Herod the Great
Overview
Herod the Great was the client king of Judea when Jesus Christ was born. In Matthew, he appears as the paranoid ruler who sought to destroy the newborn king of the Jews.
Biblical Significance
Herod’s violence in Matthew 2 frames Jesus’ infancy as a conflict between earthly power and God’s promised Messiah. His slaughter of the children in Bethlehem echoes Pharaoh’s oppression in Exodus.
Key Events
- Birth of Jesus — Magi came to Jerusalem during Herod’s reign
Related Notes
Notes
Herod’s response to the Messiah is fear, manipulation, and violence rather than worship.