippa had James, son of Zebedee, arrested and executed, Cephas known as Peter escaped Agrippa's prison, according to the Gospel, Peter was freed by an Angel of the LORD.

Agrippa's death was as unusual as his life -- on the second day of the quadrennial games, in honor of Augustus, Agrippa arrayed in robes of silver, that reflected the morning sun, took his seat at the games; creating a dazzling reflection. The spectators seeing this cried out that he must be a god and not a man. Agrippa looked up and saw an owl, suddenly seized with pain he was carried to the palace, where he died five days later. (1)

(1) The Herods of Judaea, A.H.M. Jones, Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1938

Herod Antipas:

Herod left his kingdom to Antipas -- his younger son by Malthace, but later in rewriting his will, assigned Antipas the subordinate Tetrarch (ruler of a fourth part of a region). After severe unrest Augustus split Herod's kingdom between Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip, making Antipas the independent tetrarch of Galilee. Antipas later joined with Philip in charges filed against Archelaus by the Jews, in hopes of acquiring his lands -- but Salome, Herod's daughter received the lands.(1)

Antipas, Herodias, and John the Baptist:

On journey to Rome, Antipas visited his half-brother Herod (not Philip) and fell in love with his wife. Herodias was Antipas' niece and his siter-in-law. Antipas was already married to the daughter of Aretes. Herodias left Herod, and Antipas divorced his wife, who had gotten wind of their plan and escaped to her father's, Aretes', fortress of Machaerus. Aretes in response declared war on Antipas. Tiberius came to Antipas' aid, ordering Vitellus, Governor of Syria to march against Aretes, but Tiberius died before the army prepared for war, and so the troops were never sent out. (2) The union of Antipas and Herodias, both of whom were married to others, neither widowed and related by blood, was a breech of the Law.

John the Baptist began to preach about 27 or 28 AD. John had been educated by the Essenes sect around the Dead Sea region. According to the Gospel of Mark, John preached against the illegitimate marriage, and was thrown in jail by Antipas. According to the New Testament, after being seduced by Salone's dance (his step-daughter) offered to grant her anything, up to half his kingdom. Upon advice from her mother, Herodias, Salome asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. (3)

Antipas' Fall:

Herodias angry that Antipas' nephew, Agrippa I, was more successful than her husband, urged him to appeal in Rome. Agrippa I contacted Gaius, emperor of Rome, charging Antipas with treason before he had his interview with Gaius. When Antipas saw Gaius he was charged with treason and banished to Lugdunum Convenarum. Heridias joined her husband in exile and his nephew, Agrippa I was awarded his tetrarchy.(3)

(1) The Herods of Judaea

(4) The Herods of Judaea

Archelaus:

Son of Herod the Great by Malthace, the Samaritan Woman, Archelaus was brought up with Antipas in Rome. After the death of his father, Archelaus ruled as ethnarch over Judaea, Samaria and Idumaea, with the exception of the cities of Gaza, gadara and Hipo. In 6 B.C. as a result of the Great Rebellion of 4 B.C., Archelaus faced formal charges brought against him by the Jews and Samaritans. Betrayed by both his brothers, Antipas, and Philip (whom he left in charge of his kingdom upon returning to Rome) who testified against him, Archelaus was banished by the emperor Augustus to Vienna of the Allbroges, where he died. (1)

(1) http://www.bjo.edu/bibble/g/7000.html

Antipater:

Son of Doris, the Idumaean, and Herod the Great. Antipater was disinherited with his mother when Herod marries Mariamme. Antipater is accused has the murder of his brothers, Alexander and Aristobulus and of wanting to murder his father, Herod. Herod has him imprisoned and on hid deathbed, orders his execution. (1)

(1) The Herods of Judaea

Cleopatra:

Jewess of Jerusalem, Cleopatra bore two sons, Philip the future Tetrarch and Herod.

Doris:

Doris was from an Idumaean noble family, and she was Herod's first wife. Herod was also a native Idumaea (Edomite). After marrying Mariamme, Herod disinherits Doris and her son. Later Doris is involved in the poisoning of Pheroras, resulting in Herod having her sent away in disgrace. Doris' son, Antipater was executed by his father, Herod.

Mariamme:

Granddaughter of Hyrcanus, Mariamme was Herod's second wife, and an important match which strengthened his position greatly, because it admitted Herod as a member of the royal house, and he became the natural regent when Hyrcanus passed on. Mariamme was Herod's great love, they had two daughters, Salampsio and Cyprus, and two sons, Alexander and Aristobulus. The two sons were the last surviving Hasmonaean males, which made then favorites with the people, for theirs was an old, prestigious line. The boys were sent to Rome to be educated and lived in the imperial house. Both were later murdered. Mariamme upon learning that Herod has planned her death, in case he did not return from his travels, became disillusioned with him, though Herod protested that his actions spoke of his great love for her, the gulf never was bridged and fueled Herod jealousy until he killed her in a fit of passion. Herod was supposedly haunted by the sound of her voice after her death.

Mariamme 2:

Mariamme 2, was a Jewess from Alexandria, whose father, Simon son of Boethus, Herod made the High Priest. Mariamme 2 was from a distinguished Alexandrian Jewish family. As a result of being associated with the plot to poison Pheroras in 6 B.C., Herod divorced Mariamme 2, disowned her son, and removed her father from the High Priesthood.

Malthace:

Malthace was an Samaritan woman, she bore a daughter Olympias, and two sons Archelaus and Antipas, both of whom reign.

Slaughter of The Innocents:

Picture of Slaughter of the Innocents In the picture, notice how the "bad guys" are depicted with dark, Saracen features.

In the year 5 or 4 B.C., while Herod's illness was advancing, CHRIST was born. Based on Josephus' description, Herod seems to have been suffering from cancer of the bowels. During this time according to the Gospel account the Massacre of the Innocents occurred, when on Herod's orders all male children 2 years or younger in Bethlehem were slaughtered to prevent the fulfilling of the Jewish Prophecy (Micah 5:2) that a child born in Bethlehem would be king of the Jews. Josephus does not mention a massacre at Bethlehem (1)

(1) The Herods of Judaea

Philip:

Philip was the son of Cleopatra and Herod. After Herod's death Philip was assigned a subordinate tetrarch along with Antipas. After severe unrest Augustus split Herod's kingdom between Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip, making Philip the Tetrarch of the Iturea, and Tracontis territories northwest of the sea of Galilee. Archelaus found himself in grave difficulties after the Great Jewish Rebellion of 4 B.C. when the Jews and Samaritians combined to make a formal complaint to the emperor. Antipas and Philip joined forces against Archelaus. When Archelaus territory was taken from him, neither brother benefited, the land went to Herod's sister, Salome.(1)

Philip had the smallest Jewish population. One of the cities in his tetrarchy, Caesara, which Philip later called, Caesarea Philip, is where the myth of Pan originated, this city was also a major center of baal worship.(2) Philip married later in life, Salo me became his wife. She was his niece on her father's side, and his great niece on her mother's side. Philip ruled until his death, A.D. 34, after which his tetrarchy was annexed by Tiberius.(3)

(1) The Herods of Judaea

(3) The Herods of Judaea

Pontius Pilate:

Pilate, an envoy of the emperor, was given his position to replace that of Antipas' ineffective half-brother.(1) Pilate assumed office from Valerius Gratus late fall of 26 A.D. From the start Pilate had an up and down relationship with the Jews. Upon taking office Pilate annoyed the Jews by dispatching the cohort whose military standards held disks depicting the image of the emperor. The emperor's image held religious significance to the soliders, and to the Jews this was an insult to GOD. Later, Pilate angered the Jews by appropriating funds reserved for the purchase of animals to be sacrificed to rebuild an aqueduct.(2)

It is necessary to understand the relationship between the Roman Empire and the Jews, to understand the pressure Pilate was under at the time of JESUS' trial and crucifixion. The Romans conquered and forced the assimilation of many cultures, but with the Jews there is deference, which in turn has preserved the Jewish people to this day. Two reasons can be attributed to this. First, the respect given to Jewish law was due largely to the Jew's willingness to die the law. Relying on how previous empires had dealt with the Jews, when the Romans took over Palestine they allowed the peculiarities of their religion (monotheism, absence of idols and the Sabbath). The alternative was constant rebellion.(3) The second point is that the Roman Empire was so large, the Roman Government could not deploy a large number of troops in all their regions to keep control, Pilate's main duty was to do whatever was necessary to maintain peace.

As a Roman Pilate would have felt the Passover to be barbaric, but he was responsible for keeping Roman order. Antipas did not like Pilate and was always looking for instances of maladministration to report. With both the Pharisees and the Sadducees opposed to JESUS the Sanhedrin easily considered HIM guilty of blasphemy. Historical records indicate that when then Jews brought JESUS to Pilate , looking for HIS execution, they also threatened to lodge a formal complaint against Pilate for his disregard for their traditions -- such a complaint could have resulted in his recall by Rome. Caiaphas, president of the Sanhedrin possessed enormous influence -- there was no formal accusation, the trial was at night, Pilate stated that JESUS had not committed a capital crime, and had not been disloyal to Rome since HE maintained that HIS kingdom was not an earthy one. A refusal to ratify the sentence would lead to unrest, and threaten Pilate's job (4). In an attempt to bypass responsibility Pilate sent JESUS to Antipas, because HE was Gailean, which would be in Antipas' territory. Antipas translated this action of Pilate's as recognition of his authority in Galilee, resulting in a friendship between Antipas and Pilate. When Antipas sent JESUS back to Pilate(5), Pilate turned the decision over to the people, falling back on the Passover tradition to let one prisoner free, allowing the way for JESUS' crucifixion.(6)

(1)NIV

(6)Judea Weeping