Herod, Herod, and Herod

When the three wise men reached Bethlehem they started asking questions about the child who had been born to be King of the Jews.  As you know, news travels fast and in no time at all King Herod heard that three wise men from the East came to find a child who had been born; this child was to be King of the Jews.  Well.  Since Herod determined HE was the KING of Judah (regardless of what Rome said), you can imagine how excited he was to hear a new king had been born.  So Herod decided to buddy up to the wise men.  He asked them to come visit.  While there Herod acted like he wanted more information so he, too, could worship the child.  Herod asked the wise me to come back to him and report the whereabouts of this child. 

Now, Herod was a jealous fearful man and the news of a new king coming on the scene was more than just a little terrifying to him.  In Judah,  Herod Archelaus had been tasked with keeping everyone in his realm in line, which included Bethlehem.  His job was no easy task because the region was ridden with political unrest.  Herod knew that if he didn’t keep things under control, Rome would not be pleased.  Herod Archelaus’ father, Herod the Great was a shrewd politician who ruled the region from 37 BCE to 4 BCE.  When he died, three of his sons were given charge over his areas.  Herod Archelaus was actually not given the title of King (which I’m sure he was thrilled about) but was named ethnarch of Judea and he only ruled from 4 BCE to 6 CE.  His brother Herod Antipas was tetrarch of Galilee (way too many Herod’s here).  Another brother, Archelaus who ruled in Samaria after Herod the Great died, was soon after stripped of his powers by Rome.  The point of the political unrest and the completion of the 3 brothers (all sons of Herod the Great) would have added additional pressures to Herod Archelaus.

What’s the point of all this?  When we look at what was going on in Israel at the time we begin to see why Herod Archelaus was so terrified of a new “king” being born.  Especially in light of the fact that Rome wasn’t willing to officially call him King, but decided to make him ethnarch.  Now with a new king born who was being called King of the Jews, Herod Archelaus was naturally worried.

He shrewdly asked the Wise Men to come back and let him know where the child could be found so he could worship the child as well. 

Right.  

The good news is that the wise men did not return to report back to Herod Archelaus. 

God had a different plan.  More on that to come...