Customer Reviews

Herod the Great (Ancient Biographies)

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This short book gives a quick biography of one of history's "villains", Herod the Great, Kind of Judea. Beginning with his father, Antipater, an Idumaean Arab, the book examines Herod's rise to power and his machinations to stay in power. This book is very interesting, even for adult readers, and I especially liked the many pictures. Overall, I found this to be a very good introduction to the life of Herod the Great.

I read this book when it first came out. I have been holding back reviewing this book at Amazon, awaiting word from the publishing company, but nothing has arrived. I indicated something very important was missing from the timeline that was emphasized in the book and was an important event in history. Let us see if you, careful reader, might find it lacking:
Page 59 TIMELINE:
134-104 B.C. John Hyrcanus rules as Hasmonean King and high priest; Jews conquer Edom

76 B.C. Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus dies, sons wage civil war for power in Judea

c. 74 B.C. Herod born

63 B.C. Roman general Pompey enters Jerusalem, ends Judean civil war

48 B.C. Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus; Pompey murdered in Egypt

47 B.C. Herod appointed governor of Galilee by his father, Antipater

44 B.C. Julius Caesar assassinated

43 B.C. Antipater assassinated, Herod becomes governor of Judea

41 B.C. Herod allies himself with Marc Antony

40 B.C. Parthians invade Syria; Herod flees to Masada with family

39 B.C. Roman Senate appoints Herod King of Judea; Herod drives Antigonus out of Judea, enters Jerusalem

31 B.C. Octavius defeats Antony at Actium, then confirms Herod's rule of Judea

27 B.C Herod conducts Actian Games in honor of Octavius's victory over Antony; Octavius declares himself Augustus Caesar, first Roman emperor

25 B.C. Drought in Judea; Herod collects money to buy grain from Egypt

25-13 B.C. Herod oversees building of Caesarea, Sebaste, fortresses, theaters, and other public buildings

19 B.C. Reconstruction of Temple of Jerusalem begins

12 B.C. Herod brings accusations against his sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, before Roman court; Augustus (Octavius) dismisses charges

7 B.C. Alexander and Aristobulus found guilty of treason by Judean judges and executed

6 B.C. Herod becomes ill

4 B.C. Herod orders the death of his son Antipater; Herod dies five days later

A.D. 6 Judea becomes a Roman province.

Where is THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS?
... I questioned the company and as of this date, I still have not had
a reply.
Prior to my finding this error, I would consider this book for adult reading as well as children. It
was well researched, well written. I thought in "time" their would be an
"errata", but I still wait, and wait, and wait...

This biography mentions the Slaughter of the Innocents talked about in the gospel of Matthew, but doesn't accept them as historical fact. It's not included on the timeline of important events in his life at the back. Obvious weakness. I'd have liked to have seen more detail about the context around this, the effect it would have had politically, etc.

It does, however, have some interesting information about Judean politics immediately before the coming of Christ. It was also very interesting to learn that Herod's family was from Edom which had been conquered by the Jews while his father was living, and that the family converted to Judaism! Though Arab by background, and not appearing to have had a particularly sincere faith, Herod was apparently a "Jew." New information for me.

But, the book just didn't draw me in. Much of it was about Roman politics, and there wasn't as much about Herod as ruler as I would have liked. And again, not much about what he's best known for, the Slaughter of the Innocents. It is rather dry reading. Since it has information not in my other books, I'll keep it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone else. If it weren't for the fact that I homeschool, I wouldn't feel a need to ever read this book again.

The book is really a pamphlet. I would have given it a five, except for it's not accepting the historicity of the slaughter of the innocents. Outside of this fact, this is a very concise and good account of Herod. If you are looking for an overview that will not get you bogged down in too much detail then this book is a very good buy. Worth the price and can be read cover to cover in an hour or so.