Spending just a few minutes each day reading the Bible, with the help of a plan and some notes, makes the it easier to understand.
Herodium
Within sight of Jerusalem and overlooking the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the palace of Herod the Great must have been an impressive sight 2000 years ago. Sitting on top of the man-made hill called Herodium (see picture), it would have been seen from miles around. But today little remains of the wealth and grandeur of one of that period's most ruthless kings.
As a king whose feats of construction are almost as renowned as his ruthless suppression of his rivals, Herod the Great planned to leave a lasting memorial to his bloody reign over Jerusalem. In recent years archaeologists have uncovered a series of buildings that Herod planned to grace his grave, but the actual burial place has eluded them.
But just recently, after a 35-year search, it is thought that Herod's final resting place has been found. Following a series of clues archaeologists were eventually led to the remains of Herod's decorated stone coffin on the steep slopes of a hill seven miles from Jerusalem.
Who was Herod?
Herod was the Roman-appointed king of Judea from 37 to 4BC, who was renowned for his major building projects, including the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the palace at Masada, 10 miles south of Jerusalem. But he is probably best known in the Christian world for 'the slaughter of the innocents', as described in the gospel of Matthew:
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men..." - who did not come back and tell him where Jesus had been born - "...was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under..." (Matthew 2:16)
Historians believed that Herod was eventually buried close to the fortress he built on a man-made hill called Herodium, but despite excavations the site has never been located. Around 30 years ago archaeologists found the estate that Herod built for his grave on the slopes below the fort. The king built two monuments and a ritual bath in preparation for his death.
Discoveries since 2006
After restarting work in 2006, the archaeologists discovered a 6.5m wide stairway which ascended the mountain and led to the remains of the mausoleum. But all that now remains of the mausoleum is its podium and the broken remains of its main structure. Around the site were scattered hundreds of pieces of stone which made up a 2.5m long sarcophagus, decorated with rosettes. The high quality of the sarcophagus found nearby meant it could only have been made for Herod, but there were no signs of bones at the site. It seems that the sarcophagus had been deliberately destroyed, probably by Jews rebelling against Rome in AD66, who would have regarded Herod as a puppet of the Romans.
During his 34-year reign Herod executed several members of his immediate family to preserve his rule. But despite his brutality, Herod also provided grain for his subjects and built major forts which can be seen today at Caesarea, Masada and Herodium. He was one of the richest rulers in the Roman empire who monopolised the production of bronze, using tin mined in Britain. He used some of his wealth to fund the Olympic games.
Conclusion
So from an historical perspective, Herod the Great lived up to his name! But from God's perspective, he was simply one of the tools God used to bring about his plan of salvation, made possible through the death of his own Son, Jesus Christ.
It has been a comfort to many Christians since the time of Herod, who have been persecuted for their beliefs, to know that God knows everything important about them, even after they have died. Above all, He has promised to remember them when Christ returns to the earth - as he promised he would - to raise from the graves where they are buried those who are faithful to him during their lives.
Given Herod's record of ruthless violence against those he ruled at the time of Christ's birth, it seems very likely that he will remain buried forever, wherever he is!! That is the prospect for all those who - like him - turn their back on God's offer of salvation and a place in His coming Kingdom.