Herodians

Pronunciation: heh-RO-dee-ihns

Occurrences: 3

First Reference: Yeshua 2:12

Now in the month of Nisan there came out unto the river Jordan a company of scribes and Pharisees seeking John, and there was with them certain men of the Herodians, and one of them asked, saying: “If you are truly a prophet of God as these many believe, then tell us truly: By what sign shall we know the coming forth of the Anointed One?

See: Herod Antipas

Azrael’s Commentary — Herodians

The political faction within Israel whose aim it was to promote the interest of Herod Antipas. This faction was comprised of members from Herod’s family, palace officers, court ministers and members of the day-to-day administrative bureaucracy. The Herodians had secular interests, not religious ones.

It should be noted that the religious leaders of Jerusalem despised Herod Antipas, and were always working to undermine his authority within Israel. When it became known that the rulers of the temple were hotly opposed to Yeshua and his teachings, the Herodians saw an opportunity to boost the popular support for their King, while at the same time taking popular support away from the religious leaders of Jerusalem.

All the Herodians had to do was to get Yeshua and Herod together, and then have Yeshua say something nice about the King. And since Yeshua was, himself, very popular because of his miracles and his rebuking of temple leaders, this popular support would then shift in favor to the King. However, as can be seen from scripture, Yeshua would never see the King, and he avoided the Herodians whenever possible.

Notes/References:

Herod the Great

Herodias