Herod

THE FAMILY

HEROD’s grandparents and father, were ethnic IDUMEANS, Politics forced then into JUDAISM, which they accepted. They saw the benefits of power ahead. What they did not anticipate was the many conflicts and miseries it will bring down on them as a family. The ‘power’ it allowed them, did not make for a comfortable ‘family home’ nor comfort in their various public offices.

The JEWS of the day disliked the ‘family’ and the power they mustered. Because of their IDUMEAN descent, in the eyes of the JEWS, they were not ‘true JEWS.’

This ‘usurped power’ combined with internal family jealousies, and vanity (the three biggest sins) grew to such an extent that it allowed HEROD to order the strangulation of two of his successful sons.

PHERORAS, youngest son of ANTIPAS I, was married to CYPROS, on her death, HEROD asked him to marry his girls and others, but he declined as he was in-love with a common girl, they had many disagreements, but PHERORAS focussed his energy in rebuilding the fortress of ALEXANDREUM, north of JERICHO.

PHASAEL, eldest brother of HEROD. Along with HEROD, they followed their career in the footsteps of their father, ANTIPATER. He was the CURATOR of JUDEA, appointed by JULIUS CAESAR. Then PHASAEL, was appointed GOVERNOR of JERUSALEM and HEROD, GOVERNOR of GALILEE.

A bit of History, ANTIPATER’s father, and many other IDUMEANS had been forcibly converted to JUDAISM under the regime of the HASMONEAN, the High Priest JOHN HYRCANUS I, the MACCABEAN.

Despite them being forced into JUDAISM, he became a devoted and faithful Political Advisor and Chief Finance Administrator of HYRCANUS II. He served as PROCURATOR OF JUDAEA from 47 BCE to 44 BCE.

My focus will be HEROD and his sister SALOME I. HEROD THE GREAT was born in 72 BCE in IDUMEAN and died in 4 BCE in JERICHO, JUDAEA. HEROD, followed his father’s world in Politics and became GOVERNOR of GALILEE, as he grew in power, the ROMAN SENATE elected him as king of all JUDAEA.

He ruled JUDAEA from 37 BCE to his death in 4 BCE. He had many wives – the reported women were DORIS – MARIAMNE I – MARIAMNE II – MALTHACE – CLEOPATRA OF JERUSALEM – ELPIS and 4 others. HEROD THE GREAT had many children.

ANTIPATER II. HEROD’S first-born son, with his wife DORIS Born in 46 BCE and he died in 5 BCE. HEROD made him his first HEIR in his will, however in 5 BCE ANTIPATER was brought before PUBLIUS QUINCTILLIUS VARUS, then ROMAN GOVERNOR OF SYRIA. He had charged him with the intended murder of his father, HEROD THE GREAT. ANTIPATER was found guilty by VARUS, however due to ANTIPATER’s High Rank, as HEROD’S First Heir, it was necessary for CAESAR AUGUSTUS to approve the death sentence. ANTIPATER’S position as exclusive successor was removed and granted to HEROD ANTIPAS. Once sentence had approval from AUGUSTUS, in 4 BCE, ANTIPATER was executed and HEROD’S second eldest son HEROD ARCHELAUS, was made HEIR in his father’s will as king over HEROD’S entire kingdom.

HEROD’S son born with his wife MARIAMNE I, ALEXANDER, born in 35 BCE dies in 7 BCE. He married GLAPHYRA – a CAPPADOCIAN PRINCESS OF MACCABEE, they had three children:- TIGRANES, ALEXANDER, A DAUGHTER.

He was sent to ROME for an enhanced political education, in 23 BCE. These travels and studies changed him from the people he ‘belonged’ to. In 17 BCE, HEROD personally fetched him and his brother ARISTOBULUS who had joined him, from the home of ASINIUS POLLIO, where they lived and studied – and took them back to JERUSALEM.

Then a very sad story followed. The brothers education and of Jewish descent, made them well liked by the populace, and we know what followed, their father had them killed by strangulation.

THE PAST

Whilst the JUDEANS were in captivity the EDOMITES, moved into JUDAEAN grazing land, and the NABATAEANS appear in EDOMITE territories. This was around 312 BCE. Shortly after, there was a sudden attack at SELA, a very rocky territory, by ANTIGONUS I without success. This attack is known as the THIRD WAR OF THE DIADOCHI, wars started by ALEXANDER’S successors. These wars were fought between ALEXANDER’S Generals, PTOLEMY, ANTIGONUS and SELEUCUS, known as DIADOCHI. These wars played out across EGYPTIAN, ASIA-MINOR and PERSIAN cities and towns between 322 BCE to around 281 BCE.

NOTE: A report found written by a Greek Historian DIODORUS SICULUS said “Just as the SELEUCIDS (Greek Army) had tried to subdue the NABATAEANS, the ROMANS did not hesitate, they made several attempts to get their hands on ‘that lucrative trade.’

Our search could not identify the “lucrative trade,” but my research points to the VIA MARIS, its modern day-name. This is a Trade Route established during the BRONZE AGE, 3 300 BCE. This route linked cities such as EGYPT, with NORTHERN EMPIRES in SYRIA ANATOLIA in TURKEY and MESOPOTAMIA. Somewhere along the VIA MARIS TRADE ROUTE it joins the TRADE ROUTE of the NABATAEANS linking the world in the year 2 000 BCE.

Those NABATAEANS spoke a form of ARABIC, like the PERSIANS, but we know that they wrote all Legal Documents in ARAMAIC. They were definitely of the ARAB Culture, and they had a huge influence in the lives and history of the people of JERUSALEM – ISRAEL.

They had DUSHARA as their main deity, who was linked to the heavens. Their religion is linked to the SUN and the Planet MERCURY. If I had a guess, the 3 WISE MEN who visited the BABY JESUS, were NABATAEANS, on their travels to ‘trade’ their ‘Lucrative Trade’ goods with HEROD. My research tells us that these 3 WISE MEN were from DHOFAR in Southern OMAN.