House of Herod:

The Jewish country of Israel was conquered by Roman armies in 67 BC. They divided the land into six provinces. The provinces were, (from north to south), Iturea / Trachonitus, Galilee, Decapolis, Samaria, Perea, and Judea. By 37 BC Herod the Great, (as he came to be known), had been appointed king over all the provinces except Decapolis. (see map)   The Romans called the country "Palestine".

Herod the Great was an extremely wicked king. He is the one who ordered that all of the baby boys in Bethlehem should be killed. This Herod was so wicked that he killed his own mother, one of his ten wives and three of his sons. There was a saying in the land of Palestine, "Better to be a pig than a son of Herod."

Herod the Great died in 4BC. Three of his sons, (Philip, Archelaus, and Antipas) were appointed to rule over Palestine in his place. Herod Philip ruled over Iturea / Trachonitus. Herod Antipas ruled Galilee and Perea. Herod Archelaus ruled Judea and Samaria. But Archelaus was such a bad king that, after ten years, he was replaced by a procurator (military governor), in 6 AD.

Herod Antipas is sometimes called "Herod the Tetrarch". He is the one who married his brother's wife in adultery, and then killed John the Baptist.

Herod Archelaus killed 3,000 Jews who were worshipping in the temple.

Herod Philip was known as a moderate ruler, and committed no wickedness that we know of. 

God judged these wicked kings.  The Church historian Eusebius tells us that Herod the Great became very sick immediately after he killed the baby boys in Bethlehem.   He had a terrible craving to scratch himself.  His intestines were ulcerated, and his private parts became infected and wormy.  He suffered convulsions and died a horrible, painful death in 4 BC.

The Romans banished Herod Archelaus to Vienne, in what is now France, and took away all his property, because of his wickedness:  6 AD

Herod Antipas, the one who killed John the Baptist, was also judged by God.  His whole army was destroyed by Aretas, the king of Petra.  Then a nephew, named Herod Agrippa, accused him of treason against Rome.  So the Romans banished him to Lyons, (in the country we now call France).  They also took away all his property:   39 AD

That same Herod Agrippa who accused Herod Antipas of treason, then became king of Iturea/Trachonitus, Galilee, and Perea, (and eventually Judea and Samaria as well).  He killed James, the apostle and brother of Jesus. He also tried to kill Peter and John. But he gave a speech with a voice so powerful that the people said he was a god.  Since he did not give God the glory, God killed him.  He was eaten by worms and died, within five days:  44 AD  (Read Acts 12)  This Herod is known to history as Herod Agrippa I.  He had a son known as Herod Agrippa II, who was a good king, and almost became a Christian. (see Act 25)

Discussion Question:  Does God judge the wicked?   What does the Bible say about this? 

Memory Verse: But the Lord did not let anyone hurt them.   He warned kings not to harm them, saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm." Psalm  105:14-15

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