surnamed the Great, was born about 71 years before the commencement of the Christian era. When about 25 years of age, his father Antipater made him governor of Galilee, where he distinguished himself by suppressing a band of robbers, and executing their ringleader. For this action, as it was performed by his own authority, and without trial of the criminals, he was ordered to appear before the sanhedrim; but by the influence of his party and the favour of the high priest, he escaped judgment. During the civil war between the republican and Caesarian parties, Herod joined Cælius, and was made governor of Coele-syria. He caused Malichus to be assassinated for having poisoned his father, and ingratiated himself with Mark Antony. After being an exile for some time in Egypt, he found means to arrive at Rome, where Antony received him with great kindness, and the senate made choice of him to the crown of Judea, about 40 years before the birth of Christ. It was in the possession of Antigonus at that time, and he had consequently to fight his way to it. He was finally victorious, Antigonus was taken prisoner, and Herod succeeded to the regal dignity in the year 37 before Christ. In filling his empty coffers he was guilty of many cruel extortions, and it is but justice to add, that he performed many acts of clemency. He sent for the aged high priest Hyrcan, who had been deposed, and treated him with the greatest kindness, and raised Aristobulus, the brother of his beloved Mariamne, to the pontifical dignity. Soon after, indeed, from a fit of jealousy, he caused him to be drowned in a bath. He was accused to Antony by his mother-in-law, and he appointed his uncle Joseph to govern in his absence, charging him to put the queen to death, if his trial should prove fatal to him, as he could not support the idea of her falling into the possession of another.

Herod received a visit from Cleopatra, who is reported to have had amorous intentions with regard to him, which he prudently disappointed, for fear of the vengeance of Antony; but he fully satisfied her avarice with the most ample donations. When hostilities commenced between Antony and Octavius, he raised an army to join the former, but had first to contend with Herod. Malchus, king of part of Arabia, whom he defeated, and compelled to sue for peace. After the battle of Actium, he resolved to make terms with the victor, to prepare for which he put the aged Hyrcan to death, and embarked for Rhodes, where Augustus at that time was. He appeared before the emperor in all the insignia of royalty except his diadem, boldly relating all the services he had performed to his benefactor Antony, and observed that he was willing to transfer the same gratitude to a new patron, from whom he might hold his crown and kingdom.

Augustus was struck with the magnanimity of this defence, and replaced the diadem on his head. When Augustus passed through Syria in his way to and from Egypt, he was magnificently entertained by Herod, for which he restored him the whole of his dominions, and even enlarged them. Before his interview with Augustus, Herod had given a second order respecting the murder of Mariamne; and growing jealous of Sohemus, her last guardian, he soon after had her condemned and executed, in spite of the solemn protestations of her innocence. His remorse on this occasion was dreadful, and no scenes of riot or debauchery could banish her from his mind. He would frequently call aloud upon her name, and order his attendants to bring her into his presence, as if unwilling to forget that she was no more. He built a theatre and amphitheatre at Jerusalem, for the purpose of celebrating games in honour of Augustus, which exasperated the Jews to such a degree, that a conspiracy was formed against him, and on the detection of it, the principal contrivers were punished with a merciless severity.

He built several strong fortresses in different parts of Judea, for his own security, one of which, in honour of the emperor, was denominated Caesarea. To supply in some measure the loss of Mariamne, he married another lady of the same name, the beautiful daughter of a priest, whom he raised to the supreme pontificate. He was in such favour with Augustus, that he was appointed imperial procurator of Syria, and obtained a tetrarchy for his brother. To conciliate the favour of the Jews, he undertook the vast work of rebuilding the temple of Jerusalem, and by constantly employing a whole army of workmen for a year and a half, this magnificent edifice was completed. In the course of another visit to the emperor, Herod obtained new favours, particularly a grant of half the produce of the mines of Cyprus, and the overlordship of the rest. After this he dedicated his new city of Caesarea, when he exhibited so much profuse magnificence, that Augustus said, his soul was too great for his kingdom. He procured the condemnation and the death of his two sons by the first Mariamne, for which he has been bitterly accused; but when we recollect that he took the greatest care of the two sons whom each left behind him, we must conclude that there was more reason for their punishment than some are willing to allow. The charge brought against them was an unnatural conspiracy against his life and crown, and it seems to have been fairly substantiated. His ungrateful brother Phororas, and his favoured Antipater conspired against him. Soon after the discovery of it the former died, and the latter went to Rome.

The birth of Christ happened in the 33d year of his reign, which is said to have been soon followed by that act of barbarous cruelty, the massacre of the children of Bethlehem, instigated by jealousy of this king of the Jews in a spiritual sense, of whose birth he obtained information from the magi. It is to be observed that the account of this deed is nowhere to be met with but in St Matthew's gospel, for while Josephus seems to dwell with studied minuteness on the cruelties of Herod, he gives not a single hint respecting this massacre. As Antipater was returning from Rome, he was arrested by his father's orders, tried and condemned for treasonable practices. These calamities, joined to a shattered constitution, threw Herod into a loathsome distemper, accompanied with remarkable symptoms, which has sometimes been considered as a judgment from heaven. He ordered the sentence against Antipater to be put in execution, and appointed his son Archelaus to succeed him on the throne. According to Josephus, he collected together at Jericho the chief persons among the Jews, where he ordered them to be shut up in the circus, giving strict orders to his sister Salome to have them all massacred as soon as he breathed his last. This order was never executed, but we very much doubt the veracity of Josephus whether it was ever given. The most bloody monster that ever existed, was chiefly pleased with such acts of cruelty as he could either perform in person, witness by the agency of his slaves, or know to be done during his lifetime; but this supposed posthumous cruelty of Herod is wholly unaccountable. If it was actually the case, we can account for it upon no principles of human depravity, and it is wholly unique in the annals of tyranny.

His remains were interred with great pomp and magnificence; and although his memory has been configned to detestation and abhorrence, his great talents and the glories of his reign, conspire to assign him a distinguished place in the list of sovereigns.