HEROD’S HATRED TOWARDS THE JEWS

Hugh Fogelman et al

Herod, the Great (born about 73 BCE) is one of the most important characters in Jewish history. He was evil to be sure, but is a very significant figure in understanding the applicable period of Roman domination of the Jewish people.

HEROD’S PERSECUTIONS:

Herod’s persecutions were infamous, extending to his own family. Herod married Miriam―the granddaughter of Hyrcanus and therefore a Hasmonean princess―largely to gain legitimacy among the Jewish people. He was said to have greatly loved Miram and, according to Josephus, they had five children; two daughters and three sons. The youngest son was educated in Rome and died there., The two older sons were not born until Herod was king. Because of this kingship and the nobility of Miriam, Herod treated these sons as of royal blood

Herod had made Miriam’s brother, Aristobulus, High Priest at the age of 17. He probably watched with trepidation as the young man became hugely popular; not surprising since Aristobulus was a Hasmonean with a legitimate right to be High Priest―a genuine Jew and a genuine cohen. But this threatened Herod so much that he had him drowned. Herod’s love for Miriam probably frustrated him greatly since she hated him as much as he loved her, largely because of what he had done to her brother. Herod later became jealous of even his own sons for the same reason and had them murdered as well. Eventually he had his own wife murdered in a fit of jealousy. As Josephus related: “His passion also made him stark mad and leaping out of his bed he ran around the palace in a wild manner. His sister Salome took the opportunity also to slander Miriam and to confirm his suspicions about Joseph [Miriam’s alleged lover]. Then out of his ungovernable jealousy and rage he commanded both of them to be killed immediately.”

But as soon as Herod’s fits of rage was over he repented of what he had done. When his anger had worn off his affections were rekindled. At this time Herod could not think Miriam was dead and would appear to speak to her as if she was still alive. Herod was a greatly unstable man. Even Augustus said of him: “It is better to be Herod’s dog than one of his children.”

Herod’s paranoia, his interference with the Temple hierarchy, and his dedication to the Hellenization of the Jewish people all contributed to the growing discontent that later erupted in a revolt against Rome some 70 years after his death.

SPIRITUAL CONFLICT:

Hellenism dominated Judea and beneath the surface events, there was a deep spiritual battle raging between paganism and Judaism. Jewish nationalism was beginning to rise to the surface. Since the days of the Greek Empire a significant number of Greeks as well as other gentiles who adopted the Greek life-style lived in Judea. Romans now more Hellenist outsiders to come and settle the land.

Though a minority, the Jewish upper-classes, subscribed to this “higher” (Hellenistic) culture. Even the king was an avowed Hellenist. He saw himself as an enlightened leader who would bring his backward people into the modern world, Herod did what he saw necessary to accomplish his “idealistic” end.

This idealism included the persecution and murder of all rabbis whom Herod viewed, not only as threats to his authority, but also as obstacles to the mass Hellenization of the Jews. A direct result of Herod’s interference and the growing Hellenistic influences among the Jewish upper classes, the Temple hierarchy became corrupt. The Sadducees, a religious group of the wealthy, who collaborated with the Romans to keep their power base, now controlled the Temple, much to the chagrin of the mainstream Jewish majority, the Pharisees, and of the extreme religious minority, the Zealots. The cauldron was beginning to boil and soon it would erupt.

Someone wrote; “I think Herod was not Jewish. I recall a Talmudic passage where Herod asks the Rabbis how they feel about him being on the throne. They tell him what he wants to hear, that he is a brother Jew.”

The Hasmonean sword, propagandism of Edom, is what lead to Herod sitting on David’s throne. Was this also divine punishment for hassling Edom whom God commanded to be left alone? Was it fulfillment of Isaac’s blessing on Esau about bursting loose of Jacob’s yoke?

Since Herod descends from Edomites who were forced to convert to Judaism, he is not a Jew. Forced conversion is not a valid conversion.

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