King Herod the Great built his magnificent
fortified palace to provide protection for Jerusalem's Upper City. It also
guarded the west side of the city along with Herod's three towers. Just
like Herod's Temple, his Palace was constructed on a platform, about 1000
feet (from north-south), and 180 feet (from east-west). The Palace
consisted of 2 main buildings, each with its banquet halls, baths, and
accommodations for hundreds of guests. It was surrounded with groves of
trees, canals, and ponds studded with bronze fountains. Herod's Palace is
most likely the praetorium mentioned in the Bible as the place of the
trial of Jesus. which was actually the official residence of the Roman
governors when they came to Jerusalem during the Passover. Archaeological
remains of Herod's mighty palace are scarce. We know about Herod and his
buildings through the writings of Josephus, Strabo, Dio Cassius, Jewish
Literature, archaeology and the Bible.
When Titus annihilated
Jerusalem in 70 AD., he spared Herod's fortress. Herod's three towers have
been lost in history and the Tower of David stands on the spot of the
ancient Phasael Tower.
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came
to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For
we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." When
Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they
said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the
prophet."
- Matthew
2:1-5
"Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise
men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to
Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the young Child, and
when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and
worship Him also."
- Matthew
2:7,8
"Then, being divinely warned in a dream that
they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country
another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and
His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for
Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.""
- Matthew
2:12-13
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was
deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put
to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its
districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he
had determined from the wise men."
- Matthew
2:16
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