Life of Christ Bible Study
New Lesson every Monday Thru Friday.
Life of Christ Bible Study
DBS LoC #002
Herod the Great
Today's Lesson:
Herod the Great
Herod in many ways personifies the trouble in Israel at the time of Christ. For a long time, hundreds of years, the Jews had lived under the control of one nation or another, and they longed to be truly autonomous. It seemed like whatever empire had the upper hand in history would rule them.
If it wasn't the Babylonians, then it was the Persians, when the Persians took over. If it wasn't the Persians, it was the Greeks, when Alexander came rumbling through the ancient near east. If it wasn't Alexander, it was the Romans, after the death of Alexander and the disintegration of his empire.
The Jews still understood that they were a holy people, set apart for God. They always remembered that, if nothing else. They rankled under the rule of Rome, and it especially rubbed them wrong that Herod, the so-called Herod the Great had power over them.
Herod was worse than a Gentile; he was a half Jewish Idumean, a descendant of Esau, a wild desert dwelling type. The Jews considered them with no small amount of prejudice. To make matters worse, Herod was hardly a model human being. He has been called a monster one who was crafty and cruel, jealous and vain and always quick to seek revenge when wronged.
He came to the throne over the Roman province of Judea through cunning and manipulation of Marc Antony.
He had nine or ten wives. Even the historians lost count after a while.
On the smallest of suspicion he had even his favorite wife, Mariamne, put to death, along with her sons Alexander and Aristobulus.
Even while on his own deathbed, just days before he died he had his own son, his flesh and blood Antipater put to death.
Caesar Augustus was heard to say, "It is better to be Herod's hog than his own son!"
Again at his deathbed he ordered all the principle men in Israel to be rounded up and placed in the local stadium, where they could be surrounded by his soldiers and then slain when he died. The reason: so that there would be great mourning at his death.
It must have been difficult for the Jews to read the Scriptures, and to know that their destiny was so great, and yet have the reality so different.
Understand, however, that this was Divine Judgment on the nation of Israel; that they had neglected their relationship with God, and that the situation was appropriate to their spiritual state. In this case the outward circumstances reflected accurately the inward condition: slavery.
It is no wonder, then, there was a great fascination in the nation of Israel with the prophecies about the Messiah, The one who would come and reestablish the greatness of their kingdom and their people.
A man who would rise up and smite their enemies and make them a free people once again.
From time to time a fairly great and famous man would rise up, and there would be some excitement about the possibility of his being the Messiah. Of course, things would quiet down when he turned out to be quite human, and the slavery of Israel droned on and on.
After a time there was even a certain amount of cynicism about the whole deal.
The same phenomenon exists today with the fascination about the end times and the return of Christ.
Herod tried bribing the Jews, so that they would like him, and he could view himself as a successful ruler.
Julius Caesar had given Herod a fantastic and truly royal inaugural celebration back in 37 B.C., when Herod took the throne. He always longed for that past glory, when in fact the traditional Roman warning of "sic transit gloria mundi" applied to him more than any other. The bribes came in the form of a building program that was the very rival of Solomon's. He built monuments and buildings in the Holy Land, and even rebuilt their temple in magnificent fashion, topping it with a golden dome.
1- The rebuilding of the Temple was much like the building of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California.
2- More was added every year. A higher roof here, an annex there all very magnificent.
3- When Herod died, his relatives took over the folly and the never ending program continued until it was finally finished in 66 AD, some 87 years after it was begun.
4- It is one of the great ironies of history that it was burned down just four years later when Jerusalem was destroyed.
Other buildings and monuments were undertaken.
1- A temple, a forum, and a theatre at Samaria.
2- A great Greco-Roman capital, a temple, and port at Caesarea.
3- The port was an engineering marvel that even today is remarked upon by the archaeologists who work at the site.
4- Luxurious palaces and fortified retreats were built at Masada, Jerusalem, Jericho, and Herodium, which was near Bethlehem.
5- In Jerusalem he had baths, a theatre, and a Hippodrome constructed.
6- He also promoted Greek and Roman games so that the people might be entertained.
All of these things struck a sour note as any bribe to a slave will. The people really did not want these things. They wanted to be autonomous and free. But in order to be truly free, any people must know God, and that was exactly the problem in Israel.
Herod was the king. The people were unhappy. Their response to his despotism is worthwhile to note.
Free Online Bible All Versions
"You Version" Bible Software all versions and lots of translations including Duetsch, Espanol, Italiano and many, many more. No d/l.
http://www.youversion.com
Remember, send your questions to (PastorJeffLilley@Gmail.com).
Ask any questions you may have below in the comments.
Abundant Blessings
Pastor Jeff
Many of You have asked How You can Help our Ministries:
There is no charge for our JJL Ministries Bible Studies.
You can help further this work by your prayer and by sending a contribution to:
JJL Ministries
1463 Senita Dr
Beaumont, CA 92223
"Life of Christ Bible Study" is a dynamic life changing ministry of JJL Ministries Inc.
Please Support our ministry online, JJL Ministries
is a Federal 501(c)3 Org on file with the IRS.
Remember donations are Tax Deductible.
http://bit.ly/19PY0f
Who We Are at JJL Ministries
Pastor Jeff & Janette Lilley
PastorJeffLilley@gmail.com
JanetteLilley@gmail.com
Copyright © 1999-2009
All Rights Reserved
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New Lesson every Monday Thru Friday.
Life of Christ Bible Study
DBS LoC #002
Herod the Great
Today's Lesson:
Herod the Great
Herod in many ways personifies the trouble in Israel at the time of Christ. For a long time, hundreds of years, the Jews had lived under the control of one nation or another, and they longed to be truly autonomous. It seemed like whatever empire had the upper hand in history would rule them.
If it wasn't the Babylonians, then it was the Persians, when the Persians took over. If it wasn't the Persians, it was the Greeks, when Alexander came rumbling through the ancient near east. If it wasn't Alexander, it was the Romans, after the death of Alexander and the disintegration of his empire.
The Jews still understood that they were a holy people, set apart for God. They always remembered that, if nothing else. They rankled under the rule of Rome, and it especially rubbed them wrong that Herod, the so-called Herod the Great had power over them.
Herod was worse than a Gentile; he was a half Jewish Idumean, a descendant of Esau, a wild desert dwelling type. The Jews considered them with no small amount of prejudice. To make matters worse, Herod was hardly a model human being. He has been called a monster one who was crafty and cruel, jealous and vain and always quick to seek revenge when wronged.
He came to the throne over the Roman province of Judea through cunning and manipulation of Marc Antony.
He had nine or ten wives. Even the historians lost count after a while.
On the smallest of suspicion he had even his favorite wife, Mariamne, put to death, along with her sons Alexander and Aristobulus.
Even while on his own deathbed, just days before he died he had his own son, his flesh and blood Antipater put to death.
Caesar Augustus was heard to say, "It is better to be Herod's hog than his own son!"
Again at his deathbed he ordered all the principle men in Israel to be rounded up and placed in the local stadium, where they could be surrounded by his soldiers and then slain when he died. The reason: so that there would be great mourning at his death.
It must have been difficult for the Jews to read the Scriptures, and to know that their destiny was so great, and yet have the reality so different.
Understand, however, that this was Divine Judgment on the nation of Israel; that they had neglected their relationship with God, and that the situation was appropriate to their spiritual state. In this case the outward circumstances reflected accurately the inward condition: slavery.
It is no wonder, then, there was a great fascination in the nation of Israel with the prophecies about the Messiah, The one who would come and reestablish the greatness of their kingdom and their people.
A man who would rise up and smite their enemies and make them a free people once again.
From time to time a fairly great and famous man would rise up, and there would be some excitement about the possibility of his being the Messiah. Of course, things would quiet down when he turned out to be quite human, and the slavery of Israel droned on and on.
After a time there was even a certain amount of cynicism about the whole deal.
The same phenomenon exists today with the fascination about the end times and the return of Christ.
Herod tried bribing the Jews, so that they would like him, and he could view himself as a successful ruler.
Julius Caesar had given Herod a fantastic and truly royal inaugural celebration back in 37 B.C., when Herod took the throne. He always longed for that past glory, when in fact the traditional Roman warning of "sic transit gloria mundi" applied to him more than any other. The bribes came in the form of a building program that was the very rival of Solomon's. He built monuments and buildings in the Holy Land, and even rebuilt their temple in magnificent fashion, topping it with a golden dome.
1- The rebuilding of the Temple was much like the building of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California.
2- More was added every year. A higher roof here, an annex there all very magnificent.
3- When Herod died, his relatives took over the folly and the never ending program continued until it was finally finished in 66 AD, some 87 years after it was begun.
4- It is one of the great ironies of history that it was burned down just four years later when Jerusalem was destroyed.
Other buildings and monuments were undertaken.
1- A temple, a forum, and a theatre at Samaria.
2- A great Greco-Roman capital, a temple, and port at Caesarea.
3- The port was an engineering marvel that even today is remarked upon by the archaeologists who work at the site.
4- Luxurious palaces and fortified retreats were built at Masada, Jerusalem, Jericho, and Herodium, which was near Bethlehem.
5- In Jerusalem he had baths, a theatre, and a Hippodrome constructed.
6- He also promoted Greek and Roman games so that the people might be entertained.
All of these things struck a sour note as any bribe to a slave will. The people really did not want these things. They wanted to be autonomous and free. But in order to be truly free, any people must know God, and that was exactly the problem in Israel.
Herod was the king. The people were unhappy. Their response to his despotism is worthwhile to note.
Free Online Bible All Versions
"You Version" Bible Software all versions and lots of translations including Duetsch, Espanol, Italiano and many, many more. No d/l.
http://www.youversion.com
Remember, send your questions to (PastorJeffLilley@Gmail.com).
Ask any questions you may have below in the comments.
Abundant Blessings
Pastor Jeff
Many of You have asked How You can Help our Ministries:
There is no charge for our JJL Ministries Bible Studies.
You can help further this work by your prayer and by sending a contribution to:
JJL Ministries
1463 Senita Dr
Beaumont, CA 92223
"Life of Christ Bible Study" is a dynamic life changing ministry of JJL Ministries Inc.
Please Support our ministry online, JJL Ministries
is a Federal 501(c)3 Org on file with the IRS.
Remember donations are Tax Deductible.
http://bit.ly/19PY0f
Who We Are at JJL Ministries
Pastor Jeff & Janette Lilley
PastorJeffLilley@gmail.com
JanetteLilley@gmail.com
Copyright © 1999-2009
All Rights Reserved
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