Herod the Great was the ruler of Judea (including Samaria and Galilee) from about 37 B.C. until his death in 4 B.C. Herod’s rule begins a new chapter in the history of Judea: for about a century, a Jewish dynasty called the Hasmoneans had been ruling there. But Herod did not belong to this dynasty. His father had been a local governor who had gained influence under the last Hasmonean king, and Herod and his brother became governors under the same king. In 40 B.C., though, the Roman Senate chose Herod as the new “king of Judea.” It took three years for Herod to defeat the supporters of the Hasmoneans: he fought battles in Galilee and even laid siege to Jerusalem. During the next several years, he established his rule. Herod was on friendly terms with Emperor Augustus, and his success and loyalty to Rome earned him additional territory. He ruled for over thirty years because the Romans viewed him as an ally who helped them gain what they wanted from Judea: peace and a steady stream of income.

During his rule, Herod rebuilt the Jerusalem Temple on such a large scale that it rivaled famous temples in the Roman world. It was impressive because it could hold large crowds at key pilgrim festivals like Passover and Pentecost. The stones used to build it were so huge that they amazed Jesus’ disciples (Mark 13:1; Luke 21:5). Herod also rebuilt many cities and fortresses, including an important fortress on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Caesarea Maritima. There he created an artificial harbor that brought wealth into the area, and there he erected a temple to Rome and Augustus. Herod also established athletic and gladiatorial competitions in Jerusalem, held every five years, and donated buildings to cities outside of Judea, where large Jewish communities resided.

Still, many of Herod’s subjects resented his cooperation with Rome and his rise to power. Toward the end of his life, Herod’s behavior became mistrustful and unstable: for example, he burned some protesters alive, and he executed his Hasmonean wife, their two sons, and her mother. When Herod died, his territory was divided among three of his other sons, and unrest broke out in various parts of Judea.

Herod the Great is mentioned in both Matthew (2:1-23) and Luke (1:5) in connection with Jesus’ birth. In Matthew, Herod is afraid of losing his kingdom to the newborn king (Jesus), so he orders the killing of boys in Bethlehem, age two and under. This killing of innocent life would have immediately been recognized by the Jews of the first century as a comparison to the ancient king of Egypt, who ordered the deaths of all Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:8-22). Like Moses who escaped from that Egyptian king (Exodus 2:1-15), Jesus escapes from this king of Judea (Matthew 2:13-18). Matthew’s account shows how much Herod was mistrusted, especially in the last years of his reign. Luke refers to this Herod only briefly: he dates the births of John the Baptist and Jesus to his reign (see Luke 1:5), but does not mention a killing of boys or Herod’s death.