HERODs the GREAT DIMINUTIVE

             The name Herod appears significantly in the Bible. It appears since the birth of Jesus until Acts of the Apostles. The name Herod was both loved and hated by many. Every time he is mention, it is always in a major attribute. Thus, Herod is not just an ordinary person during his time but a very influential figure. Herod as mention in the Bible is called king and at the same time a family man having wives and sons.

             Herod Antipos is one of the sons of Herod the Great, a Tetrarch. He was a very influential figure between 4 BC to 39 AD and ruled Galilee, Perea, and east of the Jordan. He rebuilds the big city of Sepphoris in Galilee and was later on exiled to Gual. Herod Archelaus also a son of Herod the Great, an Ethnarch. He is influential in Judah / Judea, Samaria, and Edumea. He was also later on exiled to Gual by Augustus in 6 AD the account can be found in Matthew 2: 22. Next is Herod Philip also a Tetrarch. He ruled the north of the Sea of Galilee. Like his father Herod the Great, he build a lot. He is said to be a kind, just and a good leader by Josephus. During his time, Caesarea Philippi becomes the Holy place for the Jews because it is where the Jordan River originates.

            Aside from the above mentioned Herods, two more Herods are significantly mentioned in the history. One is Herod Agrippa I. As mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, he is one who killed James the apostle of John. He is a pious Jews. What moved him to kill James is that, he found James influential and a threat to there laws. He died suddenly due to a heat stroke. Another one is Herod Agrippa II. Accounts about him can be found in the Acts of the Apostles 25. Scandals and controversies were attached to him. The name Bernice is his sister and at the time his lover and at times of chaos he sided against his people.

            All the Herods mention contributed a lot in the life of the people in Jerusalem. Including Jesus and later on in the missions of the apostles. The name Herod was a significant element of the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord. It is indeed liberating to learn and to realize the name Herod because it minimizes the confusions in understanding the authentic story of Jesus and the people that surrounded him during his time.

            The name Herod therefore should not be taken always into its negative attributes because in one way or another it also enriched the experiences of the people, including the culture and civilization, and most especially the strict observance of the there Laws. Lastly, to understand the experience of Jesus, one cannot detach the name Herod for it will always certainly bring us to the Birth, Death, and Resurrection of our savior and even to the mission that we partake at present.