what year did king herod die

Lucky Smart

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01-10-2024

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The Mystery of Herod's Death: Unraveling the Timeline of a Tyrant

King Herod the Great, notorious for his ruthless reign over Judea, remains a figure shrouded in historical intrigue, particularly regarding the year of his death. While traditionally placed in 4 BC, recent scholarly research presents a compelling argument for a later date.

The Traditional View: 4 BC

The traditional dating of Herod's death, 4 BC, relies heavily on the accounts of Josephus Flavius, a Roman-Jewish historian, and the Gospel of Matthew. Both sources mention a lunar eclipse occurring shortly before Herod's demise, leading historians to link this event to a known eclipse on March 13th, 4 BC.

However, as pointed out by Dr. William Horbury in his article "Herod and the Eclipse: A Reappraisal," published on Academia.edu, this connection may be misleading.

Challenges to the Traditional View

Dr. Horbury challenges the 4 BC date based on the following points:

• Chronological inconsistencies: Josephus's timeline of events surrounding Herod's death, including the death of his son, Antipas, and the construction of Caesarea Maritima, suggests a later timeframe.
• Biblical discrepancies: The Gospel of Matthew's account of the "slaughter of the innocents," which supposedly occurred around the time of Jesus' birth, conflicts with Herod's known political and religious policies.

A New Perspective: 1 BC

Based on these inconsistencies, Dr. Horbury argues for a later date, 1 BC, as a more plausible year for Herod's death. This date aligns better with the chronology of events outlined by Josephus and addresses the inconsistencies with the Biblical narrative.

Implications of the Later Date

Shifting the date of Herod's death to 1 BC has significant implications:

• Reframing the Nativity: It suggests that Jesus' birth may have occurred later than traditionally believed, potentially placing it closer to the actual date of the census mentioned in Luke's Gospel.
• Reevaluating Historical Events: It re-contextualizes Herod's reign and its relationship to the political landscape of Judea and the Roman Empire.

The Ongoing Debate

The debate surrounding Herod's death remains open. While Dr. Horbury's arguments offer compelling evidence for a later date, further research and analysis are needed to definitively settle the matter.

Beyond Academia:

The mystery surrounding Herod's death, fueled by historical and religious narratives, continues to fascinate scholars and the public alike. By exploring these debates, we can gain a deeper understanding of the historical context surrounding the life and times of King Herod.