King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Comment: There was a Herod – Herod Archelaus: who reigned from about 6BC to 4AD. He was followed by Herod Antipas who reigned from this time until after Jesus was crucified. ‘Scholars’ are useful sometimes and not so at other times. The birth of Jesus is not fixed at an exact date or in a certain year. I am assuming that the people who decided what was Before Christ (BC) and after the Master was born (AD) knew what they were doing and it is good enough for me to assume its correctness while writing my comments. The facts are proven by being in Scripture, which does not provide dates. Archeology increasingly proves the Bible to be a good history book! So Herod Archelaus was probably the one who killed so many young kids around the time that Jesus was born. Herod Antipas had John beheaded. The reason that Herod had John beheaded seems to be because of a number of factors. a) The Baptist pointed out the definite sin of Herod marrying his brother’s wife. His brother was not dead! b) Herod Antipas made a stupid promise. c) Herodias, the wife, was spiteful and hateful and mad at John for exposing her sin. d) Herodias’ daughter took her advice from a very prejudiced and unworthy person! e) Herod was cowardly and gutless! Although he knew that he was wrong he would not back down! A shocking story, but Hebrews chapter 12 gives a list of God’s followers who have been treated similarly in the past and there are hundreds, probably thousands, of Christians killed each year, even in the twenty first century, just because they are God’s faithful followers! The papers rarely mention this!
Proverbs 26: 8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool. – There are several honoured fools in the story above!
Prayer; Help me to be faithful no matter what befalls me.
As I read it! 