Week 1 New Testament Survey

Herod the Great 73 BC to 4 BC

Herod the Great was the son of Herod Antipater. Remember, Herod Antipater had been

appointed King by Pompey, Roman Proconsul and co ruler with Julius Caesar. Antipater

had started his career as a Military General and was a close friend of Mark Anthony.

Herod I or Herod the Great rose to power shortly after his Father was poisoned by a

supporter of the old Hasmonean dynasty. Herod the Great was a great friend to Mark

Anthony. Mark Anthony appointed Herod the Great Tetrarch of Judea after the death of

Julius Caesar.

The account of Herod’s rise to power comes to us mainly from Flavius Josephus. In book

14 of Josephus’ Antiquity of the Jews, Antipater had married an Arab woman by the

name of Cypros. She was the Mother of Herod. Antipater had appointed his two sons

Herod and Phaselus governors of Galilee and Judea respectively. According to Josephus,

Herod was 15 when he was appointed governor of Galilee. If you will recall from

previous discussions, Pompey had appointed Hycranus the high priest and Antipater the

procurator of Israel. According to Josephus, Hycranus was fearful of Herod. According to

Josephus, Herod’s brother Phaselus prevented his brother from marching against

Hycranus. The time frame would put this around the death of Gaius Julius Caesar on

March 15 44 BC. Around this time frame also, Herod would marry the granddaughter of

John Hycranus, Mariame. He did this hoping to placate some of the Jews and add

legitimacy to his claim to the Throne after his father’s death. According to Josephus,

Herod loved Mariame deeply and had four children by her, but she despised him for

having murdered her brother. After Octavian and Mark Anthony defeated Cassius and

Brutus at Philippi in 42 BC, a delegation of Jews went to Anthony to petition that Herod

and Phaselus be removed as governors because they were interlopers and had no

legitimacy to the throne of Israel. According to Josephus, Anthony questioned Hycranus,

the High Priest, who was better at running the government, the Hasmoneans or Phaselus

and Herod. Hycanus replied that Herod and Phaselus were better at Government. This

coupled with the fact that Mark Anthony had been given bribes by Herod cemented the

declaration that Herod and Phaselus would be declared tetrach’s of Galilee and

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Jerusalem. Around 40 BC, a conflict between Rome and Parthia or Iran broke out. One of

the Hasmonean family Antigonus, Mariame’s brother sided with the Parthinians. He was

able to capture Hycranus, the High Priest and Mutilate him in such a way that would

prevent him from performing the duties of the High Priest. Upon hearing of this, Phaselus

committed suicide. Antigonus seized the throne upon the death of Herod’s brother.

Herod, in the mean time managed to make his way to Rome where he addressed the

Roman Senate and persuaded Octavian and the Roman Senate that Mark Anthony should

reinstate Herod as king. Mark Anthony, had driven the Parthinians out of Israel, Herod

with the assistance of two Roman legions defeated Antigonus and assumed the title of

basileus.

After assuming the role as sole ruler in Judea, Herod sent a delegation to Babylon to

retrieve Hycranus. The Parthinians were only too happy to oblige Herod. The old man

was becoming very popular among the local Jews in Persia and Babylon. Even though

Hycranus could no longer serve as High Priest, Herod was fond of Hycranus and kept

him in high regard.

After the internal strife was settled in Judea, Herod set upon a massive building

campaign. His 1st project was the reconstruction of the walls around Jerusalem and the

Temple. This fortress was named Antonia, (After Mark Anthony).

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Herod sent very lavish gifts to Mark Anthony and the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. This

almost became his undoing when civil war broke out between Octavian and Mark

Anthony in 31 BC. In an effort to save his political hide, Herod has his “Father in Law

Hycranus executed and then proceeds to Rhodes where he meets with Octavian. There he

boldly proclaims his loyalty to Mark Anthony, but swears that he will show the same

loyalty to Octavian. Octavian confirms Herod as tetrarch. Herod is also given Samaria

and the Judea coastline.

Because the Jews never considered Herod a real Jew, Herod attempts to “win them over”

with his ambitious building campaign. After a devastating earthquake in 31 BC, Herod

built a new market in Jerusalem, a new amphitheater, and a new judgment hall for the

Sanhedrin. In 20 BC, he started to rebuild the Temple. He also built Masada.

This fortress was 1500

feet above the Dead Sea. Herod would store weapons and provisions there in store rooms.

Herod even had wine from Italy stored there.

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. But Herod was not about

to do without everyday comforts. He even had a Bath House there.

with its own furnace to

heat the water. Masada also had a Synagogue there for worship.

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. Masada would be last

stand for the Jewish Rebels in 70 AD. Probably the most crowning achievement of

Herod’s building projects was the port city of Caesarea.

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It

was called in Greek Sebastos which means Augustus. He named the city after Octavian.

Herod built the harbor from “Portland cement” which hardened underwater:

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. At the time of the

Harbor’s construction up to 300 ships could be handled at that time. Herod built the city

to rival that of Alexandria. He wanted the trade from Arabia to rival that of Egypt. In the

city, he built a theater that would accommodate 3500 people.

. According to Josephus

and Acts 12, this is where his grandson Herod Agrippa would die. In order to

accommodate the demand for fresh water, Herod would have an aqueduct constructed

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that covered over 10 miles to carry water from the Carmel mountain range to the new

city. .

For all his accomplishments, Herod was bitterly hated by both the Hasidic Jews and the

Sadducees. The Hasidic Jews hated him because at heart, Herod was a Hellenist and his

building projects and form of government expressed itself in his bureaucratic style. The

Sadducees hated him because he brought an end to the old Hamonean dynasty. He had

Hycranus and Mariame murdered. In 8 BC, there was a fire that destroyed house of

worship in Qumran. It is generally accepted that he was responsible. Herod the Great was

paranoid from the onset and saw threats on all fronts. In addition to having his wife

Mariame executed, he had many of his own children executed. Octavian once commented

that is was better to be a pig than one of Herod’s children. According to Josephus, Herod

would suffer a form of disease that would cause his scrotum to be infected with worms.

Most Historians believe this malady to be Fournier's gangrene. (Fournier's gangrene,

sometimes called Fournier's disease, is a bacterial infection of the skin that affects the

genitals and perineum (i.e., area between the scrotum and anus in men and between the

vulva and anus in women).The disease develops after a wound or abrasion becomes

infected. A combination of anaerobic (living without oxygen) microorganisms (e.g.,

staphylococcal) and fungi (e.g., yeast) causes an infection that spreads quickly and

causes destruction (necrosis) of skin, tissue under the skin (subcutaneous tissue), and

muscle. Staphylococcal bacteria clot the blood, depriving surrounding tissue of oxygen.

The anaerobic bacteria thrive in this oxygen-depleted environment and produce

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molecules that instigate chemical reactions (enzymes) that further the spread of the

infection. Fournier's gangrene can be fatal if the infection enters the bloodstream.)

The birth of the Messiah.

In 6 BC an event would take place under Herod’s watch. At that particular time, the

Roman army and the empire had grown to the point that the Roman Treasury was no

longer solvent to cover the expenditures of all of Rome’s expeditions. According to the

Roman Historian Dio Cassius, Augustus issued a decree that a census be taken for the

purpose of taxation. The decree went out in 6 BC to be collected directly by Roman

Soldiers. The Tax was 5 % inheritance tax.1. God would take on human flesh. God would

be with us. His name would be Jesus.

The name Jesus means Savior. The Hebrew word Joshua is same word. It means Jehovah

saves. In the exact moment in time, God would send forth his son. (Galatians 4:4-5 But

when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born

under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might

receive the adoption as sons. The fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2 and

Daniel 9:25 were now coming to fruition. The redeemer of God’s kingdom people would

be born in the city of David. Both Mary and Joseph would come from the lineage of

David. The exact date is not really known. There are arguments both for and against a

birth of December 25th. Here are some arguments both for and against the December 25th

date of 6 BC. 1 In defense of Luke Chapter 2 Verses 1 and 2

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Was Jesus really born on December 25th, as the Western Christian Tradition

maintains, or does Scripture allow us to infer a different time for His advent here on

earth? Two cases will be presented below: one case for a Tishri (Sukkot) birth, and the

other for the traditional late December date.

Background: The "Courses" of Temple Service

As you will see, the crux of the arguments both for and against the late December

dating of the birth of Jesus depend upon the date assigned to the "course of Abia" and

the precise time that Zacharias -- John the Baptist's father -- was in the Temple when

he was visited by the angel Gabriel. But what is the "course of Abia" and why is it

important?

King David (1 Chr 28:11-13) divided the sons of Aaron into 24 "courses" or groups

(1 Chr 24:1-4) to create an orderly schedule by which the Temple of the Lord could be

staffed for the year. Once these courses were established, lots were drawn to determine

the sequence each group would serve in the Temple (1 Chr 24: 7-19). Each of the 24

courses of priests would begin and end their service on the Sabbath for a tour of duty

of one week (2 Chronicles 23:8, 1 Chronicles 9:25).

The issue turns on the date assigned to the "course of Abia"and the precise time that

Zacharias was in the Temple when he was visited by the angel Gabriel.

The Jewish calendar begins in the Spring (Nisan), so the first course of priests

(Jehoiarib) would serve for seven days. The second week would then fall to the family

of Jedaiah. The third week would be the festival of Passover, when all priests would be

present for service, so the schedule would resume with the third course of priests

(Harim) on the fourth week. By the tenth week, since both Passover and Shavu'ot had

occurred, the 8th course of Abia (Abijah) would be called for temple service. By means

of this arrangement, after the 24th course was completed, the cycle of courses would

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repeat, so that in a given year each group of priests would serve in the Temple twice per

year (in addition to the three major festivals).

Argument for a Tishri (Sukkot) Birth

There are several reasons to believe that Jesus was born during the Fall, in particular,

during the festival of Sukkot. Among the reasons cited are as follows:

1. Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, was conceived in mid Sivan (May/June) and born

40 weeks later on Nissan 15, the Passover.

John's father (Zacharias) was a Levite who was assigned to serve in the temple during

the course of "Abia," the 8th course of the year.

(Luke 1:5, 1 Chronicles 24:10)

Since the cycle of service began on the first Shabbat of Nisan but both Passover and

Shavu'ot require all priestly courses to serve, the actual time the 8th course would

serve would be during the 10th week of the year. This places Zacharias' service in the

Temple as beginning on the second Sabbath of the month of Sivan (May/June).

It is written that John was conceived shortly after this tour of duty

(Luke 1:23-4). Therefore, John the Baptist was probably conceived shortly after the

third Sabbath of the month of Sivan (i.e., late Sivan).

Therefore John the Baptist was born around Passover (Nisan 15). (Recall that Jesus

said that John the Baptist was a type of Elijah the prophet

(Matt 17:10-13, cp. Luke 1:17). Even today it is customary for Jews to set out a special

cup of wine during the Passover Seder meal in anticipation of the arrival of Elijah for

the festival.)

2. Jesus was conceived in late Kislev (Nov/Dec) and born 40 weeks later during

Sukkot.

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Jesus was conceived six months after John the Baptist (Luke 1:24-27, 36). Note that

the "sixth" month refers to Elizabeth's pregnancy, not the month of Elul (cp. Luke

1:36).

Six months added to late Sivan is late Kislev, which is the time of the conception of

Jesus (note that the first day of the Jewish festival of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights,

is celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev, and Jesus is called the Light of the world (John

8:12, 9:5, 12:46)).

From the 15th day of Nisan (John's birthday), we add six months to arrive at the 15th

day of the 7th month, Tishri - the first day of the festival of Sukkot.

If the day of his birth were the first day of Sukkot, the day of his circumcision would

be the eighth day, Shemini Atzeret/Sinchat Torah, which, like the first day, is a day of

sacred assembly (Leviticus 23:39). On this day the Jews complete their annual cycle of

Torah readings and start again from Bereshit (Genesis). Simchat Torah is considered

to be a time of "fulfillment" of the Torah. The circumcision of Jesus at this time

indicates how he had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17-18).

3. Circumstantial Evidences:

John 1:14 states that the "Word became flesh and "dwelt" with us. The Greek word

"dwelt" [skeinao] comes from the word skeinos, which the LXX (Septuagint) uses for

the mishkan (tabernacle). The name given for the feast of Tabernacles itself is called

Herotei Skeinon in the LXX.

King Herod most likely would used the opportunity of the Festival of Sukkot (in

Jerusalem) to perform the census (certainly not Chanukah, since he detested and

feared the Hasmoneans).

Shepherds would not be out with their sheep in the dead of winter in Israel.

The angel who appeared to the shepherds said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good

news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10). Since Sukkot was known

as both a festival of joy and also as the "Festival of the Nations," the angel was

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actually giving them a greeting for the Festival of Sukkot. This is the only festival

where the nations are positively encouraged to participate (Zechariah 14:16-19).

After Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom on earth, it is written that only one

festival will be celebrated by the nations: Sukkot (Zechariah 14:16) Why is that? Could

it be that this will be a worldwide birthday party for the LORD Jesus? (all the other

festivals would have been fulfilled - Passover, FirstFruits, Pentecost, Rosh Hashanah,

and Yom Kippur, but the remembrance of His birth would remain as a celebration).

The Catholic church (in 336 AD) declared December 25th (on the Julian calendar) to

be Jesus' birthday in order to replace a pagan Roman holiday, Saturnalia. Ironically,

December 25th was a celebration of the birthday of the sun god. The early church, in

an attempt to get rid of the pagan holiday, declared December 25th to be the birthday

of the Son of God.

We know that Jesus was 30 years old when He started His ministry (Luke 3:23), and,

assuming (as many Bible scholars do) that He ministered for 3 1/2 years, we can count

backwards from the crucifixion (during Passover in Nisan) 6 months to discover his

birthday in Tishri.

Since Zacharias served during the tenth week and Elizabeth conceived shortly

thereafter, we can place the date of Jesus' birth during the festival of Sukkot.

Argument for a late December Birth

The argument for assigning late December as the rightful date of the birth of Yeshua is

based on further reflection on the time Zacharias was told that Elizabeth would

conceive a child.

Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, was conceived just after Yom Kippur (Tishri 10) and

born 40 weeks later in Tammuz (June/July).

John's father (Zacharias) was a Levite who was assigned to serve in the temple during

the course of "Abia," the 8th course of the year. However, the 8th course would serve

both on the 10th week of the year (see above) as well as on the 34th week: 24 (first

complete cycle) +2 (festivals) + 8 = 34.

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This places Zacharias' service in the Temple as during the High Holiday of Yom

Kippur, and this agrees with the description given about how Gabriel spoke to

Zacharias in the narrative (Luke 1:8-23).

It is written that John was conceived shortly after this tour of duty (Luke 1:23-4),

perhaps on 17 Tishri. Therefore, John the Baptist was probably conceived shortly after

the Yom Kippur and would have been born on the 17th of Tammuz (June/July).

2. Jesus was conceived in Nisan (Mar/Apr), near Passover, and born 40 weeks later

during late December.

Jesus was conceived six months after John the Baptist (Luke 1:24-27, 36). Adding 6

months to Tammuz 17 leads us to Nisan 17 (two days after Passover).

Since Jesus was born six months after John, we add six months John's birthday (the

17th of Tammuz) to arrive at the 17th Tevet (late December).

3. Circumstantial Evidences:

Church history since the time of the late first century has attested to a late December

birth. Hippolytus, in the second century AD, argued that this was Christ's birthday. In

the fourth century, John Chrysostom (347-407) argued that December 25th was the

correct date. Chrysostom taught that Zechariah received the message about John's

birth on the Day of Atonement and John the Baptist was born sometime in June or

July, and the birth of Jesus took place six months later, in late December (or early

January). There was never a question about the period of Jesus' birth either in the East

or in the West; only in the recent years this date was challenged.

Early Jewish sources suggest that the sheep around Bethlehem were outside year-

round. In the normal traffic of shepherds they move around and come near Bethlehem

from November to March of the year. But then these were a special class of Levitical

shepherds who kept the sacrificial lambs. They do not move around because they

supply the lambs for daily sacrifice from whom people bought their approved lambs,

which are blemishless. The fact that the Angels announced the arrival of the perfect

sacrificial lamb to these shepherds indicates this.

o Alfred Edersheim, a Messianic Jew, wrote, "There is no adequate reason

for questioning the historical accuracy of this date. The objections generally made rest

on grounds which seem to me historically untenable."

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Edersheim notes that Megillot Taanit states that the 9th of Tevet is

considered the day of Christ's birth, and that puts the birth of Yeshua sometime during

late December.

Since Zacharias served during Yom Kippur and Elizabeth conceived shortly thereafter,

we can place the date of Jesus' birth during the month of Tevet, in late December.

Conclusion

Besides the two arguments given above, you are likely to hear of other arguments for

the "exact date" of Yeshua's birth. For example, while reading up on this subject, I

came across an article that insisted that Mary brought Jesus into the Temple to be

purified on Yom Kippur; I read another article that purported to "prove" (by means of

Bible Codes) that Jesus was born on Rosh Hashanah; and I read several others

arguing for a Fall birth date based on various forms of astrological and astronomical

evidences.

It is apparent, however, that since we cannot definitively date the time of Zacharias'

service in the Temple, we cannot be dogmatic regarding the date of our LORD Jesus.

And even if we could decide if Zacharias was visited by Gabriel during his first course

of service (during the 10th week), we are faced with the textual ambiguity regarding

the statement "after those days" (given in Luke 1:24). How much time is meant by this

phrase? Is it a day? a week? a month?

In light of these uncertainties, it is perhaps advisable to take a humble attitude and

confess our ignorance of the matter.

The important thing, of course, is that our LORD was indeed born and ransomed us

from the wages of our sins.

In other words, Scripture seems to be more focused on the life, death, and resurrection

of the LORD Jesus, rather than His birth. As the Apostle Paul wrote:

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died

for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised

on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures..." (1 Cor 15:3-5)

Every day, then, may we celebrate the Life of our LORD and Savior, Yeshua the

Mashiach! Amen.

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