Herod the Great’s reign fused Roman politics, monumental building, and ruthless cruelty—yet Jehovah preserved the Messiah he tried to destroy.
Herod the Great In History, Scripture, And Archaeology
The Birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem c. 2 B.C.E. and the Fulfillment of Prophecy
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem c. 2 B.C.E. fulfilled precise Messianic prophecies through real people, places, and historical events under Roman rule.
The Rise of Herod the Great: From Idumean Governor to Client King
Herod the Great rose from Idumean governor to Roman-installed king, embodying Gentile domination over Judea at the very moment Messiah was born.
The Masada Fortress — 73 C.E.
Masada, the last Jewish fortress to fall to Rome in 73 C.E., reveals the tragic finale of defiance, zeal, and divine judgment in first-century Judea.
The Jericho Palaces of the Hasmoneans — c. 140–30 B.C.E.
The Hasmonean palaces of Jericho reveal the rise, splendor, and spiritual decline of a Jewish dynasty that bridged priestly purity and royal power.
The Herodium Fortress — c. 37–4 B.C.E.
Herodium, Herod’s desert fortress near Bethlehem, reveals his power, paranoia, and the stark contrast between earthly kingship and divine sovereignty.
The Roman Occupation—From Herod the Great to the Destruction of the Second Temple
Herod’s rise, Jesus’ birth and ministry, and Jerusalem’s fall in 70 C.E.—the Roman stage on which Jehovah’s prophetic plan unfolded with precision.
