Of Idumean roots, the Herodian dynasty ruled Judea on appointment by Rome for, off and on, more than a hundred years from 40 BC onwards. Five members of the family are referred to as Herod in the NT:
1. Herod the Great, King of the Jews and killer of the infants of Bethlehem (Matt 2:1-19; Lk 1:5) ; 40-4 BC.
2. Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, who became king of Judea upon his father's death (Matt 2:20), 4 BC - 6 AD.
3. Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, "Herod the tetrarch of Galilee" (Lk 3:1) and killer of John the Baptist (Matt 14:1-11; Mk 6), 4 BC - 39 AD. Jesus calls him 'the fox' (Lk 13:32).
4. Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great and persecutor of the church who imprison Peter and killed James son of Zebedee; 37-44 AD.
5. Herod Agrippa II, great-grandson of Herod the Great and son of Agrippa I, who heard Paul's defence while visiting Festus in Caesarea who asked the apostle, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 25-26).
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It is interesting to note that the NT names all these different persons "Herod," without bordering to make a distinction between them. Most of us wil find it difficult to make out, as we read the Scriptures, who is who. But it does not seem to matter, for whichever Herod is concerned, the same point is made in referring to them: they stand opposed to all that God was doing through all those associated with Christ.
Other members of the Herodian family mentioned in the NT include:
Philip, "tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis" (Lk 3:1).
Herod Philip, son of Herod the Great and whose wife and niece, Herodias, divorced him to marry his brother Herod Antipas (Matt 14:1-11; Mk 6:17; Lk 3:19),
Bernice, great-granddaughter of Herod the Great and daughter of Herod Agrippa I, who accompanied her brother Agrippa II to Caesarea where they heard Paul's defence.
Drusilla, great-granddaughter of Herod the Great and youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, and third wife of procurator Felix.
Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great and sister of Herod Agrippa I, who married, first, her uncle Herod Philip, and then Herod Antipas.
The dynasty died out when Agrippa II, unable to quench the uprising of the First Jewish Revolt, left for Rome where he died childless in c.100 AD.
Further Reading:
Everett Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
Emil Schürer, Geza Vermés, and Fergus Millar, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.-A.D. 135). Vol.1. Edinburgh: Clack, 1973.
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