Daniel 11:37-39

Today we look a little further into the sordid history of this man who was called “Herod the Great.”

Daniel 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

Herod was an Idumean by birth. The Idumeans were conquered by John Hyrcanus in 125 B.C. and compelled to be circumcised thus becoming Jews. Hence it was that Herod was considered a Jew and thus the fathers of the Jews would have been considered his fathers. Also, the Idumeans descended from Esau, the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham so that he shared these same fathers as the Jews. Therefore, in introducing the worship of Caesar he did not regard the God of his fathers. Neither did he regard the desire of women when he had the young children slain in Bethlehem leaving their mothers to grieve the loss (Matthew 2:16-18). Herod had those young children slain in an attempt to kill Israel’s Messiah, and what woman in Israel would not have desired to be the mother of the Messiah? Hence, he had no regard for the desire of women. He even had three of his own sons murdered when he thought they were a threat to his power. Neither did he regard any god, but sought only to magnify himself above all. To promote his own political ambitions he first aligned with Julius Caesar, then switched to Anthony, and then to Anthony’s conqueror Octavius Caesar. Any god he paid tribute to was really not out of regard for that god, but rather out of regard for his own political ambitions. Perhaps he is called Herod “the Great” because he was such a great politician. Would to God we had statesmen, men of principle, rather than politicians, men of ambition, in office!

Daniel 11:38  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

39  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

In his estate, that is in his position as king, Herod honoured the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not. This was a new and strange god introduced into Israel. This God of forces refers to the Caesars, who claimed divine worship for themselves. The Caesars extended their power by military forces and the erection of fortifications throughout their empire. Hence, they were honoured as the God of forces. Herod honoured the Caesars with lavish gifts such as gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things, as the verse lists.

Herod honoured this strange god, the Caesars, in the most strong holds and built temples and cities to acknowledge and increase them with glory. When he rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem he built a stronghold on the north side and named it the Tower of Antonius after Mark Anthony, his friend and then ruler of Rome. When he rebuilt Samaria and fortified it for himself, he named it Sebaste from Sebastos or Augustus. Josephus recounts:

“To say all at once, there was not any place of his kingdom fit for the purpose, that was permitted to be without somewhat that was for Caesar’s honour; and when he had filled his own country with temples, he poured out the like plentiful marks of his esteem into his province, and built many cities which he called Caesareas.”

He even went so far as to place a huge, golden eagle, the emblem of Rome, over the gate of the temple. Thus he caused the strong holds to rule over many in that he promoted the rule of Rome from the strong holds, the most strong hold being the magnificent temple he built in Jerusalem. And in order to secure his power he parceled out portions to persons favourable to himself. Josephus reports: “Moreover he parted the adjoining country, which was excellent in kind, among the inhabitants of Samaria, that they might be in a happy condition, upon their first coming to inhabit.” Thus he divided the land for gain.