Herod spent his whole life looking for power, wheeling and dealing – doing whatever it took to hold on to what was his and to grasp for more and more. At maybe 25 years old, he was appointed the provincial governor of Galilee by the Romans. Eager to impress them, he wrangled taxes from the people. Sure, he addressed the problem that they were having with bandits, but he did it by being bloodthirsty and severe. This wasn’t for the people’s benefit; this was to make Herod look good. Six or seven years later, after sweet talking some rather prominent people, Herod was promoted – the Roman Senate made him King of the Jews.1
Herod was already married to a woman named Doris – he had a son with her and everything. But he chose to banish this woman and his own son so that he could marry Mariamne – a descendant of the Maccabees who had fought to secure freedom for the Jews over a hundred years before. This wasn’t love; by marrying into a heroic family, Herod wanted to convince Jewish people that he was one of them, that he deserved his rank and privilege. 2
Herod ordered a lot of assassinations – even members of his own family, even his sons, even his wife – because he thought they were a threat to his power and his control. The man was so manically focused on power that he saw threats everywhere. It is said he had secret police spying on the people to feed him information about what they were saying about him. He cracked down violently on any kind of protest and forcibly removed those who dared oppose him. His bodyguard had 2,000 soldiers in it. 3
And what did he do with his power? He built and he built and he spent. He gave gifts to Rome so that he could enjoy greater luxuries and deeper influence – gifts so large that he sometimes emptied the treasury. He mounted massive building projects – including building up the Temple in Jerusalem. But, he also built up pagan temples all over his region and, of course, he built up fortresses so that he would know he would be safe just in case there was an uprising. 4
Herod was looking out for Herod. Because all he wanted was for the right people to be pleased so he could do whatever he wanted with impunity. He wanted the luxuries and the praise and the power. This was the man who ruled the land where Jesus was born. He was paranoid, self-important, and he played the game well enough that he seemed to always come out on top. 5 But every threat was a major threat to him. Even the hint that someone was coming for his power set him scheming.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great