Legacy of An Evil Grandfather

King Herod’s wife held a grudge against John the Baptist because he kept telling her husband he was sinning by being married to her. (Mark 6:18-19) (They were living in adultery after all.) “Herodias” would go on to instruct her daughter, Salome, to have John beheaded because of it. (Mark 6:24-28) So how could a mother/woman go so bad? I’d like to suggest its the legacy of an evil grandfather. Herod the Great (so called) ruled the Jews. He was of “Idumaean blood,” a descendant of the Edomites and Esau. (Interesting.) “Esau” is representative of all who turn their backs on God and the things of God after his example. (Genesis 25:34) Herod the Great chose to walk this path of ungodliness. The Bible Dictionary makes it clear…

[He] was not only an Idumaean in race and a Jew in religion, but he was a heathen in practice and a monster in character. During [Herod’s] administration as king he evidenced himself to be exceedingly crafty, jealous, cruel, and revengeful. He exercised his kingly power with the disposition of a very despot. This characteristic was illustrated in its worst form toward several members of his own family. [Herod the Great] had nine or ten wives … and on the merest suspicion put to death his favorite wife Mariamne, and also her [sons], Aristobulus (he was Herodias’ father!) and Alexander … and at last, when on his own deathbed, just five days before he died himself, [Herod] ordered his son, Antipater, to be slain. … It is no wonder that Augustus should have ridiculed this Jewish king, saying that “It is better to be [Herod the Great’s] hog than to be his son.” (Unger’s)

And there are other evil things that Herod the Great did and would order including this one you’re probably familiar with. This same Herod – of which Herodias is his granddaughter and the king had her dad murdered – he’s also the same Herod who the Wisemen/Magi come before as they are looking for the Christ child. To try and stamp out the Messiah He would order the execution of all the baby boys two years old and younger in fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.” (Matthew 2:18) And can you just see around that same time the little Herodias sitting on her grandfather’s knee bouncing up and down and looking into his eyes? (Selah / Pause to reflect) What’s your legacy?