dynasty reigning in Palestine at the time of Jesus. Antipater, fl. c.65 B.C., founded the family fortune. He was an Idumaean, who gained a stronghold in Palestine. His son Antipater, d. 43 B.C., was favored by Julius CAESAR, who made him (c.55 B.C.) virtual ruler of all of Palestine. The son of the second Antipater was Herod the Great, d. 4 B.C., who gave the family its name. He was friendly with Marc ANTONY, and secured (37 B.C.-4 B.C.) the title king of Judaea; after the battle of Actium he made peace with Octavian (later AUGUSTUS), who thereafter showed him great favor. Herod made great efforts to mollify the Jews by publicly observing Hebrew laws and by building a temple, but also promoted hellenization. In his last years Herod became bloodthirsty, and around the time of Jesus' birth, he ordered the massacre of the innocents. His son Herod Antipas, d. after A.D. 39, tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, was the Herod who executed JOHN THE BAPTIST and who was ruling at Jesus' death. He repudiated his wife to marry his niece Herodias, wife of his half-brother Herod Philip. He was eventually banished by CALIGULA in A.D. 39. Herod Agrippa I, d. A.D. 44, was the nephew of Herod Antipas and a man of some ability. His son, Herod Agrippa II, d. c.A.D. 100, was a poor ruler who alienated his subjects. The Herods are usually blamed for the state of virtual anarchy in Palestine at the beginning of the Christian era.1 The prime source is the history by JOSEPHUS.
1 This website would like to point out that the current generation of Herods have no responsiblity for any unrest in Palestine :o)