An Impossible Choice: Standing Firm (part 3 of 3) by Liisa Eyerly

The Dilemma of Early Christians

Christian exclusivity to the Triune God was seen as a direct challenge to the established order. By refusing to participate in the state religion’s ceremonies—whether offering sacrifices to the emperor or participating in civic feasts—Christians were perceived as subversive, anti-social, and potentially traitors. They were seen as insulting the gods, and the Romans believed that this would bring divine retribution upon them, resulting in public disasters such as famine, plague, or earthquakes.

As Tertullian (c. 155–c. 220 AD) put it, the Christians were blamed for every calamity that befell the empire:

“They think the Christians are the cause of every public disaster, of every affliction with which the people are visited. If the Tiber rises as high as the city walls, if the Nile does not send its waters up over the fields, if the heavens give no rain, if there is an earthquake, if there is famine or pestilence, straightway the cry is, 'Away with the Christians to the lions!'”

The Martyrdom of Justin Martyr 

Justin Martyr (c. 100–c. 165 AD), one of the most well-known Christian apologists of the early church, was among those who refused to deny Christ under pressure. Despite writing multiple defenses of Christianity and attempting to convince the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius to cease persecuting Christians, Justin, as you can guess by his name, failed.

(A bearded Justin Martyr presenting an open book to a Roman emperor. Engraving by Jacques Callot.)

After refusing to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods, Justin and some of his students were scourged and beheaded. He was a philosopher who knew the risks but believed that the Christian faith was worth the cost of his life. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican traditions. (Mosaic of the beheading of Justin Martyr)

A Thin Moral Line

Like many early Christians, the believers in my novels must navigate the thin line between survival and martyrdom. The Roman authorities often gave Christians a choice: deny Christ, offer sacrifices to the Roman gods, and live—or remain steadfast in their beliefs and die. Could a Christian compromise and save their life with a little white lie? 

A “white lie” is often described as a harmless or trivial falsehood, usually told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. But is it always harmless? For a Christian, could lying to save one’s life really be justified if it meant denying their faith?
(15th-century icon of Justin Martyr by Theophanes the Cretan)

“Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 10:32-33 NKJV)

This teaching made the act of sacrificing to the emperor—or denying Christ in any way—a spiritual betrayal, even if the lie were small.

A Modern Dilemma

The early Christians faced a monumental test of faith, but the persecution of Christians continues in many parts of our world, as documented by groups like Voice of the Martyrs. Christians today still face the decision: lie to save their lives or remain true to their faith? 

Would a little white lie be acceptable, or is there always a moral cost to compromising one’s beliefs?  

-Cairns, Earle E. (1996). "Chapter 7:Christ or Caesar". Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church (Third ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-20812-9.
-Clark, Mark Edward (1983). "Spes in the Early Imperial Cult: "The Hope of Augustus"". Numen. 30 (1): 80–105. doi:10.1163/156852783X00168. JSTOR 3270103
- Whitby, Michael; Streeter, Joseph, eds. (2006). Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy GEM de Ste.Croix. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927812-1.
-Jump up to:a b Catherwood, Christopher (2011). "Chapter Three, From Christ to Christendom: The Early Church". A Brief History of the Middle East (Second ed.). London: Constable and Robin Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84901-508-0.
-A Short History of the Early Church, By Harry R. Boer page 45
-Bart D. Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament (Oxford University Press 2004 ISBN 978-0-19-536934-2), pp. 313–314
-Bryant, Joseph M. (1993). "The Sect-Church Dynamic and Christian Expansion in the Roman Empire: Persecution, Penitential Discipline, and Schism in Sociological Perspective". The British Journal of Sociology. 44 (2): 303–339. doi:10.2307/591221. JSTOR 591221.

Winner of Eric Hoffer's First Horizon Award, Obedient Unto Death launches the thrilling Secrets of Ephesus mystery series, weaving a captivating Christian twist into the heart of the first-century Roman Empire. When a scribe is murdered during an illicit Christian gathering, an innocent bishop is imprisoned. Sabina, a fearless believer, must navigate a treacherous world of deceit and betrayal to save him. With time running out and execution looming, she risks everything to uncover the truth—before the fragile Christian community is torn apart forever. Will Sabina's courage and faith be enough to stop the injustice before it's too late?

Bio: Liisa Eyerly’s Secrets of Ephesus series adds a Christian twist to first-century Roman Empire mysteries. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death (2022), won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction. The second book, Fortunes of Death, launched in October. A lifelong mystery lover, Liisa was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s depiction of early Christians. After careers in teaching, librarianship, and stained glass, she began writing full-time at fifty. Liisa lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband and enjoys pickleball, kayaking, Bible study, and visiting Ancient Roman sites.

Visit me at my website or my FaceBook author page.
or
Purchase my books at: CrossRiver Media and on Amazon
Fortunes of Death
Obedient Unto Death
My Amazon book page

Thank you for reading!

An Impossible Choice: Consequences (part 2 of 3) by Liisa Eyerly

A Clash of Beliefs 

Being a “good” Roman stopped at the altar of the emperor’s temple. The Bible is clear that the worship of idols and false gods is forbidden. In Deuteronomy 5:9, God warns: 

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”

Christian’s refusal to participate in the state religion—which had an essential role in both government and society—was seen as a rejection of Roman identity itself. It was a clash of beliefs—that Rome intended to crush—and that led to the Christian martyrdoms of the time.

In my Secrets of Ephesus mystery novels “Fortunes of Death” and “Powers of Death,” my female sleuth, Sabina, grapples with the expectation of Christian participation at civic festivals, athletic games, and theatrical performances where an offering of incense is required to worship the emperor or pagan deities—an act abhorrent to a Christian.

The Choice: Lie or Die?

For early Christians living under the Roman Empire, the decision was stark: lie or die. The persecution of Christians was not always systematic or official at first, and many local governors were left to decide how to handle Christians. Without clear legal guidelines, they had to rely on their own judgment when Christians were brought before them for trial. This created a moral dilemma for Christians caught in the persecution.

In scholar Joseph Bryant's view, "Nero's mass executions ... set [such] a precedent, and thereafter the mere fact of 'being a Christian' was sufficient for state officials to impose capital punishment".

Pliny the Younger’s Letter to Emperor Trajan

One of the most fascinating documents from this period is a letter written by Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor in Bithynia-Pontus (modern-day Turkey), to Emperor Trajan around 112 AD. In his letter, Pliny describes his dilemma over how to deal with Christians: 

(Pergamon Temple of Zeus, now in Berlin) 

“I have never before participated in trials of Christians, so I do not know what offenses are to be punished or investigated, or to what extent… Is pardon to be granted for repentance, or if a man has once been a Christian is it irrelevant whether he has ceased to be one? Is the name itself to be punished, even without offenses, or only the offenses perpetrated in connection with the name?

I interrogated them as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. (Fragment of an inscription bearing the name Pliny, Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan)

Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, and also cursed Christ - none of which those who are really Christians can, it is said, be forced to do - these I thought should be discharged.”

Pliny was unsure whether merely being Christian was enough to warrant punishment or if only specific offenses related to the faith should be punished. If someone recanted and offered incense to the emperor’s image, they were set free. But those who refused were put to death, or if they were Roman citizens, transferred to Rome for a trial.  (Trajan statue, Glyptothek, Munich)

This letter highlights the precarious position of Christians. Would they deny their faith to save their lives, or would they refuse to conform, knowing it could lead to death?

Next time- An Impossible Choice: Standing Firm (part 3 of 3)

-Cairns, Earle E. (1996). "Chapter 7:Christ or Caesar". Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church (Third ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-20812-9.
-Clark, Mark Edward (1983). "Spes in the Early Imperial Cult: "The Hope of Augustus"". Numen. 30 (1): 80–105. doi:10.1163/156852783X00168. JSTOR 3270103 
- Whitby, Michael; Streeter, Joseph, eds. (2006). Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy GEM de Ste.Croix. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927812-1. 
-Jump up to:a b Catherwood, Christopher (2011). "Chapter Three, From Christ to Christendom: The Early Church". A Brief History of the Middle East (Second ed.). London: Constable and Robin Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84901-508-0. 
-A Short History of the Early Church, By Harry R. Boer page 45 
-Bart D. Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament (Oxford University Press 2004 ISBN 978-0-19-536934-2), pp. 313–314 
-Bryant, Joseph M. (1993). "The Sect-Church Dynamic and Christian Expansion in the Roman Empire: Persecution, Penitential Discipline, and Schism in Sociological Perspective". The British Journal of Sociology. 44 (2): 303–339. doi:10.2307/591221. JSTOR 591221.

Winner of Eric Hoffer's First Horizon Award, Obedient Unto Death launches the thrilling Secrets of Ephesus mystery series, weaving a captivating Christian twist into the heart of the first-century Roman Empire. When a scribe is murdered during an illicit Christian gathering, an innocent bishop is imprisoned. Sabina, a fearless believer, must navigate a treacherous world of deceit and betrayal to save him. With time running out and execution looming, she risks everything to uncover the truth—before the fragile Christian community is torn apart forever. Will Sabina's courage and faith be enough to stop the injustice before it's too late?

Bio: Liisa Eyerly’s Secrets of Ephesus series adds a Christian twist to first-century Roman Empire mysteries. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death (2022), won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction. The second book, Fortunes of Death, launched in October. A lifelong mystery lover, Liisa was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s depiction of early Christians. After careers in teaching, librarianship, and stained glass, she began writing full-time at fifty. Liisa lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband and enjoys pickleball, kayaking, Bible study, and visiting Ancient Roman sites.

Visit me at my website or my FaceBook author page.
or 

Purchase my books at: CrossRiver Media and on Amazon
Fortunes of Death
Obedient Unto Death
My Amazon book page

Thank you for reading!

An Impossible Choice (part 1 of 3) by Liisa Eyerly

Why Were Early Christians Persecuted? 

The Roman Empire’s persecution of Christians began sporadically but escalated over the centuries, starting in 64 AD under Emperor Nero and ending in 313 AD when Constantine legalized Christianity across the empire. However, despite this long period of persecution, most emperors showed no animosity toward the small, upstart Christian sect. The question remains: why were Christians specifically targeted, and martyred, whether by Nero tying them to stakes, tarring them, and setting them on fire as human torches, or being torn apart by lions in the arena to the applause and cheers of festive game attendees?

Rome’s Religion and Political Identity

The Roman Empire was famously polytheistic, incorporating gods from many cultures it conquered into the state religion. This policy was a political strategy that allowed the assimilation of a stunning array of gods and practices, all under one big tent, or rather one expansive empire. Worship of these gods and goddesses, particularly the emperor himself (who was considered divine), was seen as a civic duty, an integral part of being Roman.  

Capitoline Triad of Juno, Jupiter, and Minerva)

For Romans, religion was not a particularly personal matter, but rather one enacted through visible family and public rituals, festivals, sacrifices, and processions. A city’s gods were a reflection of its civic and political identity. In this context, religion was a mechanism for social unity and political loyalty.

In my previous blog, “Mean Gods,” I described the control that the Greek and Roman religious system had over the people. From birth to death, the gods were feared and needed to be appeased. Celebrations, sacrifices, and prayers were overseen by public officials, primarily the Roman Senate.

Why Were Christians Targeted?

If so many divinities were brought to Rome and installed as part of the Roman state religion, why not Christianity?

Christians were exhorted by their scriptures and spiritual leaders to be “good” law-abiding citizens. They paid taxes, helped widows and orphans, and believed in Christ’s commandment. ‘Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.’ (Matt. 7:12 NKJV) They weren’t rioting or demanding special concessions; they were simply different. Perhaps, Christ would have been accepted as one of Rome’s many gods had His adherents agreed that He was just one of many.                            (Marcus Aurelius (head covered) sacrificing at the Temple of Jupiter)

They did not.

Unlike the general populace, Christians were not willing to accept the Roman gods as legitimate. The followers of Jesus Christ had a radically different belief system—they were monotheistic and could not reconcile their faith with the polytheistic practices of Rome. 

Christian exclusivity could accept only one divinity, and it wasn't Caesar.

 

(next month Part 2 of 3 The Consequences)

-Cairns, Earle E. (1996). "Chapter 7:Christ or Caesar". Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church (Third ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-20812-9. 
-Clark, Mark Edward (1983). "Spes in the Early Imperial Cult: "The Hope of Augustus"". Numen. 30 (1): 80–105. doi:10.1163/156852783X00168. JSTOR 3270103 
- Whitby, Michael; Streeter, Joseph, eds. (2006). Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy GEM de Ste.Croix. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927812-1. 
-Jump up to:a b Catherwood, Christopher (2011). "Chapter Three, From Christ to Christendom: The Early Church". A Brief History of the Middle East (Second ed.). London: Constable and Robin Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84901-508-0. 
-A Short History of the Early Church, By Harry R. Boer page 45 
-Bart D. Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament (Oxford University Press 2004 ISBN 978-0-19-536934-2), pp. 313–314

-Bryant, Joseph M. (1993). "The Sect-Church Dynamic and Christian Expansion in the Roman Empire: Persecution, Penitential Discipline, and Schism in Sociological Perspective". The British Journal of Sociology. 44 (2): 303–339. doi:10.2307/591221. JSTOR 591221.

Winner of Eric Hoffer's First Horizon Award, Obedient Unto Death launches the thrilling Secrets of Ephesus mystery series, weaving a captivating Christian twist into the heart of the first-century Roman Empire. When a scribe is murdered during an illicit Christian gathering, an innocent bishop is imprisoned. Sabina, a fearless believer, must navigate a treacherous world of deceit and betrayal to save him. With time running out and execution looming, she risks everything to uncover the truth—before the fragile Christian community is torn apart forever. Will Sabina's courage and faith be enough to stop the injustice before it's too late?



Bio Liisa Eyerly’s Secrets of Ephesus series adds a Christian twist to first-century Roman Empire mysteries. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death (2022), won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction. The second book, Fortunes of Death, launched in October. A lifelong mystery lover, Liisa was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s depiction of early Christians. After careers in teaching, librarianship, and stained glass, she began writing full-time at fifty. Liisa lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband and enjoys pickleball, kayaking, Bible study, and visiting Ancient Roman sites.

Visit me at my website or my FaceBook author page.
or 

purchase my books at: CrossRiver Media and on Amazon
Fortunes of Death
Obedient Unto Death
My Amazon book page

Thank you for reading!

The Temple That Herod Built

Dana McNeely

Herod the Great was known as a ruthless king who eliminated any threat to his power. The Bible records his slaughter of all male children under the age of two after the three Magi visited the Christ child and returned to their country by another route. In my post of May 27th, I wrote how he executed members of his family, even his beloved wife Mariamne. 

The Builder

But Herod was also known for magnificent building projects such as the Greco-Roman city of Sebastos, several fortified palaces (including Masada), and the sea-side city, palace, and artificial harbor at Caesarea Maritima. His most famous project was his rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, a project which faced serious opposition from the Jews.

Reconstruction of the Temple of Herod - Painting in Brooklyn Museum by James Tissot

Building a Legacy

Because of his many atrocities during his reign, Jews feared Herod would defile the temple by entering the holy places. They also worried he would raze the old temple and never rebuild it, leaving them without a temple at all. At this point wanting to both appease the Jews and improve his legacy, he took measures to reassure them on both counts. He trained over a thousand priests in building techniques so they could work in the holy places. And he assembled all necessary building materials and workers before starting the project.

A potentially confusing fact is that both Herod's temple and the temple it replaced, which was built after the Jews returned from exile, are known as the second temple. This is because the old temple was still standing when Herod began renovations, as opposed to Solomon's temple, which was merely rubble. But more than replacing the temple itself, Herod massively expanded the platform on which the temple stood.

Temple at center, Royal Stoa and Hulda Gates at left via WikimediaCommons

Innovative Engineering

Because the larger facility would not fit atop Mount Moriah's existing platform, Herod needed to adapt to the north-south slope of the bedrock. To accommodate a much larger, level platform, Herod did two things. At the top end where the bedrock was higher, he leveled it off. At the south end, he built a series of underground arches, or vaults, and enclosed the entire support structure within a wall.

Jerusalem Temple Underground Supports (AKA Solomon's Stables) via WikimediaCommons

These underground arches still support the south side of the structure. They are now called Solomon’s Stables, although they had nothing to do with Solomon, who built the first temple. The name came from the crusaders. The Knights Templars used this area for stabling their horses. Knowing the first temple was in this area, they christened the area Solomon’s Stables.

Jesus and the Moneychangers

Running around north, east, and west sides of the platform, Herod built beautiful porches with soaring columns and tiled roofs. During religious holidays and feasts, thousands of pilgrims sheltered there from the sun and rain. On the south side, he built a two-story structure called the royal stoa, a giant building similar to a basilica but open on one side, used for public meetings or business. Some historians consider this the likely location where Jesus removed the moneychangers, because they were overcharging poor devout Jews.

The Holyland Model of Jerusalem showing the Royal Stoa - via WikimediaCommons

The two Huldah gates, which would be at the bottom left of the image above, led from the city below and served as entrance and exit to the temple proper, which was situated in the center of the massive platform. Each gate had two massive doors and a set of steps. The right narrower set of steps led to an underground passageway decorated with carved stone and stucco that under the Royal Stoa and up into the temple mount. When emerging onto the platform, one would face the temple building in the middle of this open, paved platform. another double gate, covered with gold, that opened into the temple building itself.

By Ariely - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org

Although no archeological remains exist of the temple building itself, the Holyland Model depicts a guess of what it might have looked like based on comparisons with earlier temples and historical descriptions. In front would the altar for animal sacrifices. In front of that was the open "Court of Women" which both men and women could enter. This all would be surrounded by a fortification wall. This was as far as women could go, as they could not enter where sacrifices were offered. Note the high fortification wall surrounding the temple buildings in the model.

Although there are no remains of the actual temple building, there are remains of something connected with it.

Keep Out! Under Penalty of Death

A low wall or fence surrounded the high fortification wall. A part of this fence survived, including two inscriptions on the fence prohibiting Non-Jews from entering the temple itself, although they could go onto the platform and into the public areas such as the Stoa or Basilica. The inscription reads:

"No man of another nation is to enter within the fence and enclosure around the temple. And whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which will follow."

The historian Josephus writes about this low stone wall and its inscriptions.

"Proceeding across this [the open court] toward the second court of the temple, one found it surrounded by a stone balustrade, three cubits high and of exquisite workmanship; in this at regular intervals stood slabs giving warning, some in Greek, others in Latin characters, of the law of purification, to wit that no foreigner was permitted to enter the holy place, for so the second enclosure of the temple was called."

Paul's Arrest 

Interestingly, the inscribed warning appears connected to Paul's arrest, recorded in Acts 21, when Paul was accused of bringing a Greek into this temple area. The Jews were aroused by this seeming sacrilege and tried to kill Paul, but the Romans intervened and took him to Caesarea, another of Herod's building projects.

Further Resources

A picture is worth a thousand blogs, so I want to include the following videos to expand upon my descriptions.

A fascinating YouTube video produced by The City of David Institute for Jerusalem Studies relates history while showing animated 3-D videos.

The Temple - Herod's Crowning Glory

A well-done video by Bible History Online.

Herod's Temple - Interesting Facts 

The Great Courses: Holy Land Revealed, Professor Jodi Magness, Ph.D.

RAIN ~ Whispers in the Wind Book 1

Aban yearns to join the priesthood of Ba'al, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity's voice. But first, he must survive a perilous initiation ceremony.

When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban must choose a side in Yahweh's war against the Ba'als - and it may cost him his life.

Book 2, WHIRLWIND, December 2022.

Dana McNeely dreamed of living in a world teeming with adventure, danger and romance, but she had a problem - she also needed a lot of peace and quiet. She learned to visit that dream world by stepping into a book.

Inspired by the Bible stories of Elijah, Dana wondered about the widow of Zarephath and her son. Who were they? What was their life, before? How did the boy change after he died, saw the other world—and came back?

Those questions led to Dana writing RAIN, in which she built her dream world of adventure, danger, and romance. Peace and quiet, however, have remained elusive.

No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.

Learn more about Dana and her books at her website: DanaMcNeely.com

Newsletter subscribers receive a free book: https://bit.ly/danasnews

Herod the Great:

How a Non-Jew Became King of the Jews

 

Scattered through the Bible we find several references to Herod, almost as if they all refer to one ruler. But research identifies at least three related individuals. In this post, we'll focus on Herod I (c. 72—4 BC or 1 AD). But first, we'll take a look at a major antagonistic force in his life, the Hasmonean Dynasty.

 

Who Were The Hasmoneans?

Ancient Medallion Salome Alexandra

Beginning around 143 BC, descendants of the fighting Maccabee family founded a ruling dynasty of ancient Judea known as the Hasmoneans, derived from an ancestor, Hasmoneus. 

Fast-forward several generations to Salome Alexandra, a beloved Hasmonean queen who ruled Judea for nine peaceful years (76-65 BC.) Her death, however, put her two sons in conflict. Hyrcanus II had a peaceable but timid nature. His ambitious younger brother, Aristobulus, assembled an army of mercenaries and marched on Jerusalem intent on dethroning his brother. 

After several battles, the younger brother captured Jerusalem. Hyrcanus conceded, and the brothers came to a peaceful solution. Hyrcanus would be the high priest and Aristobulus king. The Hasmonean brothers might have ruled cooperatively, if not for Antipater the Idumean.

 

Who was Antipater?

 

Antipater shows Caesar his scars.
Wiki Commons

Antipater, the satrap of Idumea (formerly Edom), spotted an opportunity to gain power by allying himself with the more controllable brother, by telling Hyrcanus his brother planned to have him assassinated. Antipater then suggested they ask the Nabateans for help.

 

Conflicts between the Hasmonean brothers resumed and escalated until Antipater aligned Hyrcanus with the Romans. As a favor to Antipater, Caesar appointed Hyrcanus as Ethnarch of Judea in 47 BC.

Herod's Rise to Power

 

But the Jews resented Rome and Antipater, who had brokered the conflicts that delivered Judea to Rome. They regarded Antipater as a nominal Jew, an “Ishmaelite” who had only reluctantly converted to Judaism. Despite their distaste, Antipater's influence continued to grow, and he named two of his sons governor, Phasael and Herod.

 

One of Herod's first official acts further alienated him from his constituents. He captured a band of Jewish dissenters and, wanting to please Caesar, executed them without a trial, in blatant disregard of Jewish Law. This increased Jewish distrust of the "Idumean usurpers." Judean leaders and weeping mothers of the slain finally convinced Hyrcanus to summon Herod before the Council. 

 

Defiant, he appeared before the court clad, not in black as was customary, but in purple and surrounded by armed escort. He offered no excuse but proffered a letter from Caesar threatening Hyrcanus with dire consequences were Herod not cleared of charges.

 

Shemaya, President of the Council said, "Is it not the intention of the accused to put us to death if we pronounce him guilty? And yet I must blame him less than the king and you, who suffer such contempt to be cast upon the Law. Know then, that he, before whom you are all trembling, will one day deliver you to the sword of the executioner."

 

Herod emerged unscathed and continued to advance in Rome's favor by promptly paying war taxes and sending Judean soldiers to support Rome during periods of unrest.

 

Murders, Marriage, and War

 

Prise de Jerusalem par Herod le Grande
Public Domain via WikiCommons

Like his father, Herod displayed shrewdness in political maneuvers. The flip side of his perspicacity caused him to suspect everyone, even family members, of treachery. His suspicions were not always unfounded. Antipater was assassinated by a man seeking the Idumean's influential position. But Herod quickly avenged his father's death and stepped into his shoes. Herod subsequently quelled a revolt against Rome and Hyrcanus gave his beautiful granddaughter, Mariamne, as a prize. Marriage to the popular Hasmonean princess further solidified Herod's position, but he also loved her—obsessively.

 

After the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, the Jewish Nationalist Party met with the victor Antony, plotting to end Herod's rule. But Herod reminded Antony how his father, Antipater, had supported Antony in eastern battles. Hyrcanus added his support, and Antony ratified Herod's appointments in Judea.

 

Overcoming Upheavals and Eliminating Rivals

 

In 40 BC, a Parthenian attack placed the Hasmonean Antigonus back on the throne of Palestine. Herod and his family escaped to the fortress of Masada. Leaving them there, he sought help from Cleopatra. When she only offered a generalship in her army, he fled to Rome and appealed to the Senate, where his skillful diplomacy won over another Roman—Octavianus. 

 

Herod was promised the throne and given a small army, but two generals supposedly supporting him had been bribed by Antigonus, so he was unsuccessful at first. He returned in 37 BC with a larger Roman force and laid siege to Jerusalem.

 

When Jerusalem fell, Herod convinced Antony to execute the Hasmonean Antigonus, along with forty-five prominent supporters. To fill Herod's empty treasury, their estates were confiscated and their bodies shook to loose hidden gold from their shrouds.

 

The Murder of Aristobulus
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

During his interim rule, Antigonus had sliced off the ears of his elder brother Hyrcanus, this mutilation disqualifying him from returning to the high priesthood. Needing a new high priest, Herod chose an unknown Babylonian Jew. Herod's mother-in-law, Alexandra, thought her son, Aristobulus, entitled to the office. She complained to her friend Cleopatra, sending her a portrait of the youth. Antony, who was rumored to enjoy both men and women, asked for Aristobulus to visit. Herod feared Antony's influence could make his handsome Hasmonean brother-in-law a rival, so he quickly named Aristobulus high priest.

 

But when young Aristobulus appeared in his priestly robes, he was enthusiastically cheered by the Jews. Now sure that Aristobulus presented a threat, Herod bribed several young men to drown Mariamne's brother in the baths, making it appear a foolish drunken accident. Though Herod professed grief, his mother-in-law was not fooled. She wrote Cleopatra again, who told Antony, who summoned Herod.

 

Jealousy and Obsession

 

When Herod left Jerusalem, Herod ordered his Uncle Joseph to kill Mariamne should he die in Egypt, "so they might be together in the afterlife." Joseph let the plot slip to Mariamne, later confessing the gaffe to his wife, Salome. Herod’s sister saw means of ridding herself of a husband she had tired of and revenging herself on the woman who often taunted Salome about Idumean ancestry. 

 

When Herod returned, again having talked his way out of a tricky situation, Salome told Herod that Mariamne and Joseph had committed adultery in his absence. At first, Herod ignored the charge, but when Mariamne accused Herod of wanting her dead, he concluded Joseph must have revealed the plot during a moment of passion. He executed his uncle. Though Mariamne was allowed to live, seeds of distrust were sown all around.

 

Later, a civil war erupted between Herod's friend Antony and Octavius. When Octavius prevailed, Herod feared execution because of his friendship with Antony. 

 

Herod decided to meet Octavius in Rhodes, Herod decided to ensure no Hasmonean heir could supplant his children. In an eerily repetitive incident, he ordered Sohemus, to guard Mariamne and her mother, and slay them both should he not return. Then he accused the aging Hyrcanus of treachery and had him executed.

 

Mariamne Leaving the Judgment Seat of Herod
John William Waterhouse,
Public Domain via WikiMedia Commons

Despite his concerns, Herod convinced Octavius that friendship would benefit him as it had Antony. Herod returned triumphant, expecting marital bliss. But Mariamne angrily (and accurately) accused him of plotting her death and murdering her brother and grandfather. Salome again charged Mariamne with adultery, this time with hapless Sohemus, who was instantly beheaded. Still in a rage, Herod sent his wife before a privy council, which judged, condemned, and executed her.

 

Almost immediately regretful after Mariamne’s death, Herod fell prey to sickness. He called for his wife with loud sobs and tears. He even had her body embalmed in honey, so he might keep her near him. His doctors feared for his life—and his sanity.

 

Next month: Some good and more of the bad in the Herodian dynasty.

For further reading:

• Project Gutenberg's History of the Jews, Vol. II (of 6), by Heinrich Graetz, Chapters 1-3 

• New Testament History by F. F. Bruce, Chapters 1-5

• Life in Year One by Scott Korb, Chapter 1

Biblical fiction that focuses on this history:

• Jerusalem's Queen and King's Shadow, both by Angela Hunt

RAIN ~ Whispers in the Wind Book 1

Aban yearns to join the priesthood of Ba'al, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity's voice. But first, he must survive a perilous initiation ceremony. 

When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban must choose a side in Yahweh's war against the Ba'als - and it may cost him his life.

Book 2, working title WHIRLWIND, coming February 2023.

Dana McNeely dreamed of living in a world teeming with adventure, danger, and romance, but she had a problem—she also needed a lot of peace and quiet. She learned to visit that dream world by stepping into a book.

Inspired by the Bible stories of Elijah, Dana wondered about the widow of Zarephath and her son. Who were they? What was their life, before? How did the boy change after he died, saw the other world—and came back?

Those questions led to Dana writing RAIN, in which she built her dream world of adventure, danger, and romance. Peace and quiet, however, have remained elusive.

No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.

Learn more about Dana and her books at her website: DanaMcNeely.com

Newsletter subscribers receive a free book: https://bit.ly/danasnews

 

IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE WASH

History teaches us when we walk through the looking glass of time, we see faces much like our own.

It is the details of everyday life that differ. The type of house the family lived in – three bedrooms, two bath or one-room mudbrick with a courtyard housing a goat. The kind of music – streaming service or lyre. The kind of food – chips and dip or lentil stew and flatbread.

Bathing is an everyday occurrence to moderns, not so much, the ancients. Over time, innovations such as canals, pumps, and piped water to homes have changed how humans are able to wash themselves and their clothes.

One interesting point. In Old Testament times, it was a man’s job to wash the dishes. Or at least to dry them.  

2 Kings 21:13 ~ And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.

        

WASHING AND BATHING

Ahem. Back to washing in ancient times. Because I write biblical novels, I’m interested in many aspects of everyday life in biblical times. People washed themselves and their clothes for hygienic and ritual cleansing, using rivers and springs when they were available, lavers, jugs, and basins when they were not.

For example, Pharaoh’s daughter was bathing by the river when she discovered Moses (Exodus 2:5). King Ahab’s blood was washed from his chariot “near the pool where the prostitutes bathed" (1 Kings 22:38). Elisha told the leper Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed (2 Kings 5:10).

SOAP AND PERFUME

Sometimes soap is mentioned. “No amount of soap or lye can make you clean. I still see the stain of your guilt.”  (Jeremiah 2:22). According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, the Hebrew word borith, often translated soap, refers to a cleansing agent made from ashes of wood or plants, particularly salsola kali (salt wort), abundant on the shores of the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.

Hyssop, Hebrew ezov, is also mentioned in regard to cleansing, “Purge me with ezov and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7). Identified with Syrian Hyssop, the plant is popular as a spice or tea, with a pleasing fragrance.

Naomi encouraged Ruth to bathe and perfume herself before presenting herself to Boaz at the threshing floor. (Ruth 3:3).

FOOT WASHING

When full-body bathing was not possible, washing the hands, face, and feet could be accomplished with water, jug, and basin. Most people wore only sandals and their feet became dirty on the unpaved roads. It was customary for a person to wash his feet before entering his home. In a wealthy person’s home, a servant met guests at the door to perform this service.

Many are familiar with the story of Jesus acting as the servant and washing the feet of his disciples. This occurred during the Passover, when spring rains would have been falling and the streets of Jerusalem especially muddy. In this instance, Jesus humbly portrayed both physical and spiritual cleansing.

Geologists have uncovered many interesting artifacts related to washing in ancient times.

• A tenth-century BC tub in the sacred precinct at Tel Dan.
• Terra-cotta bathtubs from Philistine sites at Ashdod and Ekron.
• An 8th-century BC figurine of a woman bathing in a shallow tub from Achzib.
• Pottery basins for foot-washing at Samaria, Megiddo, and Lachish.

For further reading: 

Insights Into Bible Times and Customs, G. Christian Weiss

Daily Life in Biblical Times, Oded Borowski

Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical & Post-Biblical Antiquity, Yamauchi & Wilson

Plants of the Bible, Michael Zohary

RAIN ~ Whispers in the Wind Book 1

Aban yearns to join the priesthood of Ba'al, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity's voice. But first, he must survive a perilous initiation ceremony. 

When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban must choose a side in Yahweh's war against the Ba'als - and it may cost him his life.

Book 2, working title WHIRLWIND, coming February 2023.

Dana McNeely dreamed of living in a world teeming with adventure, danger, and romance, but she had a problem—she also needed a lot of peace and quiet. She learned to visit that dream world by stepping into a book.

Inspired by the Bible stories of Elijah, Dana wondered about the widow of Zarephath and her son. Who were they? What was their life, before? How did the boy change after he died, saw the other world—and came back?

Those questions led to Dana writing RAIN, in which she built her dream world of adventure, danger, and romance. Peace and quiet, however, have remained elusive.

No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.

Learn more about Dana and her books at her website: DanaMcNeely.com