1. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem ― Bethlehem (בית לחם) means ‘house of bread’. Bethlehem is a two-hour walk from Jerusalem. The following events take place after the birth of Jesus estimated to be around ~6 BCE.

in the days of King Herod ― Herod the Great, ruled Judea from 34 BCE until his death in 2 BCE. Herod's rule was characterized by political intrigue and brutality. Herod's paranoia and the violent suppression of any perceived threats to his power contributed to his reputation as a tyrant along with his heavy taxation and forced labor.[1]

🕮 The Life of Herod the Great
Herod was born in 73 BCE to Antipater the Idumean (Edomite), and Cypros, a Nabatean Arab princess. Antipater was a powerful official under Hyrcanus II, one of the last Hasmonean kings.

Herod’s family were servants in the Hasmonean court. Antipater was a key advisor and supporter of Hyrcanus II. Under Hycranus II, the Idumeans (including Herod’s family) were forced to convert to Judaism in 2nd century BCE.

Antipater had an increasing political influence and alliance with Julius Caesar, In 47 BCE, Antipater capitalized on his relationship with Julius Caesar and his own position of power to secure important positions for his sons. Herod was appointed Governor of Galilee by his father shortly after.

After Julius Ceasar’s assassination in 44 BCE, Antipater and his family sided with Mark Antony.

In 40 BCE, Herod fled to Rome due to a Parthian invasion and internal conflicts in Judea. There, the Roman senate appointed him “King of the Jews”, largely due to the influence of Mark Antony and Augustus (then Octavian)[1].

With Rome’s backing, Herod returned to Judea in 39 BCE, and within two years, he successfully defeated the Parthians and all his Hasmonean rivals, securing his position as “king of the Jews”. To solidify his claim as king, Herod divorced his first wife and married a Hasmonean princess named Mariamne – hoping it would legitimize his rule by linking himself to the Hasmonean dynasty. However, there were still Hasmoneans who had a greater claim to the throne. In 30 BCE, Herod executed Hyrcanus II and other members of the Hasmonean family. He later also executed the sons of two of his wives on suspicion of treason.

Herod consistently wanted validation from the Jews and acceptance as their king. However, the law states that a rightful king must be a native-born Jew[2] and from the line of David, and Herod was a convert. When the sages told Herod this, Herod became enraged and ordered the sages be killed except one (Bava ben Buta). Herod had him blinded and forced him to wear a crown of thorns at all times. He taunted Bava relentlessly, but Bava remained quiet and refused to curse him[3]. Herod realized how righteous the sages were due to Bava’s actions, and Herod repented. To make amends for blinding Bava and taking away the sages (who were called the eyes of the nation), Herod expanded the temple[4] (which is called the eyes of the world[5]) and built it up to be grander than it previously was[6] in 20 BCE.

🕮 Herod’s Jewish Support
The Herodians were a group of Jewish supporters of the Herodian dynasty, which ruled parts of Palestine and neighboring areas from around 55 BC to AD 93. The Herodians were political followers of King Herod and sought to keep Herod (or his descendants) to the throne in Judea and other areas ruled by Herod the Great. They favored submitting to the Herods, and consequently to Rome, for political expediency.

[1] Antiquities of the Jews 15.7.4, The Jewish War 1.22.3, Antiquities of the Jews 17.11.4 [2] Deuteronomy 17:15 [3] Bava Batra 3b & 4a [4] Antiquities of the Jews 15.11.1 [5] Ezekiel 24:21 [6] Bava Basra 4a