From the Events of History
The Herods (The Family of Herod)
There was more than one Herod in history:
1. Herod the Great:
He ruled for approximately 37 years. It is said that the Lord Christ was born toward the end of his reign.
This king was very cruel. He married ten women and killed one of his wives along with many members of her family. He was the one who received the Magi, sought to kill Christ, and for that reason ordered the killing of all the children of Bethlehem. He died a miserable death at the age of seventy (Matt. 2:1–15).
2. Herod Antipas:
He was the second son of Herod the Great by his fourth wife, and he ruled as tetrarch of Galilee for 42 years (Luke 3:1).
He was the one who married his brother’s wife, and John the Baptist rebuked him. The matter ended with John being imprisoned and then beheaded because of his promises to Salome, the daughter of Herodias.
The Lord described him as “that fox” (Luke 13:32). During the trial of the Lord Christ, Pilate sent Him to Herod, and because of that, the two became friends after having been enemies.
From this, it is clear that the Herod who lived during the birth of Christ was not the same Herod who lived during His crucifixion.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, published in El-Keraza Magazine, Year Eight, Issue Fifty, December 16, 1977.
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