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Zacharias
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This distinguished man of Jerusalem was rewarded for faithfully waiting for the arrival of God’s “Chosen One.”
These stately foreigners traveled from an unknown location in the East to pay homage Jesus and bring Him gifts.
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Herod is a familiar personality in the history of the Jews and of the early Christian church. His name means “heroic.” He was of an Arabian of noble descent, a son of Antipater, an Idumaean, and Cypros. His father was the appointed Procurator of Judaea by Julius Caesar.
Afterward, Antipater divided his territories between his four sons; Herod received the government of Galilee. Later Antony would appoint him as Tetrarch of Judea. Eventually, he was installed as the King of Judaea by the Roman Senate.
He was a man fond of splendor, lavishing significant sums in rebuilding and adorning the cities of his empire. Herod rebuilt the cities of Caesarea and Samaria. He adorned Jerusalem with many monuments of his taste and magnificence. Labourers carried out Herod’s order in restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem’s ruined temple with the most scrupulous care. The temple was the greatest of Herod’s works but was not finished until after his death.
As a man known for having a stern and cruel disposition, Herod perpetrated terrible acts of bloodshed in his own family. Actions carried out also among his subjects were equally awful. During his fatal illness, he became alarmed by the news of the arrival of “he that is born King of the Jews.” Herod then “sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16).
At the age of 69, and a troubled reign of thirty-seven years, Herod the Great died at Jericho of a terrible disease amid great agonies both of body and mind. (B.C. 4).
This distinguished man of Jerusalem was rewarded for faithfully waiting for the arrival of God’s “Chosen One.”
These stately foreigners traveled from an unknown location in the East to pay homage Jesus and bring Him gifts.
.
Herod is a familiar personality in the history of the Jews and of the early Christian church. His name means “heroic.” He was of an Arabian of noble descent, a son of Antipater, an Idumaean, and Cypros. His father was the appointed Procurator of Judaea by Julius Caesar.
Afterward, Antipater divided his territories between his four sons; Herod received the government of Galilee. Later Antony would appoint him as Tetrarch of Judea. Eventually, he was installed as the King of Judaea by the Roman Senate.
He was a man fond of splendor, lavishing significant sums in rebuilding and adorning the cities of his empire. Herod rebuilt the cities of Caesarea and Samaria. He adorned Jerusalem with many monuments of his taste and magnificence. Labourers carried out Herod’s order in restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem’s ruined temple with the most scrupulous care. The temple was the greatest of Herod’s works but was not finished until after his death.
As a man known for having a stern and cruel disposition, Herod perpetrated terrible acts of bloodshed in his own family. Actions carried out also among his subjects were equally awful. During his fatal illness, he became alarmed by the news of the arrival of “he that is born King of the Jews.” Herod then “sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16).
At the age of 69, and a troubled reign of thirty-seven years, Herod the Great died at Jericho of a terrible disease amid great agonies both of body and mind. (B.C. 4).
This distinguished man of Jerusalem was rewarded for faithfully waiting for the arrival of God’s “Chosen One.”
These stately foreigners traveled from an unknown location in the East to pay homage Jesus and bring Him gifts.
.
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