About the
Herodian Dynasty

This is a powerful and evil royal family dominant in the time of Jesus Christ, before and after His death. They served at the will of the Roman Empire.

They are of Idumean descent (aka Edomites, of the land of Edom). Edom is another name for Isacc’s firstborn son, the patriarch Esau. Edomites are his descentants.

• Herod, aka Herod the Great

  He is the son of Antipater I the Idumaean (lived 113-114 BC to 43 BC). Anipater is an Edomite) and a son of Antipas. Anipater’s family converted to Judaism in the 2nd century BC. He was reward with Roman citizenship, freedom from taxes, and given many honors after assisting Julius Caesar defeat Pompey during the Roman Civil War by marching to rescue Caesar in Alexandria.

  Thus, Antipater became rich and powerful, serving as a governor of Idumea under its King Alexander Jannaeus. Later, Antipater was appointed the first Roman Procurator of Judea, allowing him to make his son Herod the governor of Galilee and his son Phasael, governor of Jerusalem. Antipater’s years of political maneuvering and diplomacy made it possible for his son, Herod, to rise even higher.

  The Herodian Dynasty began with Herod. Herod became king of the Roman province of Judea before Jesus Christ’s birth. He and his family ruled the region with the support of Rome.

  SEE: Who is Herod the Great? and what did he do?

• Antipater II, aka Antipater

  He is the firstborn son of Herod the Great, and was named after his paternal grandfather Antipater the Idumaean (above).

  His mother is Doris, the first wife of Herod.

  Antipater was eventually executed by own his father for attempting to poison him.

  According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus, Antipater was killed by his father just 5 days before Herod the Great’s own death, while some other records indicate a period of 2 years between Antipater’s death and Herod the Great’s death.

• Herod Archelaus

  He is another son of Herod the Great and became the ethnarch of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea. As such, he was the governor of these regions, but not king.

  SEE: Herod Archelaus

• Herod Antipas

  He is a son of Herod the Great by Malthace the Samaritan, the 6th wife of Herod the Great.

  Malthace is the mother of are Herod Antipas (son), Archelaus (son), and Olympias (daughter). The sons later disputed the will of their father before the Roman Emperor Augustus.

  SEE: Herod Antipas

• Herod Philip 1

  He is also the son of Herod the Great by his Hasmonean princess wife Mariamne.

  SEE: Herod Philip 1

• Herod Agrippa 1

• Herod Philip 2

• Herodias, a queen

More information

• What is Idumea?
• What is Edom?
• What and who is Herodion? (aka Herodium)
• Herod’s Temple
• Who are the Herodians in Scripture?
• What is a tetrarch?
• What is Antipatris? —named after Herod the Great’s father
• ROYALTY of the Bible: kings / queens / princes
• About ancient Rome in the Bible