As the Hasmoneans fought for religious freedom in the east, the power of Rome grew in the west. In 63 B.C., Roman armies under General Pompey defeated the Seleucids and entered Jerusalem.

Roman government was very efficient and brought many benefits to that part of the world. To illustrate: The Romans built a fine road system, making travel easier. They cleared the streets of bandits and the seas of pirates, making travel safer. They enforced the pax romana, or "Roman peace," which gave the region a measure of stability after centuries of turmoil. Rome also allowed Jews to continue free exercise of their religion in their Temple and synagogues. It did not force the Jews to worship Roman gods.

Rome left the Hasmoneans in power until 40 B.C. At that time, a man named Herod convinced the Roman Senate that he could maintain order and raise more tax revenue than the Hasmoneans. The Senate therefore appointed Herod "King of the Jews."

Herod himself was not a Jew, but an Idumean from the desert region south of Judea. Herod married Jewish women from the Hasmonean family, but the people never fully accepted him as a legitimate Jewish ruler.

Herod did his best to strengthen his kingdom and make it a jewel within the Roman empire. He built palaces and fortresses and aqueducts. He remodeled the Jerusalem Temple on a grand scale, forming a Third Temple or "Herod's Temple." Because of these accomplishments, historians refer to him as "Herod the Great."

Temple construction continued for 46 years (John 2:20), lasting beyond Herod's death. Sadly, the Romans destroyed this masterpiece in A.D. 70 as punishment for a Jewish rebellion (Matt 24:2; Mark 13:2; Luke 21:6). The present-day "Wailing Wall" in Jerusalem is part of the platform on which Herod's Temple stood.

Shortly before Herod's death in 4 B.C., Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. When magi from the east brought news of a new "King of the Jews," Herod tried to eliminate his rival by ordering the death of all Jewish boys in the region (Matt 2).

At his death, Herod divided his kingdom and willed it to three of his sons:

Philip ruled the northeast sector toward Damascus.

Herod Antipas ruled Galilee in the north and Perea to the east of the Jordan River. This is the Herod who later murdered John the Baptist (Matt 14:3-12; Mark 6:17-29) and interviewed Jesus during his trial (Luke 23:6-12).

Archelaus ruled over Judea, Samaria, and Idumea.

Herod's sons reported to the Roman governor based in Caesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (as opposed to Caesarea Philippi in northern Galilee). During most of Jesus' lifetime, Pontius Pilate held this post.

The governor reported to the Emperor in Rome. Caesar Augustus ruled from 30 B.C. to A.D. 14, during the time of Jesus' childhood. Tiberius Caesar held the throne in A.D. 14-37 during Jesus' adulthood.

The Jewish High Priest, who led the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, also reported to the Roman governor. During most of Jesus' lifetime, Annas and his son Caiaphas held the office of High Priest.

The Jews hated Archelaus so much that they asked Caesar Augustus to remove him. Augustus agreed and, in A.D. 6, put these regions under the direct control of the Roman governor in Caesarea.

Thus, the stage was set for the public ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist:

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar -- when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod [Antipas] tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene -- during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John [the Baptist] son of Zechariah in the desert. (Luke 3:1, NIV)

Reflect...

1. Read Matthew 1-2. How did Jesus' lineage give him a stronger claim to the Jewish throne than Herod the Great? (See Bare Roots 20.4 and 20.5.) How did the infant Jesus escape death? When did he return to Jewish territory and where did his family settle? What prophecies did these events fulfil?
   
   
2. The Story of Scripture includes three Jewish Temples at Jerusalem. Who built each Temple and when? In which Temple did Jesus carry out part of his public ministry? What happened to this Temple? (See Bare Roots 19.6, 20.2, and 20.5.)
   
   
3. The Bible mentions a third "Herod" -- namely, Herod Agrippa I, a grandson of Herod the Great and nephew of Herod Antipas. In A.D. 41 Caesar Claudius gave Agrippa the entire kingdom ruled by his grandfather. What does Acts 12 tell us about this king and his reign?

Christopher A. Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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