Page 50 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

A partial list of people

heads of prominent families, plus scribes and lawyers. The Sanhedrin executed by Herod the Great
was a kind of Supreme Court in Judea with the high priest as its head. • His father’s assassin Malichus
• John Hyrcanus II, high priest and past king
Rome assigned to this group a cohort of legionnaires to keep civil of Judea, grandfather of his wife Miriamne
control. One of their few limitations was not being allowed to hand out • Alexandra, mother of his wife Miriamne
death penalties to convicted criminals. For capital offenses, the Romans • Aristobulus IV, high priest, son of Alexandra
would have to become involved in their cases. and brother of Miriamne
• Antipater II, his first-born son
Though there must have been some members of the Sanhedrin who • Miriamne, his favorite wife
were godly men, the highest echelon of leadership had become very • Alexander, his oldest son by Miriamne
• Aristobulus III, his son by Miriamne
corrupt by the time Jesus lived. The office of high priest was no longer • Joseph, his uncle and sister’s first husband
reserved for the most pious man in Jewish life. Instead, it was a political • Costobarus, his sister’s second husband
reward for the man who could best help Rome keep the peace and
continue Israel’s good standing inside the empire. In exchange, the high Herod died shortly after Jesus was born, but
priest and his circle of leadership were extremely well paid. not before trying to kill Jesus also. According
to Matthew 2:16-18, Herod realized he’d been
Archaeological discoveries of priestly homes near the Temple show outwitted by the magi, who had intentionally
evidence that these men lived in extravagant wealth. not told Herod whether or not the new “King of
the Jews” had been found in Bethlehem.
In such an environment of corruption, it was also terribly difficult to Herod ordered the death of every male child
keep the top position. under 2 in Bethlehem and the surrounding
villages.
In the account of Jesus’ crucifixion, for instance, two high priests are
named. Annas served nine years (6-15 AD) before being relieved of his duties by the Romans.
Nevertheless, he held great influence for many years. Caiaphas, his son in-law, ruled 18 years (18-36).
Five of Annas’ sons also served as high priest, but only for 11 years in total. In the years after Caiaphas,
the office was practically renewed on an annual basis. A few high priests ruled only for a few months.
One ruled only for one day! The information in the Gospels dealing with “two” high priests, therefore, is
far from unusual. It simply means that one of the former high priests still wielded a lot of power and
influence.

For John the Baptizer, preaching at the Jordan River had a
geographical advantage all its own. If John realized the
religious leadership in Jerusalem intended to arrest him, he
could escape into the wilderness and hide the same way
David had once hidden from Saul. Once in the wilderness, a
man can practically disappear! Despite his precautions,
John was eventually captured, held in the fortress of nearby
Machaerus and there executed by Herod Antipas.
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