Short answer: which Herod ruled when Jesus was born;
Herod the Great, also known as King Herod, ruled at the time of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem according to the New Testament. He is reported to have ordered the massacre of all male infants under two years old in and around Bethlehem during his reign.
Step by Step: How to Determine Which Herod Ruled During the Time of Jesus’ Birth
Determining which Herod ruled during the time of Jesus’ birth may sound like an intimidating task, but with a little bit of knowledge and some careful research, it’s actually fairly straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
Step 1: Know Your Herods
The first thing to understand when trying to determine which Herod ruled during Jesus’ birth is that there were several different Herods who held power in various parts of the region at different times. The most significant of these are known as “Herod the Great” (also sometimes referred to simply as “King Herod”) and his son, “Herod Antipas.”
Herod the Great was appointed by Rome as king over Judea in 37 BC and ruled until his death in 4 BC. He is perhaps best known for his extensive building projects, including renovations to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Herod Antipas was one of several sons born to Herod the Great, and he served as tetrarch (ruler over a smaller territory) of Galilee from around 4 BC until AD 39.
While there were also other figures named “Herod” throughout history – including another son of Herod the Great named Philip – their roles are less relevant for our purposes here.
Step 2: Consider Biblical References
The next step is to turn your attention towards what information we can glean from biblical sources about when exactly Jesus was born and under whose reign this occurred.
Two passages found specifically within Matthew’s gospel provide helpful context for determining which ruler oversaw events leading up to Christ’s birth.
Matthew Chapter 2 tells us that after Jesus’ birth, wise men arrived in Jerusalem asking where they could find “the newborn King of the Jews.” They had seen His star rising somewhere outside Palestine pointing them right into Bethlehem according to Matthew chapter two verses nine through eleven. In verse three This request caused quite a stir among the religious leaders and Herod himself, who was then identified as “king” by his peers.
In addition to this detail about King Herod’s involvement in the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, Matthew 2:21 also tells us that Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt after being warned in a dream. This is significant because it adds another layer of historical context if we consider what else we know about the political climate at that time – Rome controlled Egypt just like they did Palestine and Judea making it unlikely both regions would have different rulers governing during this time period.
Step 3: Identify Historical Events
With these biblical references in mind, our next step is to identify any significant historical events that can help narrow down which Herod was ruling over Judea when Jesus was born.
The most important event for our purposes here is likely the census taken under Caesar Augustus mentioned in Luke chapter two verse one noting a registration taking place while Quirinius governed Syria meaning that Joseph needed to return Bethlehem due being required to register for the census suddenly
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know about Which Herod Ruled during Jesus’ Birth
As we approach the Christmas season, many of us begin to reflect on the biblical story of Jesus’ birth. However, there are several questions that come up amidst discussions around this holy event. One such question is: “Which Herod ruled during Jesus’ birth?” To help you understand the context and background behind this historical figure and his role in the story of Jesus Christ’s birth, we’ve compiled a comprehensive FAQ list.
Q: Who was Herod?
A: Herod was a ruler over Judea during Roman times. He is commonly referred to as ‘Herod the Great,’ and was known for his ambitious architectural projects (such as Herodium) and brutal tactics when it came to maintaining power.
Q: When did he rule?
A: From 37 BC onwards until his death in 4 BC.
Q: What does he have to do with Jesus’ birth?
A: According to the Gospel of Matthew, King Herod played an important role in trying to find and eliminate baby Jesus after hearing about His arrival from wise men who had visited him.
Q: How did Herod try to kill baby Jesus?
A: After locating where Mary and Joseph were staying with their child, King Herod ordered all male children under the age of two years old living in Bethlehem at the time be slaughtered in order to ensure that Baby Jesus would be eliminated.
Q.: Did King Herod succeed?
A.: No! An angel had warned Joseph — through a dream– about this tragedy awaiting them which made them move away from danger zone i.e., Bethlehem.
Q.: Wasn’t there another king mentioned also by name “Herod Antipas” ?
A.: Yes! There were other kings named “Herods”. In fact Antipas (the son of “greater” king herrod), feature prominently throughout New Testament along-with his own follies like seducing wife Johanna but most famously for ordering the execution of John the Baptist.
Q: Why was King Herod so threatened by a baby?
A.: The reasoning behind this is unclear, but it has been hypothesized that this may have come from rumors regarding Jesus’ Messianic title or perhaps just as a power move to maintain his own status.
In conclusion, Herod the Great indeed played an influential role in the Nativity story. He added tension and drama as he tried unsuccessfully to thwart God’s plan for humanity’s salvation through Jesus Christ. Thankfully, his evil schemes did not succeed; thus enabling us all to celebrate Christmas with joy rightfully earned!
Unraveling History: Understanding the Role of Herod in the Nativity Story
As we approach the holiday season, many Christians prepare to celebrate the story of Jesus’ birth. Central to this narrative is King Herod, a character often depicted as a ruthless tyrant who ordered the slaughter of innocent infants in an effort to snuff out the newborn Savior. But what was Herod really like? And why did this powerful king feel so threatened by one tiny baby?
Firstly, it’s important to understand that Herod was not actually a true blood descendant of Jewish kings, but rather an Edomite convert who had been appointed by the Romans as ruler over Judea. This controversial appointment caused tension among the Jewish population from the outset.
Herod’s reign saw him strive for legitimacy and acceptance among his people through monumental building projects including expanding and refurbishing Jerusalem’s Second Temple – which still stands today! He also sought favor with Rome by becoming a loyal ally and maintaining stability within his territory.
So where does Jesus come into play? According to biblical accounts, wise men bearing gifts were said to have traveled from afar thanks to prophesies predicting Christ’s arrival. They visited Jerusalem first seeking guidance on their journey before being directed towards Bethlehem where they would eventually find Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.
Upon hearing these events unfolding near his kingdom (and without knowing details about wh0m or what they searched), Herod quickly grew suspicious – especially when he found out that there rumours circulating about ‘the coming King’ amongst his subjects. To confirm if any threat existed indeed against him as rumoured & provide information on whereabouts regarding any suspected troublemaker in future too; Herod summoned these magi behind closed doors challenging them for answers – yet no reply satisfied either party’s wishes nor resolved suspicions.
Unfortunately for everyone involved – good or evil- records indicate how unpredictable and violent
Herod could truly be: extremely paranoid at times leaving officials around him very wary. His thirst for control might account for unverified claims of Herod ordering the death of his own family members!
More tragically, a standalone record suggests that in response to these concerns regarding Christ’s birth or potential religious role, Herod ordered all male infants under two years old in Bethlehem and surrounding areas killed. This action was in an attempt to ensure there would never be any future insurgency through young boys reaching adulthood – a rule aimed at maintaining his authority with no rivals around him.
It’s important to note though that beyond this one incident, and despite some instances like those mentioned earlier on during which he could seem unstable; historical records paint for Herod quite a diverse tale full of remarkable achievements too despite limited resources within his land as compared to Rome- valued much by historians today including Josephus’ description depicting Herold as “an energetically ambitious ruler.”
Herod stood out from many other individuals occupying Judea under Roman control thanks to innovative public policies – such as developing networks connecting various cities/ remote parts outlying Jerusalem, building up infrastructure between ports along with measures taken against banditry making trading easier and safer etc
