witnessing the impossible they stared at him . . . clothed in a royal robe of purple, hair neatly trimmed . . . it was too much. The council was thrown into utter confusion and Hyrcanus, the supposed leader of the Jews, dismissed the court without reaching a decision. The intervention of Sextus Caesar secured Herod’s secret release be fore the case was tried again. The outcome of that trial could only have emphasized what the Jewish Elders already knew, that here was a bold young man who was determined to rule as a tyrant. Although Herod carefully planned his rise in power, even he did not dream it possible that he would ever be king. He was not of the royal family and was, in fact, a half-Jew. A quarrel between the last two brothers o f the ruling Hasmoneans over who should be high priest was the occasion for the Jews’ losing much of their liberty under Pompey. Pompey was defeated by Julius Caesar who then became ruler of Rome. Working closely with Caesar was Mark Anthony. It was to Mark Anthony that Herod went, seeking the kingly title for his young brother-in-law who was o f the Has- monean family. To his surprise and delight, Mark Anthony secured the title for Herod. With the aid o f Roman soldiers Herod established himself in Jerusalem as King of the Jews twenty-seven years to the day from Pompey’s conquest of the city. From the beginning the people did not accept him. To them he would never be king. It was be cause of this lack of allegiance that Herod began methodically to eliminate the last of the Hasmo- means who had ruled as high priests for over 100 years. He was in constant fear that so long as one remained, the people might revolt against him and set one o f the family on the throne. Protecting that throne became such an obsession with him that he even wanted to eliminate those who might rule after his death. A vivid example o f this and his tactics with his Roman superiors are seen in his appearance before Caesar Octavius, successor to Mark Anthony. Herod had become a very close friend o f Mark Anthony’s. So close was he, in fact, that he resist ed the flagrant romantic advances o f Cleopatra who visited him in Jerusalem. While other men suc cumbed to her charms, Herod seriously planned to kill her because he considered her an irksome wo man to everyone in general and to Mark Anthony in particular. When it became evident that Mark Anthony would be defeated by Caesar, all Herod’s friends feared for his life. Surely his well-known friendship with Mark Anthony would cause the new ruler to depose or even execute Herod. He was strongly advised to go to Caesar to ask for mercy. But Herod’s only fear was that if he should be killed Hyrcanus would rule after him. To think of this was more than he could bear. An occasion
to bring accusations against Hyrcanus presented itself and Herod put him to death. Once this was settled, Herod set out for a meet ing with Caesar. But it was not to beg for mercy. In a day when all the world was ruled by Rome and lesser king and rulers were subject to the whims of Rome, Herod considered it condescension enough to remove only his crown. He refused to remove his robes or deny his friendship with Mark Anthony. As usual, brazen tactics won him his life as well as the respect of his “ enemy.” In spite of this compulsion to rule absolutely, Herod passionately desired to be revered as a great benefactor of the Jewish people. He built the mag nificent temple for them, thinking it would serve as a great memorial to him both in life and death. As beautiful as it was, it hardly endeared him to the people’s hearts, for he desecrated it by placing an eagle, symbol of Rome, over the door. When he lay dying in his palace, premature word of his death was given out. Immediately in full noonday sun, a number o f young men climbed up and tore down the hated Roman eagle. Unfortunately, the rash act cost them their lives for the angered old king revived long enough to order their execution. It was during this last year o f his life that the wisemen came to Jerusalem* and Herod gave the infamous order for which he is known in all Chris tendom. At least one more mass execution order followed this. This time it was not out of fear for his throne. Rather, it was out of fear that all Judea would rejoice at his death. Few but Salome, his sister, remained with him now. Even his wife whom he deeply loved and two o f his sons had died at his hands. To Salome he gave the orders which would insure that Judea would mourn at his death as they should for a great and proper king. At his orders, the chief men of the government were all locked into the hippodrome. “When I am gone,” he said, “ execute them. Then all the nation will mourn at my death.” Perhaps his boldness and strategy could have distinguished him in history as one worthy of mourning had he not been consumed by overwhelm ing jealousy. Instead in an age of barbarians, he distinguished himself as the most barbaric o f all. Five days before his death he raised himself upon his elbow, sent for some guards and ordered the execution of another son. But to the credit of Salome his despicable order to execute the chief men imprisoned in the hippodrome was never car ried out. At his death, she freed them all. As Herod had feared, there was little reason for Judea to mourn . . . and as Isaiah had prophesied, down in Egypt the angel spoke to an emigrant carpenter. It was now safe to leave Egypt with the Mother and the Young Child. The Devil’s- Despot was dead! *A fact not mentioned by Josephus. 35
DECEMBER, 1968
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