Herod’s Birthday Present

Herod Antipas is the King Herod mentioned in the gospels and the book of Acts. King Herod had married Aretos, the daughter of the king of Arabia. On one occasion Herod went to Rome and stayed with his half-brother. While there he met Herodias and established a relationship with her. Eventually they agreed to marry and Herod agreed to divorce Aretos. Before Herod returned to Jerusalem, Aretos heard about the planned divorce and she returned to her father in Arabia. War followed and the king of Arabia was defeated. Herod finally married Herodias. The marriage violated God’s law. Leviticus 18:16 prohibits a brother from marrying his sister-in-law. Scripture also prohibited the marriage since his first wife was still alive. Further, Herodias was Herod’s niece. This made the marriage incestuous. This is a very sordid story.

For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (NASB) Mark 6:18

Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so . . . (NASB) Mark 6:18

But the next verse reveals that she pressured King Herod into taking John’s life, but she was unsuccessful.

. . . for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him. (NASB) Mark 6:20

Herod was afraid of John because he was a righteous and holy man. Matthew 14:5 reveals that Herod was also unwilling to kill John for another reason. He was afraid of the people.

Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet. (NASB) Matt. 14:5

Herod could not decide what he wanted. He liked to hear John speak, but yet he wanted to put him to death. The man was indecisive except when it came to marriage.

Herod’s Birthday Party. Then one day Herod had a birthday party.

A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee . . . (NASB) Mark 6:21

Herod had invited many significant people - lords, military men, and all of the leaders in Galilee. A plot was created. The fishhook on the end of the fishing line was set with bait and Herod was the fish. Herodias was a master schemer.

. . . and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” (NASB) Mark 6:22

She asked her daughter to go and dance before King Herod. She did and the big fish swam toward the bait.

According to Flavius Josephus, the name of Herodias’ daughter was Salome.[2] The dance she performed was unexpected since she was a princess. The reaction of King Herod suggests that her dance was sensuous for we are told that she “pleased” him. When her dance was over, the king asked her what she would like.

And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” (NASB) Mark 6:23

She could have up to half of the kingdom! Unfortunately, she had not come prepared with a request. So she had to run to her mother and ask what she wanted.

And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” (NASB) Mark 6:24

Mom knew immediately what she wanted. It is possible that Salome might have considered a larger reward, but her mother wanted only one thing - the head of John the Baptist. So Salome very quickly returned to the banquet hall to make her one big request. She may have run back in her excitement to make a request that King Herod did not want to fulfill.

Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. (NASB) Mark 6:25-26

References:

2. Flavius Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. XVIII, 5, 4.