The Herodian Period


40 BCE	Herod the Great secured the title “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate in 40 BCE, and with the aid of Roman military support, secured his position in 37 BCE, ending Hasmonean rule.
38/37 BCE	Antigonus’ final regal year. The first year Hasmonean rule in Jerusalem was 162/161 (Ni/Ni) BCE and the final year was 38/37 (Ni/Ni). The Hasmoneans ruled precisely 125 years confirming 36/37 BCE (Ni/Ni) as Herod’s first year as King at Jerusalem (Antiquities 17.6.3§162); (Whiston, 1987, p. 461).
37/36 BCE	A Sabbatical year. Jerusalem fell October 5, 37 BCE to Marc Anthony and Herod on the Day of Atonement (Josephus, Antiquities 14.16.4§487); (Whiston, 1987, p. 397).
37/36 BCE	The ecclesiastical year 36/37 BCE (Ni/Ni), by inclusive reckoning, was the first regnal year of Herod the Great at Jerusalem and inclusively the 27th year from when Pompey took Jerusalem in 63 BCE on the Day of Atonement (September 23, 63 BCE).
31 BCE	Josephus refers to a major earthquake with a magnitude ML ranging from 7 to 8 occurring in the seventh year of Herod’s reign, when the war about Actium was at its height, at the beginning of the spring, the earth was shaken (Josephus, Wars 1.19.3§370); (Whiston, 1987, p. 572). Battle of Actium took place in the Ionian Sea off the shore of Greece on September 2, 31 BCE.
20/19 BCE	Herod’s eighteenth regal year from March 26, 20 BCE, or Nisan 1, 3741 AM (734 AUC), to March 15, 19 BCE or Nisan 1, 3742 AM (735 AUC). Temple renovation and construction began in the autumn of Herod’s eighteenth year, after Tishri 1, 3742 AM (20 BCE).
4/3 BCE	Jesus of Nazareth born in autumn at Migdal Eder (Bethlehem). A Registration, ἀπογράφεσθαι (apographesthai) taken in Judea (Luke 2:1 NASB). Luke’s parenthetical reference at Luke 2:2 made clear to Theophilus, the patron of his Gospel residing in Roman Syria, that the registration in 4/3 BCE was one of the “major instances of registration under Augustus” (Bagnall, 1991, pp. 264-265) and not the Roman census in 6/7 CE. Herod’s sons (Herod Archelaus as ethnarch, Herod Antipas and Philip as tetrarchs) named as his successors with the consent of Augustus permitting antedating their succession on Herod the Great’s death to 4 BCE.
late in 3 BCE	A little over two years before Herod’s death, Antipater (Herod the Great’s rebellious son) had his uncle, Herod’s younger brother Pheroras murdered. Pheroras had been tetrarch of Galilee under Herod.
3/2 BCE	On February 5, 2 BCE the Roman Senate declared Augustus Pater Patriae, a Latin honorific meaning “Father of the Fatherland.”
Spring, 2 BCE	Herod sent his son Antipater to Emperor Augustus with his codicil to his Last Will and Testament by which he declared Antipater his successor. He remained at Rome for about seven months.
Early May 2, 2 BCE	While Antipater was on route to Rome, Herod learned of a plot instigated by Antipater and his coconspirators.
Early Oct., 2 BCE	Antipater returned to Jerusalem not knowing of the discovery of the plot. Josephus says there was a seven-month span from the discovery of Antipater’s plot to murder Herod until Antipater returned to Jerusalem (Josephus, Antiquities 17.4§82; Wars 1.31§606); (Whiston, 1987, pp. 456, 592). Under normal conditions, it would take no longer then three months to travel to Rome and return. By adding the seven months between Herod’s discovery of Antipater’s plot and Antipater’s arrival in Jerusalem, plus three months for envoys to go to Rome and return, yields a period of roughly nine or ten months. The imminent onset of winter and the closure of sea travel in late October suggests his return trip took place in early October.
Early Oct., 2 BCE	Antipater’s arrest was immediately on his arrival at Jerusalem. His trial was within 3 days, conducted before Publius Quinctilius Varus, then Roman governor of Syria. The charges against Antipater were sedition and the intended murder of his father Herod (patricide). Varus finds Antipater guilty, however, due to Antipater’s high rank, it was necessary for Caesar Augustus to approve of the recommended sentence of death. Envoys leave for Rome seeking Augustus’ decision.
Dec., 2 BCE	When a rumor circulated that Herod had died, a group of young men gathered before the eastern temple gate on which he had placed a huge Roman golden eagle. They pulled it down and chopped it into pieces with axes. The soldiers interfered and arrested about forty of them and their two rabbi ringleaders (Judas ben Sepphoraeus and Matthias ben Margalus).
2/1 BCE	A Sabbatical year. Probable arrival of the caravan of Wise Men (Maji) at Bethlehem, where Joseph and Mary then resided in a house, followed by the flight of Joseph and Mary with the toddler Jesus to Egypt.
Early Jan., 1 BCE	Herod, enraged at this act of insubordination and insult, had them all executed. Herod had the two rabbis who instigated the desecration burned alive (Josephus, Antiquities 17.6.2-3§§150-164, Wars 1.33.2-4§§648-655); (Whiston, 1987, pp. 451-462, 595-596).
Jan. 9, 1 BCE	Although on his deathbed by then, Herod replaced Matthias as high priest the day before the lunar eclipse of January 10, 1 BCE for his involvement in the golden eagle matter.
Jan. 10, 1 BCE	On a winter night a total lunar eclipse commenced shortly before midnight.
abt. Jan. 11, 1 BCE	Herod departed for Callirrhoe, located less than 20 miles (32.2 km) from Jericho.
abt. Jan. 14, 1 BCE	Herod returned to Jericho from Callirrhoe.
abt. Jan. 16, 1 BCE	At Jericho, Herod has prominent Jewish leaders rounded up and placed in the hippodrome at Jericho awaiting execution at the very time, himself, died.
abt. Jan. 23, 1 BCE	After waiting 3 months, Herod received message from Augustus authorizing him to either exile or execute his son Antipater. In physical and emotional distress Herod attempted suicide. Antipater thinking his father was dead then tries to bribe his way out of prison. On hearing of the matter, an angry Herod sent his bodyguards to execute Antipater by beheading.
abt. Jan. 28, 1 BCE	Five days later, Herod died at Jericho about January 28, 1 BCE.
	The Jewish leaders held at the hippodrome were freed.
Feb/Mar, 1 BCE	Herod’s funeral. arrangements, ceremonies, and the burial took at least a month. His body was carried in procession from Jericho to the Herodium outside Bethlehem for burial (Josephus, Antiquities. 17.8:3§199; Wars 1.33:9§673); (Whiston, 1987, pp. 464, 597). This proceeded eight stadia the first day and then on to Herodium. Archelaus returned to Jerusalem, where he “continued his mourning till the seventh day” (Josephus, Antiquities, 17.8:4§200; Wars 2.1:1§1); (Whiston, 1987, pp. 464, 597).
Feb,/Mar., 1 BCE	Joseph stayed in Egypt until the death of Herod to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt l have called my son” (Matthew 2:14-15 NASB). Joseph and Mary leave Egypt with the child Jesus and settle at Nazareth in Galilee.
Apr. 8, 1 BCE	Passover (Nisan 14)
1 BCE	Following Herod’s death, his kingdom split eventually into three parts his sons Herod Archelaus as ethnarch, Herod Antipas and Philip as tetrarchs in inheritance, while Herod’s sister Salome I shortly ruled a toparchy of Jamnia. The independent reigns of Herod’s three sons began in 1 BCE following Herod’s death upon Augustus’ ruling. The predating their reigns to 4 BCE was a legal fiction. Herod Antipas referred to as “Herod the Tetrarch” and “King Herod” in the New Testament, ruled Galilee and Perea 4 BCE-39 CE (antedated years 4-2 BCE, independent beginning 1 BCE). Philip ruled Ituraea and Trachonitis as tetrarch 4 BCE-34 CE (antedated years 4-2, independent beginning 1 BCE). Herod Agrippa I, who had previously ruled Chalcis, succeeded him.
6/7 CE	A Sabbatical year and the 11th Jubilee. Roman census, ordered by Augustus about 6/7 CE, while Quirinius served as Syria’s governor, which included assessment of the population’s possessions, including lands and livestock, for tax purposes.
27 CE	The fifteenth year of Tiberius is 27 CE (780 AUC).
27/28 CE	A Sabbatical year. The first Passover in Jesus’ ministry (Nisan 14, 3788 AM; March 29, 28 CE; 781 AUC) a few months after his baptism, in the fall of 27, CE by John the Baptist. Jesus’ then began his public ministry. Second Temple reconstruction had lasted for forty-six years (John 2:20 NASB). The first year being 20/19 BCE or 3742 AM, which necessitates that the 46th year to be 27/28 BCE or 3788 AM.
69/70 CE	Sabbatical year. From the start of Herod’s reign until the Temple fell to Titus on the 9th day of Av (August 4, 70 CE) was 107 years (Josephus, Antiquities 20.10§250; (Whiston, 1987, pp. 541). Using inclusive reckoning, Herod’s first regal year was 37/36 (Ni/Ni) running from April 2, 37 BCE [Nisan 1, 3724 AM (717 AUC)] to March 22, 36 BCE [Nisan 1, 3725 AM (718 AUC)].

BIBARCH

The Herodian Period

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories