TWO EVENTS in the life of king Herod Antipas have a clear sense of inter-connection, and they are internally coherent with the biblical narrative. Herod Antipas is in the convoluted fratricidal-homicidal lineage of Herod the Great. Herod Antipas is the murderer of John the Baptist, in an incredibly foolish abuse of his powers; later, God kills Herod in a gruesome way during the midst of his overweening hubris.
Herod was angry with John the Baptist for two reasons; the first was that John had confronted him with a particularly egregious cultural and religious sin. “Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’” (Matt. 14:3-4) The second was that John was becoming a figure of renown amongst the people, and there was a strong and growing Zealot guerilla movement that wanted to end Herod’s reign; these were conflated in Herod’s mind. “Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.” (Matt. 14:3-4) The second reason was more important to Herod than the first, but the first is what motivated Herod’s critical lack of judgment at a pivotal moment.
Herod threw himself a grand party on his birthday, one overflowing with excessive largess of pagan revelry. Fine foods and wines were served in abundance by quiescent slaves, music echoed in the halls and filled the courtyards and garden of the palace, and “the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.” (Matt. 14:6-7) There was dangerous undercurrent present. “Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him.” (Mark 6:19-20) Salome, prompted by her mother’s smoldering fury at John the Baptist, whispered in her daughter’s ear, who turned to Herod. “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” (Matt. 14:8; Mark 6:25; Luke 9:9)
Herod was neatly boxed in by his own loud drunken promise in front of his guests, many of whom were influencers in his fragile kingdom. Next, we have preserved in posterity one of the grisliest scenes in all of scripture. “The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother . ” (Matt. 14:9-11) This is an incredibly emotionally intoxicating scene that depicts the deepest core of human depravity. Caravaggio’s 1608 masterpiece “The Beheading of John the Baptist” has been called one of the ten greatest works of art of all time. This speaks volumes as to the power of the biblical narrative.
After John’s death, the brief events of the following timeline of Jesus’ ministry and Herod’s part in his death flow by quickly in the story of Herod, and are probably largely forgotten by him. In a period of time around 39 B.C., the Book of Acts records Herod’s death, with Herodias, anecdotally, soon to follow. “Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.” (Acts 12:19b-20) They each needed something from one another. The adjacent kingdom subjects needed the resources Herod could supply because of his powerful position as a vassal king under Rome; Herod needed a lot less of his growing number of administrative headaches.
It was time to formalize the backroom agreements, and display a public parody of celebration for all. Herod was prominent at a peak moment in his reign, decked out in the height of his full royal sartorial regalia. “On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.” (Acts 12:21) The crowd, in a manipulated exhibition of sycophantic excess, shouted out with choreographed frenzied acclaim, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” (Acts 12:22) As we read, we imagine Herod beginning to let the knot in his gut relax just a bit. Perhaps he has spent the night thinking of new beginnings and better days ahead. He smiles, he waves. He drops dead. “Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” (Acts 12:23)
There is good evidence that Herod died of phthiriasis, a condition caused by sexually transmitted disease—this fits well with his excesses of character, and his sin with Herodias. So, our gruesome morality tale, bridging the Synoptic Gospels, the Book of Acts, and some intervening time, comes full circle; this rather rocky horror show is over. “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) There are no particular great works of art that depict Herod’s death. His paucity of character does not warrant this.
One significant aspect of scripture, one of the reasons that it rings so true in the deepest part of our souls, is that the bible does not gloss over the darkest aspects of the human condition with saccharine and vague inferences. Instead, it unabashedly presents them in raw detail that at times shreds delicate sensitivities. There is good reason in teaching scripture to be aware that amongst us are those who need protection from such raw details. But, once in a while, appropriately timed and stated, it is good, and even necessary, to let the Word be the Word. This particular day in this Halloween devotional, this is true. For those who are Christ’s followers, this maxim, this day, fits well: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) The curse half at the beginning is for Herod and his ilk; the promises are ours.
Q. Do I handle with sacred integrity the power of the Holy Spirit?
*Lord Acton, “Letter to Bishop Creighton” – 1887.
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