Agreed, Tater. The reading I have done on Herod the Great speaks of him also murdering his three sons, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and uncle.Thus, all of Jerusalem being troubled WITH him. He was a weird and mean man. I would be troubled, too, if he were my leader and be became angry.
His appointment as ruler over Judea broke the Maccabean Dynasty which ruled for about a century. He had a severe distrust of that family even though he married into it.
There is quite a bit on the net about Herod the Great. He is credited with building the Massada, amphitheaters, monuments, pagan altars, and his greatest accomplishment, the Herodian Temple in Jerusalem, completed 68 years after his death.
Glad your posting in here, Tater.
