Herod Finally Meets Jesus!

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. -- Luke 23:8

After Pilate discovered Jesus was from Galilee, the jurisdiction of Herod, the Roman governor quickly sent Jesus off to see Herod. At that time, Herod was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover with the Jewish people. But before we get into Herod's excited anticipation to meet Jesus, let's first see which Herod this verse is talking about. Several men named Herod ruled in Israel over the years. The first and most famous was "Herod the Great," who was made the first governor of Galilee when he was twenty-five years old. His kingship was launched by the order of Octavius and Marc Antony - the same Marc Antony who had a famous relationship with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. Flavius Josephus, the wellknown Jewish historian, recorded that Herod the Great died in 4 BC.

Did Herod Kill the Children in Bethlehem?

Alfred Edersheim

Herod the Great, the misnamed king of Judea during the time of Christ's birth, received his title more for the force of his rule and expensive building projects than for his moral scruples. Only by the authority of Rome did he obtain a kingdom—and even then, many rebellions marked his reign. His insecurity aroused a murderous suspicion in him that touched even his own family.

Despite his reputation, however, some critics have wondered why no other historian—at least in the accounts available to us—mentions Herod's murder of the children of Bethlehem. In fact, the only account we have comes from Matthew 2:16, which has led to claims that the slaughter is a myth.

Sadly, that this event is only recorded by Matthew attests to the cruelty Herod became known for. Other than the murder of several members of the Jewish nobility when he first captured Jerusalem, his paranoia led to the execution of his uncle, his children (along with the executions of 300 adherents to their cause), and even his wife. And this is but a small sample of the devastation left by his tyranny. Any perceived threat to his crown, real or imagined, earned brutal punishment.