The Herods

Murder, Politics, and the Art of Succession

De: Bruce Chilton

Narrado por: Paul Heitsch

Until his death in 4 BCE, Herod the Great's monarchy included territories that once made up the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Although he ruled over a rich, strategically crucial land, his royal title did not derive from heredity. His family came from the people of Idumea, ancient antagonists of the Israelites.

Yet Herod did not rule as an outsider, but from a family committed to Judaism going back to his grandfather and father. They had served the priestly dynasty of the Maccabees that had subjected Idumea to their rule, including the Maccabean version of what loyalty to the Torah required. Herod's father, Antipater, rose not only to manage affairs on behalf of his priestly masters, but to become a pivotal military leader. He inaugurated a new alignment of power: an alliance with Rome negotiated with Pompey and Julius Caesar. In the crucible of civil war among Romans as the Triumvirate broke up, and of war between Rome and Parthia, Antipater managed to leave his sons with the prospect of a dynasty.

Herod inherited the twin pillars of loyalty to Judaism and loyalty to Rome that became the basis of Herodian rule. He elevated Antipater's opportunism to a political art. During Herod's time, Roman power took its imperial form, and Octavian was responsible for making Herod king of Judea.

©2021 Fortress Press, an imprint of 1517 Media (P)2022 Tantor

This is a great book

Author does a great job balancing a nicely detailed history while telling a compelling story. Very much worth the listen.

well documented ancient family

The book mines the many resources for the Herods and brings out tremendous information. At times I disagree slightly on some dating decisions, but that is what scholars do. I found it very insightful into the various personages in the Herod family and the various groups of the first centuries BC and AD. My doctorate is in Scripture and this historical background is mist useful.

expanding history

As I have consumed the Audible version, I should point out that there are no notes here nor a bibliography. The historical writing of this period, including the Bible and Josephus, are usually presented with more of a bias than one finds in modern historical writing. So not knowing Chilton's sources, I do have an underlying skepticism that Chilton is presenting uncontestable fact. The dates of certain facts do not agree with some of my previous readings, but they sure are interesting. Reading the Bible, I never had the idea that John the Baptist died in 21 CE, years before the ministry of Jesus for instance.
But I was fascinated by Chilton'[s filling in the facts of the Herodian period. Chilton makes clear the relations of Antipater and Herod with Roman leaders and emperors. The gospels have some major discrepancies (such as John placing the Last Supper on a different day than the others to emphasize what he feels the gospels should convey), so reading them as true historical fact can be misleading. Chjilton attempts to be factual (I just wonder about his sources). and that expanded my comprehension of Roman politics, particularly during the second triumvirate. He also shows that several of the Judean procurators used their office to loot, if not pillage, Judea. Sounds very Roman from what I have read about other Roman governors. I was exposed to many new facts.
So I do recommend this book to those who want a better understanding of what was happening, particularly politically, than one gets from the Bible.

Royal Intrigue and Death

This was a great overall of the Herod family and the many upheavals that marked their reign. While they held power granted by the Roman government, Herod the Great did much to expand and solidify his rule. His sons and those that followed were not as capable, leaving huge vacuums of power, and inviting revolts.

Highly enjoyed this read, and the fabulous documentation within. It was nice to have reference points to go back to, and mark.

Good

I liked it. It gave me a lot more information about Harrod and his family. However, take some of his facts/sources with a grain of salt.

Fascinating history

Excellent writing, author writes with the confidence and ease of erudition and clearly finds his matter enjoyable to write about. It makes his work fun and fascinating. The sole criticism is that the narrator's pronounciation of names is not always accurate. Examples I noticed were the names Cassius Chaerea and Charon.

based on a true story

Informative and interesting, but on numerous points, the author prefers speculation based on hints in unreliable sourced over plain statements in the most reliable sources.

competent recital of sources without too much of a deep analysis

author puts too much faith into a small bunch of sources, which have questionable authenticity and are very biases. because of that the work.is at times dull. though still a worthy read for all antiquity buffs

Interesting Look at Kings Who Tried to Kill Jesus

While I thought I was fairly well versed on the bible and biblical history, it turns out that I had a major gap in my knowledge—knowing almost nothing about the Herodian dynasty. These are the men that scripture tells us ordered all the male children murdered and sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate to be executed. They were fascinating men, often politically very canny, often paranoid, and always blood thirsty. What surprised me the most was their close alignment with Rome and actual friendship with critical emperors such as Augustus. It also surprised me to learn that John the Baptist belonged to a sect that had always rejected the Herodian dynasty’s right to rule. It adds dimensions to a story that I thought I knew very well.

This is a very interesting book for those interested in a little bit of the political history regarding Judea and Rome.