The Kingdom of Herod the Great
Luke 1:5 - There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth.
The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Map of Herod's Kingdom During the New Testament (Download Map White Background)
Map of Herod the Great’s Kingdom (Download Color Map)
Herod the Great's Kingdom
During the time of the birth of Jesus in the New Testament Israel was under the dominion of King Herod "the Great". Herod was the son of Antipater, an Idumean (Edomite) who had come to the aid of Julius Caesar in Alexandria and was made chief minister of Judea in 47 BC. Later in 40 BC Marc Antony and Octavian and the Roman Senate appointed Herod as King of Judea. Although he had many enemies to overcome, Herod defeated them and made himself the recognized king of Judea in 37 BC. Also see Herod the King
"Herod The Great was the second son of Antipater, an Idumean, who was appointed procurator of Judea by Julius Caesar, B.C. 47...In B.C. 41 he was appointed by Antony tetrarch of Judea. Forced to abandon Judea the following year, he fled to Rome, and received the appointment of king of Judea. In the course of a few years, by the help of the Romans he took Jerusalem (B.C. 37), and completely established his authority throughout his dominions." - Smith's Bible Dictionary
Herod The Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5), second son of Antipater (who was appointed by Julius Caesar procurator of Judaea, 47 B.C.) and Cypros, a noble Arabian. At the time of Antipater's elevation, though only 15 (or as other passages of Josephus make probable, 20), he received the government of Galilee and soon afterwards Coelo-Syria. He skillfully gained the favor of Antony, who made him and his elder brother Phasael joint tetrarchs of Judea. Forced to abandon Judaea by the Parthians, who supported Antigonus the representative of the Asmonaean dynasty, Herod fled to Rome (40 B.C.), where he was well received by Antony and Octavian, and made by the senate "king of Judea." With Roman help he took Jerusalem (37 B.C.), slew his leading adversaries there, including the whole Sanhedrin except two, and established his kingly authority. - Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Scriptures about Herod the Great
Luke 1:5 - There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth.
Matthew 2:1 - Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:13 - And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Matthew 2:16 - Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.