Herod the Great: Bible Character Study

Introduction

Herod was king of Judea when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Rome gave him the title, and history remembers him for great building works, including a splendid rebuilding of the temple. When wise men from the east arrived asking where the king of the Jews had been born, Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

He called the chief priests and scribes, learned that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and secretly sent the wise men there, asking them to report back so that he too could come and worship. God warned them in a dream, and they went home another way. Herod, furious, had all the boys two years old and under in the Bethlehem region killed. Joseph had already fled to Egypt with Mary and the child, and they stayed there until Herod died.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
(ESV)

Name means: “Heroic” (Greek)
Home: Jerusalem
Role: King of Judea under Rome
Read in: ;

Herod the Great's story

Beginning
King of Judea
Ruling when Zechariah served in the temple.
Turning point
Troubled
Wise men ask for the newborn king.
Turning point
A secret plan
That I too may come and worship him.
Low point
Tricked
The wise men go home another way.
Low point
Bethlehem's boys
Rachel weeping for her children.
Ending
Herod is dead
The child comes home.

Starts as a king with a great name. Ends as a dead tyrant the child outlived.

Where Herod the Great lived and went

Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.

HomeMinistryKey momentTraditional or uncertainPinch or use + to zoom. Tap a cluster to spread it out.

How Herod the Great is wired

The Challenger

Enneagram 8, Enthusiast wing

To stay in control and never be at another's mercy.

This one is debated. Here's why we land here.

At their best, toward 2 Under stress, toward 5

Why we think so

Control. He summons the wise men secretly. ()
Fury. When tricked, he becomes furious. ()
Force. He kills every boy two and under. ()

He is cunning and wants to look pious. ()

Other lenses

Big Five. Read from what is recorded in Matthew 2.

ReservedOutgoing

SteadyReactive

ChallengingAccommodating

SpontaneousDisciplined

TraditionalCurious

DISC style: Commanding, suspicious, ruthless.

Strengths & struggles

What's good in Herod the Great

Shrewd; he consulted the scribes (). Determined ().

Where Herod the Great struggles

Deceit (). Rage (). Murder of children to protect his throne ().

What Herod the Great wanted most

To keep his throne ().

What Herod the Great feared most

A rival king ().

Herod the Great's people

Jesus

Joseph of Nazareth

Mary

Tension

JesusThe newborn king he tried to kill (Matt 2:13-16).

The wise menHe tried to use them; they went home another way ().

Opposed

Joseph of NazarethFled to Egypt with the child to escape him (Matt 2:13-15).

MaryHer child was the one he sought (Matt 2:13).

Family of Faith

See where Herod the Great fits

AbrahamJesus

c. 73–4 BC. Knew Jesus face to face.

Open the timeline

Where this points to Christ

Herod clung to a throne; the true King came to lay his down.

Herod feared a rival, but Jesus did not come to take Herod's crown. His kingdom is not of this world (). Matthew shows Jesus reliving Israel's story, called out of Egypt (), and later the crowds and rulers rose against him too (). Herod died; the child lived, and reigns.