Yet, Herod Antipas or Herod Tetrarch as some have referred to him(Tetrarch is Greek for 1/4, and in this case was ruler over 1/4 of the entire area of the Israeli region) reputation was not in architectural claims, rather his reputation was enveloped in the fact this guy was evil.
Along with the notoriety of being quite sensual in everyday behavior, he was easily influenced (particularly by women in royal positions), weak as far as having principles in life and living by them, making many decisions based on emotion or on impulse, and quite frightened of others when challenged.
At this time in Luke 3, Herod had gone too far. He had made the decision to divorce his present wife, Phasaelis, who was a daughter of King Aretas IV of Nabatea. Nabatea was a small yet wealthy trading country north of Judea. Later, it turns out King Aretas IV attacks Herod Antipas because of the public humiliation of his daughter.
Herod Antipas had fallen in love with Herodias...but at the time she was married to his half-brother Phillip (same father as Herod the Great but different mothers). So, Herod and Herodias decided to get married and leave their present spouses (while both alive), which in that time and culture was considered a horrific sin. What made matters worse, Herod Antipas was proud of what he was about to do...and could care less as to setting a standard of honor or morale...he was only absorbed in his own self interests.
Were Herod Antipas and Herodias related...since they both kind of carried the same type name? Yes, it was quite a common practice within this totally dysfunctional family to marry within, particularly with the men having multiple wives. Also, the culture at that time was more given to this than what we look at today as...GROSS.
The connection between these two went like this: Herodias was a daughter of Aristobulus IV, who was a son of Herod the Great by his 2nd wife Mariamne I.
Herod Antipas was a son of Herod the Great by his 4th wife Maltace.
Yet, the news of what Herod Antipas and Herodias were doing...was very disturbing to the local culture, and caused many of the Jewish community to be quite angry.
Now...enter John the Baptizer....
John had spoken openly in public about this marriage that was about to take place, and condemned both Herod Antipas and Herodias for doing so. Herodias herself became extremely upset with John the Baptizer for speaking against them and looked for the opportunity to get her revenge on him.
As for John the Baptizer, he had become a local favorite in Galilee, and his fame had grown throughout the land of Galilee and Judea. Many thought he was Elijah, the Old Testament prophet who had returned while others thought he may indeed be...the Messiah.
Actually, John had taken on the role of the Jewish high priests. It was the Jewish high priests, who at this time were Annas along with his son-n-law Caiaphas...that should have been announcing this act as violating the Commandment of God. Yet, they were silent about it...perhaps because of political or monetary loss if they would challenge and come against the Roman governor Herod Antipas and his new wife Herodias.
But...John the Baptizer had no problem announcing to the people this type of behavior was unacceptable, and would only be the "icing on the cake" of the many sins Herod Antipas had done and supported in his life.
Yet the day was coming...when Herodias would find her revenge on...John the Baptizer.....
The day actually came when Herod Antipas had John the Baptizer arrested. In the historical accounts of Josephus, the famed Jewish historian, he wrote that John was put in prison under Roman law due to John leading a possible uprising against the Romans. The Scriptures clearly indicate this was a revenge tactic created by Herodias...who by this time was filled with hatred for...John the Baptizer, and for John speaking openly about Herod Antipas and Herodias and their defiance of Jewish law. Josephus further writes the place of John's imprisonment was at a place called Machaerus, which was southeast of the mouth of the River Jordan.
Keep in mind in both the Sacred Scriptures and in the historical writings of Josephus...Herod Antipas did not hate John the Baptizer, rather, he found him interesting to listen to...although he never made the decision according to the Scripture...to repent of his lifestyle.
The charge for John's imprisonment under Roman law would be investigated, and it was possible John the Baptizer would only have to serve 2 years in prison confinement. Herodias had other ideas....
There was an evening when a festival was going on....Herod's birthday being celebrated among Roman officials, and Herod Antipas had gotten himself quite drunk from the celebration. With John the Baptizer already in prison, Herodias, the new wife of Herod Antipas decides it is time to make her move.
Salome, the daughter of Herodias (step-daughter to Herod Antipas), gives herself in a dance to Herod Antipas in celebration of his birthday. It is often concluded this was an erotic type dance...aimed to excite and please the drunken Herod to give a present in return...for this provocative dance given personally to him...by Salome... and the plan worked beautifully! After the dance, Herod Antipas promised to Salome any gift she would ever want. Coached by her mother, Salome runs over to her Mom and tells her what Herod (the now drunken) Antipas had just said. And here is her moment...Herodias's time to get back at John the Baptizer. She tells Salome that what she wants for a gift from Herod....is the head of John the Baptizer...on a platter!...the rest is history....{NOTE: Could have Herod Antipas got out of his promise? Sure he could...he could have responded to her request for John's head by saying: "Hey, I promised you a gift...not a crime, so I cancel this gift." After all, Herod Antipas actually broke Roman law by executing John...with no trial. But men do stupid things...when they are drunk. As the saying goes: "Don't swim, don't text on your cell phone, stay off Face book, and don't make any decisions...when you are drunk."
Later, in more of the "arts world", it became a thought that Salome was actually in love with John the Baptizer...yet he had rejected her. Although it makes for a great romantic story...I am afraid to tell you...it is nothing more than a "wives's tale".}
A Gleaning from Luke 3:19-20
" John the Baptizer was a man of strong beliefs...both in word and in his lifestyle. And John did not hold back in speaking about the Roman ruler of Galilee, Herod Antipas, informing the crowds how wrong it was for Herod Antipas and Herodias...to be marrying each other when they were both already married to another...it directly opposed the very Commands of the God of Israel. After all, Herodias was already married...to Herod Antipas's 1/2 brother, Phillip, and Phillip was still alive! (In those times if a brother dies, the eldest bother would take the widow as his wife or at least commit to taking care of her).
What Herod Antipas was doing is nothing more than a "crown" to all his many acts of evil...embracing a lifestyle that is a moral outrage to both the God of Israel and to man himself.
So, Herod Antipas thought it best to "shut up the mouth of John"...and had John the Baptizer put in prison."
{NOTE: The Gospel of Matthew further describes this event and how it happened in chapter 24:3-12 }.
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